What Happened on December 17?
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events
births
deaths
holidays
EVENTS ON DECEMBER 17
Explore the most important historical events that happened on December 17, featuring key moments that shaped the world.
Vogue (magazine)
Year:
1892
First issue of Vogue is published.
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Pittsburgh
Year:
1896
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire.
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Symphony No. 8 (Schubert)
Year:
1865
First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert.
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American Civil War
Year:
1862
American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
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Great Fire of New York
Year:
1835
The second Great Fire of New York destroys 53,000 square metres (13 acres) of New York City's Financial District.
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Fire in the Winter Palace
Year:
1837
A fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg kills 30 guards.
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Wright brothers
Year:
1903
The Wright brothers make the first controlled powered, heavier-than-air flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
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Ugyen Wangchuck
Year:
1907
Ugyen Wangchuck is crowned first King of Bhutan.
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BIRTHS ON DECEMBER 17
Discover famous people and historical figures born on December 17, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.
Calvin Waller
Year of birth:
1937
Calvin Waller, American general (died 1996)
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John Kennedy Toole
Year of birth:
1937
John Kennedy Toole, American novelist (died 1969)
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Pope Francis
Year of birth:
1936
Pope Francis (died 2025)
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Tommy Steele
Year of birth:
1936
Tommy Steele, English singer, guitarist, and actor
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Cal Ripken Sr.
Year of birth:
1935
Cal Ripken Sr., American baseball player, coach, and manager (died 1999)
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Kerry Packer
Year of birth:
1937
Kerry Packer, Australian businessman, founded World Series Cricket (died 2005)
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Art Neville
Year of birth:
1937
Art Neville, American singer and keyboard player (died 2019)
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María Elena Velasco
Year of birth:
1940
María Elena Velasco, Mexican actress, singer, director, and screenwriter (died 2015)
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DEATHS ON DECEMBER 17
Look back at notable individuals who passed away on December 17, and learn about their lasting influences on history.
Thomas Mitchell (actor)
Year of death:
1962
Thomas Mitchell, American actor (born 1892)
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Victor Hess
Year of death:
1964
Victor Francis Hess, Austrian-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1883)
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Harold Holt
Year of death:
1967
Harold Holt, Australian lawyer and politician, 17th Prime Minister of Australia (born 1908)
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Don Ellis
Year of death:
1978
Don Ellis, American trumpet player, composer, and bandleader (born 1934)
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Dorothy L. Sayers
Year of death:
1957
Dorothy L. Sayers, English author, poet, and playwright (born 1893)
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Eddie Acuff
Year of death:
1956
Eddie Acuff, American actor (born 1903)
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13th Dalai Lama
Year of death:
1933
13th Dalai Lama (born 1876)
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Lizette Woodworth Reese
Year of death:
1935
Lizette Woodworth Reese, American poet (born 1856)
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HOLIDAYS ON DECEMBER 17
See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on December 17 around the world.
December 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: December 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
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International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
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Flag of Kurdistan
Kurdish Flag Day (Global Kurdish population)
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Daniel (biblical figure)
Christian feast day: Daniel the Prophet
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Wivina (abbess)
Christian feast day: Wivina
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Josep Manyanet i Vives
Christian feast day: Josep Manyanet i Vives
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Lazarus of Bethany
Christian feast day: Lazarus of Bethany (local commemoration in Cuba)
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O Antiphons
Christian feast day: O Sapientia
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