Deaths on June 17

Joseph Méry French poet and author (b. 1798)

Joseph Méry (21 January 1797 – 17 June 1866) was a French writer, journalist, novelist, poet, playwright and librettist.

27 Mar

Civil Rights Act of 1866
President Andrew Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866. His veto is overridden by Congress and the bill passes into law on April 9.
2 Jun

Battle of Ridgeway
The Fenians defeat Canadian forces at Ridgeway and Fort Erie, but the raids end soon after.
20 Jul

Battle of Lissa (1866)
Austro-Prussian War: Battle of Lissa: The Austrian Navy, led by Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, defeats the Italian Navy near the island of Vis in the Adriatic Sea.
20 Aug

Andrew Johnson
President Andrew Johnson formally declares the American Civil War over.
19 Oct

Mantua
Austria cedes Veneto and Mantua to France, which immediately awards them to Italy in exchange for the earlier Italian acquiescence to the French annexation of Savoy and Nice.