May, 17th in History

[Spiritus Temporis]

Events

Monday 17, 2004:
Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts.

Saturday 17, 2003:
Mozilla Firefox. Browser renamed from Phoenix to Firebird.

Monday 17, 1999:
Ehud Barak is elected prime minister of Israel.

Wednesday 17, 1995:
After 18 years as the mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac takes office as President of France.

Sunday 17, 1992:
In Thailand, the so-called Black May begins. Thai police and protestors start attacking one another. By midnight, the current Thai government declares a state of emergency, and military troops, equipped with M-16 rifles, open fire.

Sunday 17, 1987:
Iran-Iraq War: The USS Stark (FFG-31) is struck by a missile from an Iraqi Mirage fighter killing 37 and injuring 21 of her crew.

Thursday 17, 1984:
Prince Charles calls a proposed addition to the National Gallery, London, a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend," sparking controversies on the proper role of the Royal Family and the course of modern architecture.

Tuesday 17, 1983:
Lebanon, Israel, and the United States sign an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

Saturday 17, 1980:
General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea declares martial law in order to suppress student demonstrations.

Friday 17, 1974:
Thirty-three people are killed by terrorist bombings in Dublin and Monaghan, Ireland.

Thursday 17, 1973:
Watergate scandal: Hearings begin in the United States Senate and are televised.

Sunday 17, 1970:
Thor Heyerdahl sets sail from Morocco on the papyrus boat Ra II to sail the Atlantic Ocean.

Saturday 17, 1969:
Venera program: Soviet Venera 6 begins its descent into the atmosphere of Venus, sending back atmospheric data before being crushed by pressure.

Wednesday 17, 1967:
Six-Day War: President Abdul Nasser of Egypt demands dismantling of the peace-keeping UN Emergency Force in Egypt.

Monday 17, 1954:
The United States Supreme Court hands down a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas.

Wednesday 17, 1944:
Type IX U-boat: U-884 is launched.

Monday 17, 1943:
The United States Army contracts with the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School to develop the ENIAC.

Friday 17, 1940:
World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium.

Wednesday 17, 1933:
Vidkun Quisling and Johan Bernhard Hjort form Nasjonal Samling — the national-socialist party of Norway.

Saturday 17, 1919:
Committee of One Thousand forms to oppose Winnipeg General Strike.

Monday 17, 1915:
The last British Liberal Party government (Herbert Henry Asquith) falls.

Saturday 17, 1902:
Archaeologist Spyridon Stais finds the Antikythera mechanism.

Thursday 17, 1900:
Boer War: British troops relieve Mafeking.

Monday 17, 1875:
Aristides wins the first Kentucky Derby.

Wednesday 17, 1865:
The International Telegraph Union (the later International Telecommunication Union) is established.

Sunday 17, 1863:
Rosalía de Castro publishes Cantares Gallegos, her first book in the Galician language.

Sunday 17, 1846:
The saxophone is patented by Adolphe Sax.

Tuesday 17, 1814:
Norwegian constitution signed and the Danish Crown Prince Christian Fredrik elected King of Norway by the Constitutional assembly.

Wednesday 17, 1809:
Napoleon I of France orders the annexation of the Papal States to the French Empire.

Thursday 17, 1792:
The New York Stock Exchange is formed.

Wednesday 17, 1775:
American Revolutionary War: The Continental Congress bans trade with Canada.

Wednesday 17, 1673:
Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette begin exploring the Mississippi River.

Saturday 17, 1642:
Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve (1612–1676) founds the Ville Marie de Montréal.

Thursday 17, 1590:
Anne of Denmark is crowned Queen of Scotland.

Tuesday 17, 1521:
Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason.

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/17-may/on-this-day.html
People born on May 17

1975:
Sasha Alexander, American actress (b: May 17, 1975) (Biography of Sasha Alexander)
Jonti Picking, cartoonist (b: May 17, 1975) (Biography of Jonti Picking)
Laura Voutilainen, Finnish singer (b: May 17, 1975) (Biography of Laura Voutilainen)

1974:
Andrea Corr, Irish singer (The Corrs) (b: May 17, 1974) (Biography of Andrea Corr)

1971:
Shaun Hart, Australian footballer (b: May 17, 1971) (Biography of Shaun Hart)

1965:
Trent Reznor, American singer and songwriter (b: May 17, 1965) (Biography of Trent Reznor)

1962:
Lise Lyng Falkenberg, Danish writer (b: May 17, 1962) (Biography of Lise Lyng Falkenberg)

1961:
Enya, Irish singer and songwriter (b: May 17, 1961) (Biography of Enya)

