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What happened in history on this day: January 17?
On January 17 in ...
- 1817 - The Second Bank of the United States opens for business in Carpenter's Hall.
- 1862 - (to January 22) Bombardment of Fort Henry, Tennessee, by USS Lexington.
- 1863 - President Abraham Lincoln asks Congress in a special message for quick implementation of national banking legislation.
- 1863 - US Congress authorizes another US$100 million in United States Notes.
- 1863 - Civil War skirmish near Newtown, Virginia.
- 1864 - General Longstreet's command ends heavy fighting at Dandridge, Tennessee.
- 1893 - -17 degrees F (-27 degrees C), Millsboro, Delaware (state record).
- 1899 - US takes possession of Wake Island in Pacific.
- 1929 - Popeye makes first appearance, in comic strip Thimble Theatre.
- 1934 - Electric Home and Farm Authority incorporated.
- 1950 - Eleven men rob Brinks Armored Car depot office in Boston of US$1.2 million cash and US$1.5 million securities. The robbers are caught in January 1956.
- 1953 - The General Motors Motorama opens to the general public in New York City. The prototype Chevrolet Corvette "Dream Car" is displayed to the public for the first time. The roadster is white with red interior, fiberglass body, 235-cid straight-6 engine, and two-speed automatic. Also on display at the Motorama: Buick fiberglass-bodied two-passenger Wildcat, Oldsmobile fiberglass-bodied four-passenger convertible Starfire, Cadillac fiberglass-bodied two-passenger roadster Le Mans.
- 1955 - In Kirkland, Washington, USA two iron meteorites break through an amateur astronomer's observatory dome; one sets a fire.
- 1955 - Submarine USS Nautilus begins first nuclear-powered test voyage.
- 1963 - Joe Walker takes X-15 to altitude of 82 km.
- 1966 - Martin Luther King Jr opens campaign in Chicago, Illinois.
- 1966 - US Air Force B-52 carrying four unarmed hydrogen bombs crashes on Spanish coast at Palomares, seven die.
- 1969 - United States attorney general Ramsey Clark charges IBM with unlawful monopolization of the computer industry, and requests the federal courts break it up.
- 1970 - John M Burgess installed as bishop of Protestant Episcopals (Massachusetts).
- 1972 - Section of Memphis, Tennessee, Highway 51 South renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard.
- 1977 - Gary Gilmore executed by firing squad in Utah, first US execution since 1967.
- 1983 - 10th American Music Awards: Kenny Rogers.
- 1983 - Alabama Governor George C Wallace becomes governor for record fourth time.
- 1984 - US Supreme Court rules (5-4) private use of home VCRs to tape TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal copyright laws.
- 1987 - US President Ronald Reagan signs secret order permitting covert sale of arms to Iran.
- 1989 - Patrick Edward Purdy kills five children, wounds 30 and then shoots himself in Stockton, California.
- 1990 - The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Four Seasons, Four Tops, Hank Ballard, Platters and Kinks inducted into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- 1991 - Operation Desert Storm begins - US and 27 allies attack Iraq for occupying Kuwait.
- 1993 - 14th ACE Cable Awards: HBO wins 32 awards.
- 1994 - In Northridge, California, a magnitude 6.6-6.8 earthquake occurs. Sixty people are killed, more than 7,000 injured, 20,000 homeless and more than 40,000 buildings damaged in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Severe damage occurred in the San Fernando Valley. Collapsed overpasses close sections of the Santa Monica Freeway, the Antelope Valley Freeway, the Simi Valley Freeway and the Golden State Freeway. Cracks in weld joints are reported in over 100 steelframed buildings. Total damage: US$30 billion.
- 1997 - A Delta II rocket carrying a military GPS payload explodes, shortly after liftoff from Cape Canaveral.
- 2006 - In Scottsdale, Arizona, the 30th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is held, over six days. The #003 1953 Corvette sells for US$1 million; this is the first existing production Corvette. A 1967 convertible, with 427 ci 435 hp engine sells for US$350,000.
Births on January 17
- 1903 - Birth of Warren Hull in Gasport, New York, USA; actor (Strike it Rich, Who in the World).
- 1904 - Birth of Grant Withers in Pueblo, Colorado, USA; actor (Oklahoma, Annie).
- 1913 - Birth of Claude Coats in San Francisco, California, USA; artist at Walt Disney Company 1935-89 for films, displays at Disneyland attractions, named a Disney Legend 1988.
- 1916 - Birth of Joel Herron in Chicago, Illinois, USA; orchestra leader (Jaye P Morgan Show).
- 1921 - Birth of Dehl Berti in Pueblo, Colorado, USA; actor (John Taylor - Guns of Paradise).
- 1922 - Birth of Betty White in Oak Park, Illinois, USA; actress (Mary Tyler Moore Show, Golden Girls).
- 1927 - Birth of Eartha Kitt in South Carolina, USA; singer/actress (Catwoman - Batman).
- 1930 - Birth of Thomas P Stafford in Oklahoma, USA; astronaut (Gemini 6, Gemini 9, Apollo 10).
