2021
The funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, takes place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
The funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, takes place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
April 17 in History
Browse events, births, deaths and holidays on April 17 throughout history.
2014
NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another sta
NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star.
2013
An explosion at a fertilizer plant in the city of West, Texas, kills 15 people and injures 160 others
An explosion at a fertilizer plant in the city of West, Texas, kills 15 people and injures 160 others.
2006
A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates an explosive device in a Tel Aviv restaurant, killing 11 people and injuring 70
A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates an explosive device in a Tel Aviv restaurant, killing 11 people and injuring 70.
2003
Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland
Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland.
1998
Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-90, the final Spacelab mission
Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-90, the final Spacelab mission.
1992
The Katina P is deliberately run aground off Maputo, Mozambique, and 60,000 tons of crude oil spill into the ocean
The Katina P is deliberately run aground off Maputo, Mozambique, and 60,000 tons of crude oil spill into the ocean.
1986
An alleged state of war lasting 335 years between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace bringing an end
An alleged state of war lasting 335 years between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace bringing an end to any hypothetical war that may have been legally conside…
1982
Constitution Act, 1982 Patriation of the Canadian constitution in Ottawa by Proclamation of Elizabeth II, Queen of Canad
Constitution Act, 1982 Patriation of the Canadian constitution in Ottawa by Proclamation of Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.
1978
Mir Akbar Khyber is assassinated, provoking the Saur Revolution in Afghanistan
Mir Akbar Khyber is assassinated, provoking the Saur Revolution in Afghanistan.
1975
The Cambodian Civil War ends and the Cambodian Genocide begins
The Cambodian Civil War ends and the Cambodian Genocide begins. The Khmer Rouge captures the capital Phnom Penh and Cambodian government forces surrender.
1971
The Provisional Government of Bangladesh is formed
The Provisional Government of Bangladesh is formed.
1970
Apollo program: The damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft returns to Earth safely
Apollo program: The damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft returns to Earth safely.
1969
Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Robert F
Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy.
1969
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia chairman Alexander Dubček is deposed
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia chairman Alexander Dubček is deposed.
1964
Jerrie Mock completes the first around-the-world airplane flight by a woman
Jerrie Mock completes the first around-the-world airplane flight by a woman. Her solo flight in the Spirit of Columbus, which took 29 1/2 days, took off and landed at the Port Col…
1961
Bay of Pigs Invasion: A group of Cuban exiles financed and trained by the CIA lands at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with the
Bay of Pigs Invasion: A group of Cuban exiles financed and trained by the CIA lands at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.
1951
The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park
The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park.
1946
The last French troops are withdrawn from Syria
The last French troops are withdrawn from Syria.
1945
World War II: Montese, Italy, is liberated from Nazi forces
World War II: Montese, Italy, is liberated from Nazi forces.
1945
Historian Tran Trong Kim is appointed the Prime Minister of the Empire of Vietnam
Historian Tran Trong Kim is appointed the Prime Minister of the Empire of Vietnam.
1944
Forces of the Communist-controlled Greek People's Liberation Army attack the smaller National and Social Liberation resi
Forces of the Communist-controlled Greek People's Liberation Army attack the smaller National and Social Liberation resistance group, which surrenders. Its leader Dimitrios Psarro…
1942
French prisoner of war General Henri Giraud escapes from his castle prison in Königstein Fortress
French prisoner of war General Henri Giraud escapes from his castle prison in Königstein Fortress.
1941
World War II: The Axis powers invasion of Yugoslavia is completed when it signs an armistice with Germany and Italy
World War II: The Axis powers invasion of Yugoslavia is completed when it signs an armistice with Germany and Italy.
1931
After negotiations between Catalan and Spanish provisional governments, the Catalan Republic proclaimed in April 14 beco
After negotiations between Catalan and Spanish provisional governments, the Catalan Republic proclaimed in April 14 becomes the Generalitat de Catalunya, the autonomous government…
1925
The Communist Party of Korea (CPK) was founded in Japanese-ruled Korea (Chōsen) in Keijō (now Seoul) by Kim Yong-bom and
The Communist Party of Korea (CPK) was founded in Japanese-ruled Korea (Chōsen) in Keijō (now Seoul) by Kim Yong-bom and Pak Hon-yong.
1912
Russian troops open fire on striking goldfield workers in northeast Siberia, killing at least 150
Russian troops open fire on striking goldfield workers in northeast Siberia, killing at least 150.
1907
The Ellis Island immigration center processes 11,747 people, more than on any other day
The Ellis Island immigration center processes 11,747 people, more than on any other day.
1905
The Supreme Court of the United States decides Lochner v
The Supreme Court of the United States decides Lochner v. New York, which holds that the "right to free contract" is implicit in the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment…
1895
The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed
The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Ko…
1876
Catalpa rescue: The rescue of six Fenian prisoners from Fremantle Prison in Western Australia
Catalpa rescue: The rescue of six Fenian prisoners from Fremantle Prison in Western Australia.
1869
Morelos is admitted as the 27th state of Mexico
Morelos is admitted as the 27th state of Mexico.
1864
American Civil War: The Battle of Plymouth begins: Confederate forces attack Plymouth, North Carolina
American Civil War: The Battle of Plymouth begins: Confederate forces attack Plymouth, North Carolina.
1863
American Civil War: Grierson's Raid begins: Troops under Union Army Colonel Benjamin Grierson attack central Mississippi
American Civil War: Grierson's Raid begins: Troops under Union Army Colonel Benjamin Grierson attack central Mississippi.
1861
The state of Virginia's secession convention votes to secede from the United States; Virginia later becomes the eighth s
The state of Virginia's secession convention votes to secede from the United States; Virginia later becomes the eighth state to join the Confederate States of America.
1797
Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, in what would be one of the largest invasions of the Spanish territo
Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, in what would be one of the largest invasions of the Spanish territories in the Americas.
1797
Citizens of Verona begin an unsuccessful eight-day rebellion against the French occupying forces
Citizens of Verona begin an unsuccessful eight-day rebellion against the French occupying forces.
1783
American Revolutionary War: Colbert's Raid: A Spanish garrison under Captain Jacobo du Breuil defeat British irregulars
American Revolutionary War: Colbert's Raid: A Spanish garrison under Captain Jacobo du Breuil defeat British irregulars at Arkansas Post.
1521
Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during the assembly of the Diet of Worms
Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. Initially intimidated, he asks for time to reflect before answering and is given a stay …
1492
Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices
Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices.
1362
Kaunas Castle falls to the Teutonic Order after a month-long siege
Kaunas Castle falls to the Teutonic Order after a month-long siege.
1349
The rule of the Bavand dynasty in Mazandaran is brought to an end by the murder of Hasan II
The rule of the Bavand dynasty in Mazandaran is brought to an end by the murder of Hasan II.
1080
Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized
Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.