A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.
January 17
| 1601 | The Treaty of Lyons ends a short war between France and Savoy. | |
| 1746 | Charles Edward Stuart, the young pretender, defeats the government forces at the battle of Falkirk in Scotland. | |
| 1773 | Captain James Cook becomes the first person to cross the Antarctic Circle. | |
| 1819 | Simon Bolivar the “liberator” proclaims Columbia a republic. | |
| 1893 | Queen Liliuokalani, the Hawaiian monarch, is overthrown by a group of American sugar planters led by Sanford Ballard Dole. | |
| 1852 | At the Sand River Convention, the British recognize the independence of the Transvaal Board. | |
| 1912 | Robert Scott reaches the South Pole only a month after Roald Amundsen. | |
| 1939 | The Reich issues an order forbidding Jews to practice as dentists, veterinarians and chemists. | |
| 1945 | The Red army occupies Warsaw. | |
| 1963 | Soviet leader Khrushchev visits the Berlin Wall. | |
| 1985 | A jury in New Jersey rules that terminally ill patients have the right to starve themselves. | |
| Born on January 17 | ||
| 1504 | Pius V, Pope 1566-1572. | |
| 1706 | Benjamin Franklin, statesman, diplomat, scientist and inventor who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac. | |
| 1860 | Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright and short story writer famous for The Seagull and Three Sisters. | |
| 1863 | David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister during World War I. | |
| 1899 | Al Capone, U.S. mobster known as “Scarface Al” who ran most of Chicago and the surrounding area. | |
| 1922 | Betty White, actress; created memorable characters in TV sitcoms from the 1950s into the 21st century (Life with Elizabeth, Mary Tyler Moore, The Golden Girls, Hot in Cleveland) and was a popular guest on TV games shows. At age 88 and a half she became the oldest person ever to host Saturday Night Live (2010). | |
| 1942 | Muhammad Ali [Cassius Clay], U.S. boxer, “The Greatest,” who is the only three-time heavyweight champion.. | |
| 1964 | Michelle Robinson Obama, wife of US President Barack Obama. | |
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