All Events

Historical Events on December 17

  • American Revolution

    1777

    American Revolution: France formally recognizes the United States.

  • Napoleonic Wars

    1807

    Napoleonic Wars: France issues the Milan Decree, which confirms the Continental System.

  • War of 1812

    1812

    War of 1812: U.S. forces attack a Lenape village in the Battle of the Mississinewa.

  • American Civil War

    1862

    American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant issues General Order No. 11, expelling Jews from parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky.

  • Pittsburgh

    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.

  • Uruguay

    1919

    Uruguay becomes a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty.

  • World War II

    1939

    World War II: Battle of the River Plate: The Admiral Graf Spee is scuttled by Captain Hans Langsdorff outside Montevideo.

  • Battle of the Bulge

    1944

    World War II: Battle of the Bulge: Malmedy massacre: American 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion POWs are shot by Waffen-SS Kampfgruppe Joachim Peiper.

  • The Simpsons

    1989

    The Simpsons first premiered on television with the episode, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on December 17

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on December 17

16. December

18. December