- 1931 - Birth of James Earl Jones in Mississippi, USA; actor (Darth Vader - Star Wars, Exorcist II, Soul Man, Roots: The Next Generations).
- 1933 - Birth of Sheree North [Dawn Bethel] in Louisiana, USA; actress (Mary Tyler Moore Show, Breakout, Madigan).
- 1934 - Birth of Shari Lewis in Bronx, New York, USA; ventriloquist/puppeteer (Lamb Chop).
- 1935 - Birth of Jimmy Powell in Dallas, Texas, USA; PGA golfer (1990 Southwestern Bell Classic).
- 1936 - Birth of Jerry Fogel in Rochester, New York, USA; actor (Jerry - Mothers-in-Law, White Shadow).
- 1938 - Birth of Paul Revere in Harvard, Nebraska, USA; pianist (Paul Revere and Raiders).
- 1942 - Birth of Randy Boone in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA; actor (Cimarron Strip, Virginian).
- 1943 - Birth of Daniel Charles Brandenstein in Watertown, Wisconsin, USA; astronaut (STS 8, 51-G, 32, 49).
- 1947 - Birth of Jane Elliot in New York City, New York, USA; actress (Baby Boom, General Hospital, Knots Landing).
- 1947 - Birth of Todd Susman in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA; actor (Goodnight Beantown).
- 1949 - Birth of Andy Kaufman in New York City, New York, USA; comedian/actor (Latka Gravas - Taxi).
- 1949 - Birth of Debbie Watson in La Mirada, California, USA; actress (Karen, Tammy).
- 1954 - Birth of Janet Dykman in Monterey Park, California, USA; archer (Olympics-1996).
- 1954 - Birth of Robert F Kennedy Jr; attorney (Natural Resources Defense Council).
- 1955 - Birth of Steve Earle in San Antonio, Texas, USA; country singer ("Guitar Town").
- 1956 - Birth of Mitch Vogel in Alhambra, California, USA; actor (Jamie - Bonanza).
- 1957 - Birth of Donna Stone in New Jersey, USA; fencer-epee (Olympics-1996).
- 1960 - Birth of John Crawford in Palo Alto, California, USA; bass (Berlin - "Take My Breath Away").
- 1966 - Birth of Anna Ivan in La Jolla, California, USA; tennis star.
- 1966 - Birth of Don Myrah in Oakland, California, USA; cyclist (Olympics-20th-1996).
- 1966 - Birth of Karissa Rushing in Benton, Arkansas, USA; Miss America-Arkansas (1990).
- 1967 - Birth of Gregory Caccia in Bayshore, New York, USA; team handball right back (Olympics-1996).
- 1967 - Birth of William Michael Heinen Jr in Rayne, Louisiana, USA; PGA golfer (1994 Shell Houston).
- 1970 - Birth of Jeremy Roenick in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; NHL center (Team USA, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes).
- 1971 - Birth of Derek Plante in Cloquet, Minnesota, USA; NHL center (Buffalo Sabres).
- 1971 - Birth of Tyler Houston; US baseball catcher (Atlanta Braves).
- 1973 - Birth of Amanda Elizabeth Spivey in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA; Miss South Carolina-America (1995).
- 1974 - Birth of Guillermo Mercedes; Dominican/US baseball infielder (Texas Rangers).
- 1980 - Birth of Zooey Deschanel; American actress.
- 1981 - Birth of Ray J; American rapper and singer.
- 1981 - Birth of Scott Mechlowicz; American actor.
- 1982 - Birth of Dwyane Wade; American basketball player.
- 1982 - Birth of Alex Varkatzas; Greek-American lead vocalist (Atreyu).
- 1983 - Birth of Andrea Lowell; American model.
- 1984 - Birth of Cassie Hager, American basketball player.
Deaths on January 17
- 1893 - Death of Rutherford B. Hayes in Fremont, Ohio, USA; brevet major general in 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (1861-65), Ohio Representative in Congress (1865-67), Governor of Ohio (1867-72, 1876), US President (1877-81).
- 1952 - Walter O "Spike" Briggs, owner (Detroit Tigers), dies at age 74.
- 1977 - Gary Gilmore executed by firing squad in Utah, first US execution since 1967.
- 1989 - Patrick Edward Purdy kills five children, wounds 30 and then shoots himself in Stockton, California.
- 1989 - Sterling A Brown, US poet/critic (Southern Road), dies at age 87.
- 1994 - Death of Helen Stephens, American runner (born 1918).
- 1996 - Barbara Charline Jordan, American politician, dies at age 59 (born 1936).
- 1997 - Death of Clyde William Tombaugh, American astronomer (discovered Pluto), at age 90 (born 1906).
- 2003 - Death of Richard Crenna, American actor (born 1926).
- 2007 - Death of Art Buchwald, American humorist (born 1925).
- 2008 - Death of Bobby Fischer, American former world champion chess-player, at age 64 in Reykjavik, Iceland.
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Other web pages of interest:
Chronology of the United States of America
Today in Disney History
Today in Sports History
Chronology of World War II
Chronology of Personal Computers
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