December 17

December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 14 days remaining until the end of the year.

Events

• 546 – Gothic War: The Ostrogoths of King Totila conquer Rome by bribing the Byzantine garrison.
• 920 – Romanos I is crowned co-emperor of the underage Emperor Constantine VII.
• 942 – Assassination of William I of Normandy.
• 1398 – Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud's armies in Delhi are defeated by Timur.
• 1531 – Pope Clement VII establishes a parallel body to the Inquisition in Lisbon, Portugal.
• 1538 – Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England.
• 1577 – Francis Drake sails from Plymouth, England, on a secret mission to explore the Pacific Coast of the Americas for English Queen Elizabeth I.
• 1583 – Cologne War: Forces under Ernest of Bavaria defeats the troops under Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg at the Siege of Godesberg.
• 1586 – Emperor Go-Yozei becomes Emperor of Japan.
• 1600 – Marriage of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici.
• 1637 – Shimabara Rebellion: Japanese peasants led by Amakusa Shiro rise against daimyo Matsukura Shigeharu.
• 1718 – Great Britain declares war on Spain.
• 1790 – Discovery of the Aztec calendar stone.
• 1807 – France issues the Milan Decree, which confirms the Continental System.
• 1812 – War of 1812: U.S. forces attack a friendly Lenape village in the Battle of the Mississinewa.
• 1819 – Simón Bolívar declares the independence of the Republic of Gran Colombia in Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar in Venezuela).
• 1834 – Opening of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway, the first public railway on the island of Ireland.
• 1837 – Fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg occurred.
• 1862 – American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
• 1865 – First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert.
• 1903 – The Wright Brothers make their first powered and heavier-than-air flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
• 1907 – Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned first King of Bhutan
• 1918 – Culmination of the Darwin Rebellion as some 1000 demonstrators march on Government House in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
• 1919 – Uruguay becomes a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty.
• 1926 – Antanas Smetona assumes power in Lithuania as the 1926 coup d'état is successful.
• 1935 – First flight of the Douglas DC-3 airplane.
• 1939 – World War II: Battle of the River Plate – The Admiral Graf Spee is scuttled by Captain Hans Langsdorff outside Montevideo.
• 1941 – World War II: Japanese forces land in Northern Borneo.
• 1944 – World War II: Battle of the Bulge – Malmedy massacre – American 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion POWs are shot by Waffen-SS Kampfgruppe Peiper.
• 1947 – First flight of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber.
• 1950 – The F-86 Sabre's first mission over Korea.
• 1957 – The United States successfully launches the first Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• 1960 – Troops loyal to Haile Selassie I in Ethiopia crush the coup that began December 13, returning power to their leader upon his return from Brazil. Haile Selassie absolves his son of any guilt.
• 1961 – History of Goa: Operation Vijay – India seizes Goa from Portugal.
• 1967 – Prime Minister of Australia Harold Holt disappears while swimming near Portsea, Victoria and was presumed drowned.
• 1969 – The SALT I talks begin.
• 1969 – Project Blue Book: The United States Air Force closes its study of UFOs, stating that sightings were generated as a result of "A mild form of mass hysteria, Individuals who fabricate such reports to perpetrate a hoax or seek publicity, psychopathological persons, and misidentification of various conventional objects."
• 1970 – Polish 1970 protests: In Gdynia soldiers fire at workers emerging from trains, killing dozens.
• 1973 – Terrorism: 30 passengers are killed in an attack by Palestinian terrorists on Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport.
• 1981 – Brigadier General James L. Dozier is abducted by the Red Brigade in Verona, Italy.
• 1981 – The Senegambia Confederation is founded.
• 1983 – The IRA bombs Harrods Department Store in London, killing six people.
• 1989 – The first episode of television series The Simpsons, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire", airs in the United States.
• 1989 – Romanian Revolution: Protests continue in Timişoara with rioters breaking into the Romanian Communist Party's District Committee building and attempting to set it on fire.
• 1997 – The United Kingdom commences its Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, which extends the state's gun ban to include all handguns -- with the exception of antique and show weapons.
• 2002 – Second Congo War: The Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord which makes provision for transitional governance and legislative and presidential elections within two years.
• 2003 – The Soham murder trial ends at the Old Bailey in London, with Ian Huntley found guilty of two counts of murder. His girlfriend Maxine Carr is found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
• 2003 – SpaceShipOne flight 11P, piloted by Brian Binnie, makes its first supersonic flight.
• 2005 – Anti-WTO protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong
• 2005 – Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicate the throne as King of Bhutan.

