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Monday 12 October 2026

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Coincidence Engine

Two birth milestones share this date — Birth of Michael Jordan (1963) and Paris Hilton born (1981), 18 years apart.

1 / 6 coincidences found today • Auto-spins every 7s

From CurioVault

Today's curiosity

Its copper-based blood detects bacteria — and pharma bleeds it.

Read on CurioVault.co →
Today's headlines

Birthday twins

You share your birthday with...

  • Ed Sheeran1991
  • Paris Hilton1981
  • Michael Jordan1963
  • Birth event - February 171917

17 February in history

5 events

Events, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.

Battle
1917Battle

Battle event - February 17

Historic battle event recorded on this date in 1917, noted in contemporary archives as significant.

Invention
1917Invention

Invention event - February 17

Historic invention event recorded on this date in 1917, noted in contemporary archives as significant.

Medical
1917Medical

Medical event - February 17

Historic medical event recorded on this date in 1917, noted in contemporary archives as significant.

Tragedy
1917Tragedy

Tragedy event - February 17

Historic tragedy event recorded on this date in 1917, noted in contemporary archives as significant.

Discovery
1930Discovery

Discovery of planet Pluto - Clyde Tombaugh

Actually Feb 18 1930 - Pluto discovered at Lowell Observatory.

Showing 1-5 of 5 events

What happened on this day · Odd history for today

Vintage News — February 17

Full edition: 10 odd things →
  • Rudolf Diesel
    1894 First ever

    Rudolf Diesel's first working diesel engine ran for one minute.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Myles Standish
    1621 First ever

    Myles Standish was elected the first commander of the militia of Plymouth Colony.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • American Civil War
    1864 First ever

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

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • United States House of Representatives
    1819 First ever

    The United States House of Representatives passes the Missouri Compromise for the first time.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Myles Standish
    1621 First ever

    Myles Standish is appointed as first military commander of the English Plymouth Colony in North America.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

From The Guardian Archives — On This Day

Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API

Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.

Strange but true headlines of the day

OddlyTrue News Stand

Today's full edition →

From the archives

Verified Real

Safety Experts Say School Bus Passengers Should Be Belted

Source: Newspapers.comView clipping source

Did you guess the year?

Streak 0 days Best 0

When was “Rudolf Diesel's first working diesel engine ran for one minute.” happening? Slide to your guess.

1950

Weird history, same day

  • Rudolf Diesel
    ???? First ever

    Rudolf Diesel's first working diesel engine ran for one minute.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Myles Standish
    1621 First ever

    Myles Standish was elected the first commander of the militia of Plymouth Colony.

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

  • American Civil War
    1864 First ever

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

    Read more →

    Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.

Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)

Viewing 17 February — today is 12 October.

Born on this day

4
Birth
1917Birth

Birth event - February 17

Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1917, noted in contemporary archives as significant.

Birth of Michael Jordan
1963Birth

Birth of Michael Jordan

Basketball legend Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York.

Paris Hilton born
1981Birth

Paris Hilton born

Paris Hilton was born. American personality.

Ed Sheeran born
1991Birth

Ed Sheeran born

Ed Sheeran was born. English singer.

Died on this day

17 in the archive

Five infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →

Assassinated
Death
1948Death

Mahatma Gandhi dies

Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.

Assassinated
Death
1948Death

Death of Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.

Assassinated
Death
1865Death

Abraham Lincoln dies

Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.

Suicide
Death
1994Death

Kurt Cobain dies

Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.

Accident
Death
2020Death

Kobe Bryant dies

Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, died on this day in 2020. Helicopter crash. Remembered as: Five-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers.

Famous birthdays

29 this week
Who shares your birthday? →

Today · 17 February

  • Ed SheeranEd SheeranEnglish singer-songwriter (born 1991)Born 1991 · 35 years ago today
  • Paris HiltonParis HiltonAmerican media personality (born 1981)Born 1981 · 45 years ago today
  • Michael JordanMichael JordanAmerican basketball player and businessman (born 1963)Born 1963 · 63 years ago today
  • BEBirth event - February 17Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1917, noted inBorn 1917 · 109 years ago today

Coming up this week

  • Molly RingwaldMolly RingwaldAmerican actress and writer (born 1968)18 February · born 1968
  • Dr. DreDr. DreAmerican rapper (born 1965)18 February · born 1965
  • John TravoltaJohn TravoltaAmerican actor (born 1954)18 February · born 1954
  • BEBirth event - February 18Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1918, noted in18 February · born 1918
  • Millie Bobby BrownMillie Bobby BrownBritish actress and film producer (born 2004)19 February · born 2004
  • Jeff DanielsJeff DanielsAmerican actor (born 1955)19 February · born 1955
Celebration17 February

Random Acts of Kindness Day

Inspires individuals to perform spontaneous good deeds and spread positivity.

Music · No.1 on this day

What was topping the charts

The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.

Play the History QuizEvery No.1 since 1950 →

  • 2016 10 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesPillowtalkZayn
    • UK AlbumsA Head Full of DreamsColdplay
    • US SinglesLove YourselfJustin Bieber
    • US Albums25Adele

  • 2006 20 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesNasty GirlThe Notorious B.I.G. featuring Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge and Avery Storm
    • UK AlbumsWhatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm NotArctic Monkeys
    • US SinglesCheck on ItBeyoncé featuring Slim Thug
    • US AlbumsAncoraIl Divo

  • 1996 30 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesSpacemanBabylon Zoo
    • UK Albums(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis
    • US SinglesOne Sweet DayMariah Carey & Boyz II Men
    • US AlbumsWaiting to ExhaleSoundtrack

  • 1986 40 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesWhen the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get GoingBilly Ocean
    • UK AlbumsBrothers in ArmsDire Straits
    • US SinglesHow Will I KnowWhitney Houston
    • US AlbumsPromiseSade

  • 1976 50 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesForever and EverSlik
    • UK AlbumsThe Very Best of Slim WhitmanSlim Whitman
    • US Singles50 Ways to Leave Your LoverPaul Simon
    • US AlbumsDesireBob Dylan

  • 1966 60 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesThese Boots Are Made for Walkin'Nancy Sinatra
    • UK AlbumsThe Sound of MusicOriginal soundtrack
    • US SinglesMy LovePetula Clark
    • US AlbumsRubber SoulThe Beatles

  • 1956 70 yrs ago

    • UK SinglesMemories Are Made of ThisDean Martin
    • US AlbumsOklahoma!Soundtrack

Sport on this day

0

Finals, medals and records decided on 17 February.

No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.

Sporting almanac

Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago

World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.

Play the History QuizBrowse every year →

2016 10 yrs ago

  • Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
  • WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
  • Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
  • Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
  • The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
  • World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
+4 more →

2001 25 yrs ago

  • WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
  • Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
  • The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
  • World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
  • NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
  • Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
+2 more →

1976 50 yrs ago

  • Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
  • Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
  • WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
  • Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
  • Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
  • The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
+5 more →

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