1959:
Paul Di'Anno, English singer (Iron Maiden) (b: May 17, 1959) (Biography of Paul Di'Anno)
Jim Nantz, American broadcaster (b: May 17, 1959) (Biography of Jim Nantz)

1956:
Dave Sim, Canadian cartoonist (b: May 17, 1956) (Biography of Dave Sim)
Sugar Ray Leonard, American boxer (b: May 17, 1956) (Biography of Sugar Ray Leonard)
Bob Saget, American actor (b: May 17, 1956) (Biography of Bob Saget)

1955:
Bill Paxton, American actor (b: May 17, 1955) (Biography of Bill Paxton)

1950:
Janez Drnovšek, Slovenian politician (b: May 17, 1950) (Biography of Janez Drnovšek)

1948:
William Bruford, English drummer and songwriter (b: May 17, 1948) (Biography of Bill Bruford)

1946:
Udo Lindenberg, German musician (b: May 17, 1946) (Biography of Udo Lindenberg)
F. Paul Wilson, American novelist (b: May 17, 1946) (Biography of F. Paul Wilson)

1945:
Tony Roche, Australian tennis player (b: May 17, 1945) (Biography of Tony Roche)

1942:
Taj Mahal, American singer and guitarist (b: May 17, 1942) (Biography of Taj Mahal (musician))

1937:
Hazel R. O'Leary, United States Secretary of Energy (b: May 17, 1937) (Biography of Hazel R. O'Leary)

1936:
Dennis Hopper, American actor and director (b: May 17, 1936) (Biography of Dennis Hopper)

1935:
Dennis Potter, English writer (b: May 17, 1935) (Biography of Dennis Potter)

1921:
Dennis Brain, English French horn player (b: May 17, 1921 ; d: September 1, 1957) (Biography of Dennis Brain)

1919:
Merle Miller, American biographer (b: May 17, 1919 ; d: June 10, 1986) (Biography of Merle Miller)

1918:
Birgit Nilsson, Swedish soprano (b: May 17, 1918) (Biography of Birgit Nilsson)

1911:
Lisa Fonssagrives, supermodel (b: May 17, 1911 ; d: February 4, 1992) (Biography of Lisa Fonssagrives)
Maureen O'Sullivan, Irish actress (b: May 17, 1911 ; d: June 23, 1998) (Biography of Maureen O'Sullivan)

1906:
Zinka Milanov, Croatian soprano (b: May 17, 1906) (Biography of Zinka Milanov)

1904:
Jean Gabin, French actor (b: May 17, 1904) (Biography of Jean Gabin)

1903:
Cool Papa Bell, baseball player (b: May 17, 1903 ; d: March 7, 1991) (Biography of Cool Papa Bell)

1901:
Werner Egk, German composer (b: May 17, 1901) (Biography of Werner Egk)

1900:
Ruhollah Khomeini, Iranian Muslim cleric (b: May 17, 1900) (Biography of Ruhollah Khomeini)

1898:
Alfred Joseph Casson Canadian painter (b: May 17, 1898) (Biography of Alfred Joseph Casson)

1888:
Tich Freeman, English cricketer (b: May 17, 1888 ; d: January 28, 1965) (Biography of Tich Freeman)

1886:
Alfonso XIII of Spain (b: May 17, 1886 ; d: February 28, 1941) (Biography of Alfonso XIII of Spain)

1879:
Simon Petlyura, Ukrainian independence fighter (b: May 17, 1879 ; d: May 26, 1926) (Biography of Simon Petlyura)

1873:
Henri Barbusse, French novelist and journalist (b: May 17, 1873 ; d: August 30, 1935) (Biography of Henri Barbusse)
Dorothy Richardson, English writer (b: May 17, 1873 ; d: June 17, 1957) (Biography of Dorothy Richardson)

1866:
Erik Satie, French composer (b: May 17, 1866 ; d: July 1, 1925) (Biography of Erik Satie)

1844:
Julius Wellhausen, German biblical scholar (b: May 17, 1844) (Biography of Julius Wellhausen)

1836:
Wilhelm Steinitz, Austrian chess player (b: May 17, 1836 ; d: August 12, 1900) (Biography of Wilhelm Steinitz)

1821:
Sebastian Kneipp, German naturopathist (b: May 17, 1821) (Biography of Sebastian Kneipp)

1794:
Anna Brownell Jameson, British writer (b: May 17, 1794) (Biography of Anna Brownell Jameson)

1768:
Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, English general (b: May 17, 1768 ; d: April 29, 1854) (Biography of Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey)
Caroline of Brunswick, Princess of Wales (b: May 17, 1768) (Biography of Caroline of Brunswick)

1758:
John St Aubyn, British fossil collector (b: May 17, 1758 ; d: August 10, 1839) (Biography of John St Aubyn)

