All Events

Historical Events on February 17

  • Electoral College (United States)

    1801

    An electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr is resolved when Jefferson is elected President of the United States and Burr, Vice President by the United States House of Representatives.

  • American Civil War

    1864

    American Civil War: The H. L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.

  • World War II

    1944

    World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok begins: The battle ends in an American victory on February 22.

  • Springfield, Massachusetts

    1968

    In Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame opens.

  • The Troubles

    1978

    The Troubles: The Provisional IRA detonates an incendiary bomb at the La Mon restaurant, near Belfast, killing 12 and seriously injuring 30 others, all Protestants.

  • Mount Everest

    1980

    First winter ascent of Mount Everest by Krzysztof Wielicki and Leszek Cichy.

  • Philadelphia

    1996

    In Philadelphia, world champion Garry Kasparov beats the Deep Blue supercomputer in a chess match.

  • Kosovo

    2008

    Kosovo declares independence as the Republic of Kosovo.

  • Libyan Civil War (2011)

    2011

    Libyan protests begin. In Bahrain, security forces launched a deadly pre-dawn raid on protesters in Pearl Roundabout in Manama, the day is locally known as Bloody Thursday.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on February 17

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on February 17

16. February

18. February