Historical Events
- 1854 French and British forces bombard Sevastopol for the first time during the Crimean War
- 1907 Guglielmo Marconi's company begins the first commercial transatlantic wireless service between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and Clifden, Ireland
- 1943 Burma railway completed, built by Allied POWs and Asian laborers for use of the Japanese army
- 1973 OPEC oil ministers use oil as an economic weapon in the Arab-Israeli War, mandating a cut in exports and recommending an embargo against unfriendly states [1]
- 2017 Islamic State headquarters Raqqa declared under full control of US-led alliance by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesman Talal Sello after 4 months of fighting
- More Historical Events
Oct 17 in Film & TV
- 1939 "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, is released
Oct 17 in Music
- 1963 The Beatles record "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at EMI Studios in London
Oct 17 in Sport
- 1860 1st British Open Men's Golf, Prestwick GC: Willie Park Sr. wins inaugural event by 2 strokes from fellow Scot Tom Morris Sr
Arthur Miller
Rita Hayworth
Evel Knievel
Mae Jemison
Alan Jackson
Eminem
Would You Believe?
Chicago declared the 'rattiest city' in America for the sixth year in a row by pest control service Orkin
On October 17, 2020
Famous Weddings
- 1469 Crown prince Fernando of Aragon (17) marries heir Princess Isabella of Castile (18), will unite the two Spanish crowns (not officially one country till 1707-16)
- 1707 German composer Johann Sebastian Bach marries for the 1st time his cousin Maria Barbara Bach
- 1749 US revolutionary Samuel Adams (27) weds Elizabeth Checkley
More Weddings
Agrippina the Elder
Frédéric Chopin
Laura Secord
Robert McClureArticles, Photos and Quiz
Chopin: The Day the Music Died
The brief life of Chopin, one of music’s earliest superstars, ended on this day when the sickly composer fell victim to tuberculosis. He was just 39.
October 17, 1849
Death Railway Completed
'Bridge over the River Kwai' drawn by Leo Rawlings in 1943 depicting construction by POWs of the Burma Railway
October 17, 1943
Jailhouse Rock Premieres
A publicity shot from the film showing Elvis Presley during the dance sequence in Jailhouse Rock
October 17, 1957
Weekly Quiz for October 14 - 20
What island was Napoleon Bonaparte sent to in 1815? How much did America pay Russia to buy Alaska?