1749:
Edward Jenner, English medical researcher (b: May 17, 1749 ; d: January 26, 1823) (Biography of Edward Jenner)

1743:
Seth Warner, American revolutionary leader (b: May 17, 1743 ; d: December 26, 1784) (Biography of Seth Warner)

1706:
Andreas Felix von Oefele, German historian and librarian (b: May 17, 1706 ; d: February 17, 1780) (Biography of Andreas Felix von Oefele)

1628:
Archduke Ferdinand Charles of Austria, Regent of the Tyrol (b: May 17, 1628 ; d: December 30, 1662) (Biography of Ferdinand Charles of Austria)

1551:
Martin Delrio, Flemish theologian and occultist (b: May 17, 1551 ; d: October 19, 1608) (Biography of Martin Delrio)

1443:
Edmund, Earl of Rutland, brother of Kings Edward IV of England and Richard III of England (b: May 17, 1443 ; d: December 31, 1460) (Biography of Edmund, Earl of Rutland)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/17-may/births.html

[Spiritus Temporis]

People who died on May 17

2005:
Frank Gorshin, American actor (b: April 5, 1934 ; d: May 17, 2005) (Biography of Frank Gorshin)

2004:
Tony Randall, American actor (b: February 26, 1920 ; d: May 17, 2004) (Biography of Tony Randall)
Jørgen Nash (d: May 17, 2004) (Biography of Jørgen Nash)
Ezzedine Salim (d: May 17, 2004) (Biography of Ezzedine Salim)

2002:
Sharon Sheeley, American songwriter (b: April 4, 1940 ; d: May 17, 2002) (Biography of Sharon Sheeley)
Dave Berg (cartoonist) (d: May 17, 2002) (Biography of Dave Berg (cartoonist))
Davey Boy Smith, British professional wrestler (b: November 27, 1962 ; d: May 17, 2002) (Biography of David Smith (wrestler))

2000:
Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury (b: October 9, 1909 ; d: May 17, 2000) (Biography of Donald Coggan)

1996:
Kevin Gilbert, American musician (b: November 20, 1966 ; d: May 17, 1996) (Biography of Kevin Gilbert)

1992:
Lawrence Welk, American musician (b: March 11, 1903 ; d: May 17, 1992) (Biography of Lawrence Welk)

1987:
Gunnar Myrdal (d: May 17, 1987) (Biography of Gunnar Myrdal)

1985:
Abe Burrows (d: May 17, 1985) (Biography of Abe Burrows)

1947:
George William Forbes (d: May 17, 1947) (Biography of George William Forbes)

1935:
Paul Dukas, French composer (b: October 1, 1865 ; d: May 17, 1935) (Biography of Paul Dukas)

1917:
Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke (d: May 17, 1917) (Biography of Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke)

1888:
Giacomo Zanella (d: May 17, 1888) (Biography of Giacomo Zanella)

1875:
John C. Breckinridge (d: May 17, 1875) (Biography of John C. Breckinridge)

1839:
Archibald Alison (Scottish author) (d: May 17, 1839) (Biography of Archibald Alison (Scottish author))

1838:
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, French politician (b: February 2, 1754 ; d: May 17, 1838) (Biography of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand)

1829:
John Jay, Chief Justice of the United States (b: December 12, 1745 ; d: May 17, 1829) (Biography of John Jay)

1765:
Alexis Claude Clairault (d: May 17, 1765) (Biography of Alexis Claude Clairault)

1729:
Samuel Clarke, English philosopher (b: October 11, 1675 ; d: May 17, 1729) (Biography of Samuel Clarke)

1727:
Catherine I of Russia (b: April 15, 1684 ; d: May 17, 1727) (Biography of Catherine I of Russia)

1643:
Giovanni Picchi (d: May 17, 1643) (Biography of Giovanni Picchi)

1626:
Juan Pujol (d: May 17, 1626) (Biography of Juan Pujol)

1575:
Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury (b: August 6, 1504 ; d: May 17, 1575) (Biography of Matthew Parker)

1536:
George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (d: May 17, 1536) (Biography of George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford)

1521:
Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (d: May 17, 1521) (Biography of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham)

1510:
Sandro Botticelli, Italian painter (b: March 1, 1445 ; d: May 17, 1510) (Biography of Sandro Botticelli)

1464:
Thomas de Ros, 10th Baron de Ros, English politician (b. 1464) (b: September 9, 1427 ; d: May 17, 1464) (Biography of Thomas de Ros, 10th Baron de Ros)

1336:
Emperor Go-Fushimi, emperor of Japan (b: April 5, 1288 ; d: May 17, 1336) (Biography of Emperor Go-Fushimi)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/17-may/deaths.html