Vintage News · Odd history for December 17

What Happened On December 17

Q: What happened on December 17?

1967: Harold Holt, the prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria; his body was never recovered. 1896: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire. 1892: First issue of Vogue is published. 1865: First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert. 1665: The first account of a blood transfusion is published, in the form of a letter from physician Richard Lower to chemist Robert Boyle, in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 1538: Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England. 497 BC: The first Saturnalia festival is celebrated in ancient Rome. 1945: The modern flag of Kurdistan was raised for the first time in Mahabad, Iran. 2010: Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring. 2005: Anti-World Trade Organization protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

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10 odd things that happened on December 17

1967 Weird
Harold Holt, the prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria; his body was never recovered.
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Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1896 First ever
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1892 First ever
First issue of Vogue is published.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1865 First ever
First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1665 First ever
The first account of a blood transfusion is published, in the form of a letter from physician Richard Lower to chemist Robert Boyle, in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1538 Oddly true
Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
497 BC First ever
The first Saturnalia festival is celebrated in ancient Rome.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1945 First ever
The modern flag of Kurdistan was raised for the first time in Mahabad, Iran.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2010 Oddly true
Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2005 Oddly true
Anti-World Trade Organization protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Observed today

2014The United States and Cuba re-establish diplomatic relations after severing them in 1961. Wikipedia →
2010Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring. Wikipedia →
2009MV Danny F II sinks off the coast of Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 44 people and over 28,000 animals. Wikipedia →
2005Anti-World Trade Organization protesters riot in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Wikipedia →
2005Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicates the throne as King of Bhutan. Wikipedia →
2003The 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. Wikipedia →
2003SpaceShipOne, piloted by Brian Binnie, makes its first powered and first supersonic flight. Wikipedia →
2003Sex work rights activists establish December 17 (or "D17") as International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers to memorialize victims of a serial killer who targeted prostitutes, and highlight State violence against sex workers by police and others. Wikipedia →
2002Second 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. Wikipedia →
1997Peruvian internal conflict: Fourteen members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement provoke a hostage crisis by taking over the Japanese embassy in Lima. Wikipedia →
1997Aerosvit Flight 241: A Yakovlev Yak-42 crashes into the Pierian Mountains near Thessaloniki Airport in Thessaloniki, Greece, killing all 70 people on board. Wikipedia →
1989Romanian Revolution: Protests continue in Timișoara, Romania, with rioters breaking into the Romanian Communist Party's District Committee building and attempting to set it on fire. Wikipedia →
1989Fernando Collor de Mello defeats Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the second round of the Brazilian presidential election, becoming the first democratically elected President in almost 30 years. Wikipedia →
1989The Simpsons premieres on television with the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". Wikipedia →
1983Provisional IRA members detonate a car bomb at Harrods Department Store in London. Three police officers and three civilians are killed. Wikipedia →
1981American Brigadier General James L. Dozier is abducted by the Red Brigades in Verona, Italy. Wikipedia →
1973Thirty passengers are killed in an attack by Palestinian terrorists on Rome's Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport. Wikipedia →
1970Polish protests: In Gdynia, soldiers fire at workers emerging from trains, killing dozens. Wikipedia →
1969Project Blue Book: The United States Air Force closes its study of UFOs. Wikipedia →
1967Harold Holt, Prime Minister of Australia, disappears while swimming near Portsea, Victoria, and is presumed drowned. Wikipedia →
1961Niterói circus fire: Fire breaks out during a performance by the Gran Circus Norte-Americano in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, killing more than 500. Wikipedia →
