May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 228 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about May 17th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about May 17th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- World Telecommunication Day.
- World Baking Day.
- International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
- World Hypertension Day
- Pack Rat Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – May 17
2007: The first train travelled between North and South Korea since the Korean war in 2007.
2004: First US same-sex marriage was performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2004.
1999: Ehud Barak becomes Prime Minister of Israel
During his tenure, Barak attempted to revive the peace negotiations with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). However, his efforts were unsuccessful.
1990: The WHO deletes homosexuality from its list of mental diseases
Precisely 14 years later, the first same-sex marriages in the United States were performed as Massachusetts became the first state to legalize them.
1972: Germany ratifies the Treaty of Warsaw
Chancellor Willy Brandt signed the treaty, by which Germany gives up any territorial claims and guarantees the Oder-Neisse line as the valid border to Poland.
1954: The U.S. Supreme Court declares racially segregated public schools unconstitutional
Despite this landmark decision, de facto racial segregation was upheld for years in some areas of the United States.
1943: The Royal Air Force dambusters wreck three German dams
The RAF squadron used revolutionary bouncing bombs to avoid the torpedo nets protecting the dams. The audacious air raid was depicted in a 1954 war film.
1995: Jeanie Basurto photographs her crushed car after Shawn Nelson drove a tank through Clairemont on May 17, 1995
1929: Photographer R J Salmon dangles in a crate suspended from a crane to take an aerial shot of Fleet Street, London. 1929
1900: A very large camera designed by George R. Lawrence (1868-1938) and used to photograph a train of the Chicago & Alton railroad on the Chicago-St. Louis line for the 1900 Paris Exhibition.
1875: The first Kentucky Derby horse race was held in 1875.
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, May 17
1956: Sugar Ray Leonard, American boxer, actor
1946: Udo Lindenberg, German singer-songwriter, drummer
1936: Dennis Hopper, American actor, director
1866: Erik Satie, French pianist, composer
1836: Wilhelm Steinitz, Austrian/American chess player
Bill Paxton was born.
Idi Amin was born.
Sugar Ray Leonard was born.
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, May 17
2011: Harmon Killebrew, American baseball player
1996: Johnny “Guitar” Watson, American singer, guitarist
1875: John C. Breckinridge, American general, politician, 14th Vice President of the United States
1829: John Jay, American jusrist, politician, 1st Chief Justice of the United States
1510: Sandro Botticelli, Italian painter
Donna Summer died.
Sandro Botticelli died.
Catherine I of Russia died.