Births

• 1239 – Kujo Yoritsugu, Japanese Shogun (d. 1256)
• 1267 – Emperor Go-Uda of Japan (d. 1324)
• 1619 – Prince Rupert of the Rhine, commander in the English Civil War (d. 1682)
• 1632 – Anthony Wood, English antiquarian (d. 1695)
• 1685 – Thomas Tickell, English writer (d. 1740)
• 1706 – Émilie du Châtelet, French mathematician and physicist (d. 1749)
• 1734 – Maria I of Portugal, Portuguese queen (d. 1816)
• 1749 – Domenico Cimarosa, Italian composer (d. 1801)
• 1778 – Sir Humphry Davy, English chemist and physicist (d. 1829)
• 1796 – Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Canadian novelist (d. 1865)
• 1807 – John Greenleaf Whittier, American poet and abolitionist (d. 1892)
• 1830 – Jules de Goncourt, French publisher (d. 1870)
• 1835 – Alexander Emanuel Agassiz, American scientist; son of Louis Agassiz (d. 1910)
• 1842 – Sophus Lie, Norwegian mathematician; (d. 1899)
• 1847 – Émile Faguet, French writer and critic (d. 1916)
• 1853 – Émile Roux, French physician (d. 1933)
• 1859 – Paul César Helleu, French artist (d. 1927)
• 1873 – Ford Madox Ford, English writer (d. 1939)
• 1874 – William Lyon Mackenzie King, 10th Prime Minister of Canada (d. 1950)
• 1881 – Aubrey Faulkner, South African cricketer (d. 1930)
• 1883 – Raimu, French actor (d. 1946)
• 1887 – Josef Lada, Czech painter (d. 1957)
• 1887 – Hermine Reuss, Empress of Germany and Duchess of Bohemia (d. 1947)
• 1892 – Sam Barry, American basketball coach (d. 1950)
• 1893 – Erwin Piscator, German film director (d. 1966)
• 1894 – Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (d. 1979)
• 1895 – Nils Asheim, Norwegian politician (d. 1966)
• 1900 – Mary Cartwright, English mathematician (d. 1998)
• 1900 – Katina Paxinou, Greek actress (d. 1973)
• 1903 – Erskine Caldwell, American author (d. 1987)
• 1903 – Ray Noble, English bandleader and actor (d. 1978)
• 1904 – Paul Cadmus, American artist (d. 1999)
• 1905 – Simo Häyhä, Finnish sniper (d. 2002)
• 1905 – Érico Lopes Veríssimo, Brazilian writer (d. 1975)
• 1906 – Fernando Lopes-Graça, Portuguese composer and musicologist (d. 1994)
• 1906 – Russell C. Newhouse, Inventor (d. 1998)
• 1908 – Willard Frank Libby, American chemist, Nobel laureate (d. 1980)
• 1910 – Sy Oliver, American jazz arranger and bandleader (d. 1988)
• 1912 – Edward Short, British politician
• 1914 – Raymond Fernandez, American convicted murderer (d. 1951)
• 1915 – André Claveau, French singer (d. 2003)
• 1916 – Penelope Fitzgerald, English writer (d. 2000)
• 1920 – Kenneth E. Iverson, Canadian computer scientist (d. 2004)
• 1922 – Alan Voorhees, American engineer and urban planner (d. 2005)
• 1923 – Jaroslav Pelikan, American historian (d. 2006)
• 1926 – Ray Jablonski, American baseball player (d. 1985)
• 1927 – Richard Long, American actor (d. 1974)
• 1929 – Jacqueline Hill, English actress (d. 1993)
• 1929 – William Safire, American columnist (d. 2009)
• 1930 – Bob Guccione, American magazine publisher
• 1930 – Bob Mathias, American decathlete and congressman (d. 2006)
• 1930 – Armin Mueller-Stahl, German actor
• 1931 – Dave Madden, Canadian-born American actor
• 1931 – James McGaugh, American professor and neurobiologist
• 1934 – Ray Wilson, English footballer
• 1935 – George Lindsey, American actor
• 1935 – Cal Ripken, Sr., American baseball coach (d. 1999)
• 1936 – Tommy Steele, English singer and actor
• 1936 – Jorge Bergoglio, Argentine cardinal
• 1937 – Kerry Packer, Australian businessman (d. 2005)
• 1937 – John Kennedy Toole, American novelist (d. 1969)
• 1937 – Calvin Waller, American Army general (d. 1996)
• 1937 – Art Neville, American musician (The Neville Brothers)
• 1938 – Carlo Little, English drummer (d. 2005)
• 1938 – Peter Snell, New Zealand runner
• 1939 – Eddie Kendricks, American singer (The Temptations) (d. 1992)
• 1940 – Kåre Valebrokk, Norwegian journalist
• 1942 – Paul Butterfield, American musician (d. 1987)
• 1943 – Mary Brunner, American former "Manson Family" member
• 1943 – Ron Geesin, Scottish musician and composer
• 1944 – Jack L. Chalker, American novelist (d. 2005)
• 1944 – Bernard Hill, English actor
• 1945 – Ernie Hudson, American actor
• 1945 – Chris Matthews, American journalist
• 1945 – Jacqueline Wilson, English author
• 1946 – Eugene Levy, Canadian actor
• 1947 – Wes Studi, American actor
