On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
December 17
Events on This Day
-
1843
170 years agoCharles Dickens publishes A Christmas Carol. The classic tale has been adapted for stage, film and television nearly 200 times.
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1903
110 years agoThe Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville, succeed in the first powered flight. Orville pilots a plane for 12 seconds and 120 feet.
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1975
38 years agoSqueaky Fromme is sentenced to life in prison for attempting to assassinate President Gerald Ford.
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2003
10 years agoThe Return of the King, the final film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy based on the J.R.R. Tolkien novels, opens in theaters.
December 17
Born on This Day
-
Paula RadcliffePaula Radcliffe
Track and Field Athlete / 1973 -
British athlete Paula Radcliffe is one of the elite runners competing today, having set and broken her own record in the women's marathon.
Born: December 17, 1973
Age: 39 years old
Birthplace: Northwich, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom
Occupation: Track and Field Athlete -
Bob Guccione
- In these groups:
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous People Named Bob
- Famous Self-Made Millionaires
Bob Guccione
Entrepreneur / 1930 - 2010
Bob Guccione was a publisher of a variety of magazines, most notably the men's magazine Penthouse.1930 | 79 years old
Entrepreneur -
William Safire
- In these groups:
- Famous Sagittarians
- Famous People Named William
- Famous Pulitzer Prize Winners
William Safire
Journalist / 1929 - 2009
William Safire was a writer whose column "On Language" was a long-running feature of The New York Times Magazine.
1929 | 79 years old
Journalist
December 17
Died on This Day
-
Simon Bolivar
- In these groups:
- Hispanic Political Figures
- Famous Leos
- Famous Military Leaders
Simon Bolivar
Military Leader, Political Leader / 1783 - 1830
Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military leader who was instrumental in the revolutions against the Spanish empire.
Died: December 17, 1830
Age: 47 years old
Place: Santa Marta , Colombia
Occupation: Military Leader, Political Leader -
Jennifer Jones
- In these groups:
- Name Changers
- Best Actress Oscar Winners
- Oscar-Winning Portrayals
Jennifer Jones
Film Actress, Television Actress / 1919 - 2009
Jennifer Jones was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-winning performance in the film The Song of Bernadette.
2009 | 90 years old
Film Actress, Television Actress -
Dorothy L Sayers
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Geminis
- Famous Scholars
Dorothy L Sayers
Scholar, Author / 1893 - 1957
Dorothy Sayers was a writer whose later efforts focused on theological dramas and books, radio plays and scholarly translations.1957 | 64 years old
Scholar, Author
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profile name: Bob Guccione profile occupation: Entrepreneur
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profile name: William Safire profile occupation: Journalist
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profile name: Simon Bolivar profile occupation: Military Leader, Political Leader
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profile name: Jennifer Jones profile occupation: Film Actress, Television Actress
profile id: 9472925
profile name: Dorothy L Sayers profile occupation: Scholar, Author
profile id: 9274087
profile name: Charles Dickens profile occupation: Author
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profile name: Wilbur Wright profile occupation: Inventor
profile id: 20672999
profile name: Orville Wright profile occupation: Inventor
profile id: 9298683
profile name: Gerald Ford profile occupation: U.S. Representative
profile id: 9508428
profile name: J.R.R. Tolkien profile occupation: Author
profile id: 251027
profile name: Tiny Tim profile occupation: Singer
profile id: 9258700
profile name: Elvis Costello profile occupation: Songwriter
profile id: 9542573
profile name: Matt Groening profile occupation: Screenwriter
profile id: 38781
profile name: Jean-Bertrand Aristide profile occupation: World Leader
profile id: 37840
profile name: Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. profile occupation: Pilot
profile id: 38092
profile name: Phil Ochs profile occupation: Musician
profile id: 38885
profile name: Irene Dunne profile occupation: Film Actress
profile id: 215202
profile name: Maud Gonne profile occupation: Activist
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