All Events

Historical Events on February 17

  • Thomas Jefferson

    1801

    An electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr is resolved when Jefferson is elected President of the United States and Burr, Vice President by the United States House of Representatives.

  • International Committee of the Red Cross

    1863

    A group of citizens of Geneva founded an International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, which later became known as the International Committee of the Red Cross.

  • Sinking of USS Housatonic

    1864

    American Civil War: The H. L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.

  • Battle of Eniwetok

    1944

    World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok begins: The battle ends in an American victory on February 22.

  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

    1968

    In Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opens.

  • Krzysztof Wielicki

    1980

    First winter ascent of Mount Everest by Krzysztof Wielicki and Leszek Cichy.

  • Deep Blue (chess computer)

    1996

    In Philadelphia, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match.

  • NEAR Shoemaker

    1996

    NASA's Discovery Program begins as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifts off on the first mission ever to orbit and land on an asteroid, 433 Eros.

  • Bahrain Bloody Thursday

    2011

    Libyan protests begin. In Bahrain, security forces launched a deadly pre-dawn raid on protesters in Pearl Roundabout in Manama, the day is locally known as Bloody Thursday.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on February 17

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on February 17

16. February

18. February