• 1949 – Sotiris Kaiafas, Cypriot footballer
• 1949 – Paul Rodgers, English singer (Free; Bad Company)
• 1950 – Laurence F. Johnson, American educator
• 1951 – Ken Hitchcock, Canadian ice hockey coach
• 1951 – Tatyana Kazankina, Soviet athlete
• 1953 – Samuel Hadida, film distributor
• 1953 – Barry Livingston, American actor
• 1953 – Bill Pullman, American actor
• 1955 – Brad Davis, American basketball player
• 1956 – Peter Farrelly, American film director
• 1957 – Earl Hudson, American drummer (Bad Brains)
• 1958 – Mike Mills, American musician (R.E.M.)
• 1959 – Albert King, American basketball player
• 1960 – Moreno Argentin, Italian cyclist
• 1961 – Sara Dallin, English singer (Bananarama)
• 1962 – Paul Dobson, English footballer
• 1962 – Richard Jewell, American security guard and accused bomber (d. 2007)
• 1962 – Rocco Mediate, American golfer
• 1964 – Ginger, English singer and guitarist (The Wildhearts)
• 1964 – Frank Musil, Czech ice hockey player
• 1964 – Michele Tafoya, American sportcaster
• 1964 – Joe Wolf, American basketball player
• 1965 – Craig Berube, Canadian ice hockey player
• 1966 – Tracy Byrd, American musician
• 1966 – Valeri Liukin, Soviet gymnast
• 1966 – Kristiina Ojuland, Estonian politician
• 1967 – Gigi D'Agostino, Italian DJ and musician
• 1967 – Vincent Damphousse, Canadian ice hockey player
• 1968 – Andrey Golovatiuk, Russian politician
• 1968 – Paul Tracy, Canadian race car driver
• 1969 – Chuck Liddell, American mixed martial artist
• 1969 – Chris Mason, English darts player
• 1969 – Mick Quinn, English Musician (Supergrass)
• 1969 – Michael V., Filipino comedian and actor
• 1970 – Sean Patrick Thomas, American actor
• 1971 – Sinan Akkuş, Turkish-German actor
• 1971 – Alan Khan, South African radio & TV presenter
• 1971 – Antoine Rigaudeau, French basketball player
• 1972 – John Abraham, Indian actor
• 1972 – Laurie Holden, American actress
• 1973 – Konstadinos Gatsioudis, Greek javelin thrower
• 1973 – Rian Johnson, American writer and director
• 1973 – Paula Radcliffe, English runner
• 1973 – Nikki Stanzione, American television presenter
• 1974 – Duff Goldman, American chef
• 1974 – Sarah Paulson, American actress
• 1974 – Ian Petrella, American actor
• 1974 – Giovanni Ribisi and Marissa Ribisi, American actor and actress
• 1975 – Nick Dinsmore (Eugene), American professional wrestler
• 1975 – Milla Jovovich, Ukrainian-born actress
• 1975 – Bree Sharp, American singer/songwriter
• 1975 – Mayuko Aoki, Japanese voice actress
• 1976 – Éric Bédard, Canadian speed skater
• 1976 – Zsanett Égerházi, Hungarian-born porn actress
• 1976 – Nir Davidovich, Israeli footballer
• 1976 – Patrick Müller, Swiss footballer
• 1976 – Takeo Spikes, American football player
• 1977 – Arnaud Clément, French tennis player
• 1977 – Samuel Pahlsson, Swedish hockey player
• 1977 – Oxana Fedorova (Оксана Федорова), Miss Universe 2002
• 1978 – Alex Cintrón, Puerto Rican baseball player
• 1978 – Riteish Deshmukh, Indian actor
• 1978 – Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxer
• 1978 – Neil Sanderson, Canadian drummer (Three Days Grace)
• 1978 – Chase Utley, American baseball player
• 1979 – Jaimee Foxworth, American actress and porn star
• 1979 – Ryan Key, American musician and songwriter (Yellowcard)
• 1979 – Matt Murley, American ice hockey player
• 1980 – Ryan Hunter-Reay, American race car driver
• 1980 – Alexandra Papageorgiou, Greek hammer thrower
• 1980 – Eli Pariser, American political blogger and activist
• 1980 – Stella Ng, Singaporean singer & actress
• 1981 – Jerry Hsu, Asian-American Pro Skater
• 1982 – Josh Barfield, American baseball player
• 1982 – Lorenzo Cittadini, Italian rugby player
• 1982 – Craig Kielburger, Canadian anti-child-labor activist
• 1982 – Stephane Lasme, Gabonese basketball player
• 1982 – Ryan Moats, National Football League running back
• 1983 – Erik Christensen, Canadian hockey player
• 1983 – Kosuke Saito, Japanese DJ
• 1984 – Luis Maria Alfageme, Argentine footballer
• 1984 – Andrew Davies, English footballer
• 1985 – Ryuichi Ogata, Japanese singer w-inds.
• 1986 – Vanessa Zima, American actress
• 1990 – Ashley Edner, American actress
• 1994 – Nat Wolff, American singer (The Naked Brothers Band)
• 2007 – James, Viscount Severn, British royal