1960Troops loyal to Emperor Haile Selassie 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. Wikipedia →
1960Munich C-131 crash: Twenty passengers and crew on board as well as 32 people on the ground are killed. Wikipedia →
1957The United States successfully launches the first Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Wikipedia →
1951The American Civil Rights Congress delivers "We Charge Genocide" to the United Nations. Wikipedia →
1950The F-86 Sabre's first mission over Korea. Wikipedia →
1948The Finnish Security Police is established to remove communist leadership from its predecessor, the State Police. Wikipedia →
1947First flight of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber. Wikipedia →
1945Kurdistan flag day, the flag of Kurdistan is raised for the first time in Mahabad in eastern Kurdistan. Wikipedia →
1944World War II: Battle of the Bulge: Malmedy massacre: American 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion POWs are shot by Waffen-SS Kampfgruppe Joachim Peiper. Wikipedia →
1943All Chinese are again permitted to become citizens of the United States upon the repeal of the Act of 1882 and the introduction of the Magnuson Act. Wikipedia →
1939World War II: Battle of the River Plate: The Admiral Graf Spee is scuttled by Captain Hans Langsdorff outside Montevideo. Wikipedia →
1938Otto Hahn discovers the nuclear fission of the heavy element uranium, the scientific and technological basis of nuclear energy. Wikipedia →
1935Douglas DC-3: The twin-engine airliner makes its maiden flight from Santa Monica. Wikipedia →
1933The first NFL Championship Game is played at Wrigley Field in Chicago between the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. The Bears win 23–21. Wikipedia →
1928Indian revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru assassinate British police officer James Saunders in Lahore, Punjab, to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai at the hands of the police. The three were executed in 1931. Wikipedia →
1927Indian revolutionary Rajendra Lahiri is hanged in Gonda jail, Uttar Pradesh, India, two days before the scheduled date. Wikipedia →
1926Antanas Smetona assumes power in Lithuania as the 1926 coup d'état is successful. Wikipedia →
1918Darwin Rebellion: Up to 1,000 demonstrators march on Government House in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Wikipedia →
1907Ugyen Wangchuck is crowned first King of Bhutan. Wikipedia →
1903The Wright brothers make the first controlled powered, heavier-than-air flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Wikipedia →
1896Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Schenley Park Casino, which was the first multi-purpose arena with the technology to create an artificial ice surface in North America, is destroyed in a fire. Wikipedia →
1892First issue of Vogue is published. Wikipedia →
1865First performance of the Unfinished Symphony by Franz Schubert. Wikipedia →
1862American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Wikipedia →
1837A fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg kills 30 guards. Wikipedia →
1835The second Great Fire of New York destroys 53,000 square metres (13 acres) of New York City's Financial District. Wikipedia →
1819Simón Bolívar declares the independence of Gran Colombia in Angostura (now Ciudad Bolívar in Venezuela). Wikipedia →
1812War of 1812: U.S. forces attack a Lenape village in the Battle of the Mississinewa. Wikipedia →
1807Napoleonic Wars: France issues the Milan Decree, which confirms the Continental System. Wikipedia →
1790The Aztec calendar stone is discovered at El Zócalo, Mexico City. Wikipedia →
1777American Revolution: France formally recognizes the United States. Wikipedia →
1718War of the Quadruple Alliance: Great Britain declares war on Spain. Wikipedia →
1665The first account of a blood transfusion is published, in the form of a letter from physician Richard Lower to chemist Robert Boyle, in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Wikipedia →
1586Go-Yōzei becomes Emperor of Japan. Wikipedia →
1583Cologne War: Forces under Ernest of Bavaria defeat troops under Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg at the Siege of Godesberg. Wikipedia →
1538Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England. Wikipedia →
1398Sultan Nasir-u Din Mehmud's armies in Delhi are defeated by Timur. Wikipedia →
1354Margaret II, Countess of Hainaut and Holy Roman Empress and her son William I, Duke of Bavaria, sign a peace treaty ending the Hook and Cod wars. Wikipedia →
1297King Kyawswa of Pagan is overthrown by the three Myinsaing brothers, marking the de facto end of the Pagan Kingdom. Wikipedia →
942Assassination of William Longsword, Count of Normandy. Wikipedia →
920Romanos I Lekapenos is crowned co-emperor of the underage Constantine VII. Wikipedia →
546Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under king Totila plunder the city, by bribing the Eastern Roman garrison. Wikipedia →
497 BCThe first Saturnalia festival is celebrated in ancient Rome. Wikipedia →

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