Thomas Jefferson

1801

Thomas Jefferson is elected third U.S. president

Born on This Day

Huey Newton

Huey P. Newton

1942 - 1989

Political activist and co-founder of the Black Panther Party, whose revolutionary approach shaped the civil rights movement.

Jordan All-Star With Fabolous 23

Michael Jordan

1963 -

Basketball player with six championships and five MVP awards in a 15-year career. Changed the world of sports marketing with his Air Jordan sneaker line.

Paris Hilton Visits the 'Stay Like an Infinite Icon' Suites at The Beverly Hilton, Where Guests Can Enjoy a Stay Like the Icon Herself

Paris Hilton

1981 -

Socialite, DJ, entrepreneur and media personality who found fame on TV's reality show "The Simple Life."

Huey P. Newton

Getty Images

Michael Jordan

WireImage

Paris Hilton

Getty Images for Hilton

1958

FEB

17

Pope Pius XII proclaims 12th-century Saint Clare of Assisi the patron saint of television.

Timeline

Also on This Day in History

Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on February 17th

1782

French and British battle in the Indian Ocean

The worldwide implications of the American War for Independence are made clear on February 17, 1782 as the American-allied French navy begins a 14-month-long series of five battles with the British navy in the Indian Ocean. Between February 17, 1782, and September 3, 1782, French Admiral Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint-Tropez, otherwise known as […]

1:40m read read

1865

Union army sacks Columbia, South Carolina

On February 17, 1865, the soldiers from Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s army ransack Columbia, South Carolina, and leave a charred city in their wake. Sherman is most famous for his March to the Sea in the closing months of 1864. After capturing Atlanta in September, Sherman cut away from his supply lines and cut […]

1904

“Madame Butterfly” premieres

Giacomo Puccini’s opera "Madame Butterfly" premieres at the La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy.

2:00m read read

A poster for Madame Butterfly, an opera.

1906

Union leaders arrested for assassination

Union leaders Bill Haywood, Charles Moyer and George Pettibone are taken into custody by Idaho authorities and the Pinkerton Detective Agency. They are put on a special train in Denver, Colorado, following a secret, direct route to Idaho because the officials had no legal right to arrest the three union executives in Colorado. The Industrial […]

2:22m read read

1915

Zeppelin L-4 crashes into North Sea

After encountering a severe snowstorm on the evening of February 17, 1915, the German zeppelin L-4 crash-lands in the North Sea near the Danish coastal town of Varde. The zeppelin, a motor-driven rigid airship, was developed by German inventor Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin in 1900. Although a French inventor had built a power-driven airship several […]

1:24m read read

1947

Voice of America begins broadcasts to Russia

With the words, “Hello! This is New York calling,” the U.S. Voice of America (VOA) begins its first radio broadcasts to the Soviet Union. The VOA effort was an important part of America’s propaganda campaign against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The VOA began in 1942 as a radio program designed to explain […]

1:58m read read

1972

Beetle overtakes Model T as world’s best-selling car

On February 17, 1972, the 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle comes off the assembly line, breaking a world car production record held for more than four decades by the Ford Motor Company’s iconic Model T, which was in production from 1908 to 1927. The history of the VW Beetle dates back to 1930s Germany. In 1933, Adolf […]

1979

China invades Vietnam

In response to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, China launches an invasion of Vietnam. Tensions between Vietnam and China increased dramatically after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Attempting to expand its influence, Vietnam established a military presence in Laos; strengthened its ties with China’s rival, the Soviet Union; and toppled the Cambodian […]

1996

Chess champion Garry Kasparov defeats IBM’s Deep Blue

In the final game of a six-game match, world chess champion Garry Kasparov triumphs over Deep Blue, IBM’s chess-playing computer, and wins the match, 4-2. However, Deep Blue goes on to defeat Kasparov in a heavily publicized rematch the following year. Garry Kasparov, considered one of the greatest players in the history of chess, was […]

2:18m read read

1998

U.S. women win the first Winter Olympics hockey gold medal

On February 17, 1998, in Nagano, Japan, the United States defeats Canada, 3-1, to win the gold medal in the first women’s hockey tournament held at the Winter Olympics. “After these Olympics, I hope the sport grows times a million,” American forward Katie King says. “Anyone who watched the (gold medal) game, they’re going to […]

1:22m read read

History Every Day

Sign Up for "This Day in History"

Uncover fascinating moments from the past every day! Learn something new with key events in history, from the American Revolution to pop culture, crime and more.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Global Media. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details: Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us