Deaths

• 535 – Emperor Ankan of Japan (b. 466)
• 942 – William Longsword (b. 893)
• 1187 – Pope Gregory VIII
• 1195 – Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut (b. 1150)
• 1273 – Rumi (b. 1207)
• 1663 – Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba (b. 1583)
• 1721 – Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough, English statesman (b. 1640)
• 1830 – Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan military leader (b. 1783)
• 1833 – Kaspar Hauser, German foundling (b. 1812)
• 1847 – Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria, second wife of Napoleon (b. 1791)
• 1860 – Désirée Clary, Queen of Sweden and Norway (b. 1777)
• 1907 – William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, Irish-born physicist (b. 1824)
• 1909 – Léopold II of Belgium (b. 1835)
• 1917 – Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, English physician (b. 1836)
• 1917 – Frank Gotch, American professional wrestler (b. 1878)
• 1929 – Manuel Gomes da Costa, Portuguese 96^th Prime Minister of Portugal and 10^th President of Portugal (b. 1863)
• 1933 – Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama (b. 1876)
• 1940 – Alicia Boole Stott, Irish mathematician (b. 1860)
• 1957 – Dorothy L. Sayers, English writer (b. 1893)
• 1962 – Thomas Mitchell, American actor (b. 1892)
• 1964 – Victor Franz Hess, Austrian-born American physicist, Nobel laureate (b. 1883)
• 1967 – Harold Holt, Australian Prime Minister (b. 1908)
• 1967 – Jack Perrin, American actor (b. 1896)
• 1978 – Don Ellis, American jazz band leader (b. 1934)
• 1982 – Homer S. Ferguson, American politician (b. 1889)
• 1987 – Linda Wong, American porn star (b. 1951)
• 1987 – Marguerite Yourcenar, Belgian novelist (b. 1903)
• 1992 – Dana Andrews, American actor (b. 1909)
• 1992 – Gunther Anders, Jewish philosopher (b. 1902)
• 1998 – Allan D'Arcangelo, American artist (b. 1930)
• 1999 – Rex Allen, American actor, singer, and songwriter( b. 1920)
• 1999 – Grover Washington, Jr., American saxophonist (b. 1943)
• 2002 – James Hazeldine, English actor (b. 1947)
• 2003 – Ed Devereaux, Australian actor (b. 1925)
• 2003 – Otto Graham, American football player (b. 1921)
• 2004 – Tom Wesselmann, American collage artist (b. 1931)
• 2005 – Jack Anderson, American journalist (b. 1922)
• 2005 – Marc Favreau, French Canadian humourist (Sol) (b. 1929)
• 2006 – Larry Sherry, American baseball player (b. 1935)
• 2008 – Dave Smith, American baseball player (b. 1955)
• 2008 – Sammy Baugh, American football player (b. 1914)
• 2008 – Freddy Breck, German schlager singer, composer, record producer and news anchor (b. 1942)
• 2009 – Chris Henry, American football player (b. 1983)
• 2009 – Jennifer Jones, American actress (b. 1919)
• 2009 – Dan O'Bannon, Screenwriter, after a short illness (b.1943)

Holidays and observances

• Christian Feast Day
  • Barbaras
  • Daniel the Prophet
  • Lazarus of Bethany (local commemoration in Cuba)
• International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
• National Day (Bhutan)
• O Sapientia (Roman Catholic Church)
• Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn (Roman festivals)
• Wright Brothers Day, a United States federal observances by Presidential Proclamation

External links

• BBC: On This Day
• The New York Times: On This Day
• On This Day in Canada