17 May

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

  1. Global Celebrations
  2. Historic Events
  3. Famous Birthdays
  4. Heartbreaking Deaths

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

Jeanie Basurto photographs her crushed car after Shawn Nelson drove a tank through Clairemont on May 17, 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

Photographer R J Salmon dangles in a crate suspended from a crane to take an aerial shot of Fleet Street, London. 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.

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.
A very large camera was 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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *