What Happened On December 17

What Happened On Dec 17 Events

1620 Dec 17 The Mayflower Drops Anchor in Plymouth Harbor, Location of Plymouth Rock, where Colonists are Said to Have First Set Foot on Land
The Mayflower dropped anchor in Plymouth Harbor on December 17 and spent three days surveying for a settlement site. They rejected several sites, including one on Clark's Island and anoth...
1638 Dec 17 The Siege of Breisach Ends in a French Victory
Battle of Breisach was fought on August 18 — December 17, 1638 as part of Thirty Years' War. It ended when a garrison of the Holy Roman Empire surrended to the French, commanded by Bernar...
1770 Dec 17 Ludwig van Beethoven Is Born
Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He was a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic e...
1801 Dec 17 The Treaty Of Fort Adams Is Signed
The Treaty of Fort Adams was signed on December 17, 1801 between the Choctaw (an American Indian tribe) and the United States Government. The treaty ceded about 2,641,920 acres (10,691.5 ...
1861 Dec 17 Battle of Rowlett's Station
Other Names: Woodsonville, Green River Location: Hart County Campaign: Kentucky Confederate Offensive (1861) Date(s): December 17, 1861 Principal Commanders: Col. August Willi...
1862 Dec 17 Battle of Goldsboro Bridge - Third Battle in the Goldsboro Expedition
Description: On December 17, Foster’s expedition reached the railroad near Everettsville and began destroying the tracks north toward the Goldsborough Bridge. Clingman’s Confederate briga...
1864 Dec 17
to 1864 Dec 18
 Battle of Marion
Description: Riding through the Cumberland Gap, Stoneman’s expedition advanced on the important lead mines and salt ponds around Marion and Saltville. On December 17, Stoneman defeated a ...
1880 Dec 17 Edison Founds the Edison Illuminating Company
The Edison Illuminating Company was established by Thomas Edison on December 17, 1880, to construct electrical generating stations, initially in New York City. The company was the prototy...
1903 Dec 17 Wright Brothers First Flight
On December 17, 1903, two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, named Wilbur and Orville Wright, were successful in flying an airplane they built. Their powered aircraft flew for 12 seconds above t...
1908 Dec 17 Willard Frank Libby is Born
On December 17, 1908, Willard Frank "Wild Bill" Libby was born on a farm in Grand Valley, Colorado. Libby won the 1960 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his development of the technique known...
1944 Dec 17 Malmédy Massacre
The Malmedy massacre refers to a war crime in which about 90 American prisoners of war were murdered by their German captors. The massacre was committed on December 17, 1944 by Kampfgrupp...
1944 Dec 17 Operation Greif
Operation Greif was a special false flag operation commanded by the notorious Waffen-SS commando Otto Skorzeny during the Battle of the Bulge. The operation was the brainchild of Adolf Hi...
1944 Dec 17 Operation Stösser
Originally planned for the early hours of 16 December, Operation Stösser was delayed for a day because of bad weather and fuel shortages. The new drop time was set for 03:00 on 17 Decembe...
1944 Dec 17
to 1944 Dec 18
 Typhoon Cobra Strikes US Pacific Fleet
Typhoon Cobra, also known as the Typhoon of 1944 or Halsey's Typhoon (named after Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey), was the United States Navy designation for a tropical cyclone which struc...
1959 Dec 17 "On The Beach" Is Released
On the Beach is a 1959 post-apocalyptic drama film based on Nevil Shute's novel of the same name featuring Gregory Peck (USS Sawfish captain Dwight Lionel Towers), Ava Gardner (Moira Davi...
1961 Dec 17 Gran Circo Norteamericano Fire
Fire roared through a nylon circus tent here Sunday afternoon as 2,500 persons watched a performance. Police estimated 250 were killed. It was Brazil's worst disaster and the worst ci...
1971 Dec 17 David Bowie releases Hunky Dory
Hunky Dory is the fourth album by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released by RCA Records in 1971. It was Bowie's first release through RCA, which would be his label for the next d...
1971 Dec 17 Diamonds Are Forever (film) released
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) is the seventh spy film in the James Bond series, and the sixth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film is based on Ian Fleming's ...
1972 Dec 17 "The Heartbreak Kid" Is Released
The Heartbreak Kid is a 1972 romantic comedy film directed by Elaine May, written by Neil Simon, and starring Charles Grodin, Jeannie Berlin, and Cybill Shepherd. Jeannie Berlin was no...
1973 Dec 17 "Sleeper" Is Released
Sleeper (1973) is a futuristic science fiction comedy film, written by, directed by, and starring Woody Allen. It is loosely based on the H. G. Wells novel The Sleeper Awakes.
1979 Dec 17 "Kramer vs. Kramer" Is Released
Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a married couple's divorce and its impact on ...
1979 Dec 17 Stan Barrett breaks the sound barrier, being the first to do so on land
On the 17th December 1979, Stan Barrett attempted to break the Land Speed Record, and the sound barrier in the Budweiser Rocket rocket powered three-wheel vehicle. His calculated speed wa...
1980 Dec 17 "Mon Oncle D'Amerique" Is Released
Mon oncle d'Amérique ("My American Uncle") is a 1980 French film directed by Alain Resnais. The didactic film is built around the ideas of French physician, writer and philosopher Henr...
1982 Dec 17 "Fanny And Alexander" Is Released
Fanny and Alexander (Swedish: Fanny och Alexander) is a 1982 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was originally conceived as a four part TV movie which spanned 312 min...
1987 Dec 17 "The Dead" Is Released
The Dead is a 1987 film directed by John Huston, starring his daughter Anjelica Huston. The Dead was the last film that Huston directed, and it was released posthumously. "Huston direc...
1990 Dec 17 FDA Approves Ranbaxy's Ultravate
Treating inflammation and itching caused by certain skin conditions. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. Ultravate Cream is a topical corticosteroid....
1991 Dec 17 Desmond Howard Wins Heisman Trophy
The 5-foot 10-inch, 170-pound junior sensation from Cleveland becomes the second Heisman recipient from the Ann Arbor school. It was in the Notre Dame game that Howard showed a spellbound...
1994 Dec 17 MST3K Ep. 619 - "Red Zone Cuba"
(Short: Speech: Platform, Posture, and Appearance) Another Coleman Francis film in which an escaped criminal stumbles upon a desolate Army post, takes part in the Bay of Pigs invasion, th...
1996 Dec 17 FDA Approves Pfizer's Lipitor
Lipitor (atorvastatin) is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Atorvastatin reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and tri...
1997 Dec 17 Jorn Barger Coins the Term "Weblog"
On Dec. 17, 1997, Jorn Barger became the first person to use the term "weblog" to describe his collection of links logged from the internet.
1997 Dec 17 South Park Episode 110 - "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo"
The four boys are at Cartman's house watching the "Terrance & Philip Thanksgiving Special" on television. During a break from the show, a Sally Struthers commercial convinces the boys tha...
1997 Dec 17 "The Apostle" Is Released
The Apostle is a 1997 movie, written and directed by Robert Duvall, who stars in the title role. John Beasley, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Bob Thornton, June Carter Cash, and Miranda Richardson...
1998 Dec 17 FDA Approves ViiV Healthcare's Ziagen
Treating HIV infection with other medications. Abacavir is a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). It works by slowing down the growth of HIV, the virus that causes...
1999 Dec 17 "Olive, the Other Reindeer" First Airs on FOX
Olive, the Other Reindeer is an animated 45-minute-long Christmas television special executive-produced by Matt Groening of Simpsons fame, written by Steve Young, and directed by Oscar Mo...
1999 Dec 17 "The Cider House Rules" Is Released
The Cider House Rules is a 1999 drama film, directed by Lasse Hallström, based on The Cider House Rules, a 1985 novel by John Irving. The film won two Academy Awards. John Irving document...
2001 Dec 17 FDA Approves Abbott's Advicor
Improving cholesterol levels and lowering very high serum triglyceride levels, in combination with diet and exercise. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor...
2002 Dec 17
to 2002 Dec 19
 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (film) released
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a 2002 fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson based on the second volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. It is the second f...
2003 Dec 17 South Park Episode 715 - "It's Christmas in Canada"
The Brovlofski family is dealt a devastating blow when Ike's Canadian birth parents show up unexpectedly and want their baby back. When the townspeople decide to forego Christmas gifts an...
2003 Dec 17 "The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" Is Released
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is a 2003 fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson that is based on the second and third volumes of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of th...
2004 Dec 17 The Aviator (2004 film) is Released
The Aviator is a 2004 American biographical drama film, directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the life of Howard Hughes, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film draws largely upon a biog...
2005 Dec 17 "Lazy Sunday" SNL Digital Short
"Lazy Sunday", the second SNL Digital Short, aired on the December 17, 2005 episode of Saturday Night Live. It features cast members Chris Parnell, an eight-year veteran of SNL, and Andy ...
2005 Dec 17 New England Patriots defeat Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 28-0
The ultimate key to the sports fan experience is to recognize exactly what is unfolding before your eyes. Woe be to the Patriots fan who does not understand that These Are The Good Old Da...
2006 Dec 17 New England Patriots defeat Houston Texans, 40-7
You are a fool if you prepare for any National Football League game expecting to thrash your opponent. The Patriots are far too sophisticated to err in that manner. But that didn't pre...
2007 Dec 17 FDA Approves Forest Laboratories' Bystolic to Lower Hypertension
Bystolic is in a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins). Bystolic is used to treat hypertension (hi...
2008 Dec 17 Boston Celtics defeat Atlanta Hawks, 88-85
ATLANTA - Some advice from the Celtics' youngest starter paid off in the final minutes of their 88-85 victory over the Atlanta Hawks last night. "Rajon [Rondo] told me to relax a littl...
2009 Dec 17 Associated Press names Tiger Woods 'Athlete of the Decade'
As sports go, it wasn't close: Tiger Woods was famous for his golf long before he became infamous for his personal life. For 10 incomparable years, no one ruled a sport like Woods. He ...
2009 Dec 17 Chicago Bulls defeat New York Knicks, 98-89
CHICAGO - Eddy Curry was touted as a franchise savior when he was drafted by his hometown Chicago Bulls and was later vilified when he returned as a member of the Knicks. Thursday nigh...
2009 Dec 17 Day Eleven of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Copenhagen on Thursday just as climate negotiations had “reached a critical junction” and talks were “difficult”, as she said at a press b...
2009 Dec 17 Minnesota Wild defeat Montreal Canadiens, 3-1
At the end in Montreal, Guillaume Latendresse felt shackled with shattered confidence. New Canadiens coach Jacques Martin played him fourth-line minutes. He was branded a guy not physi...
2009 Dec 17 New York Rangers defeat New York Islanders, 5-2
He blasted his team following Wednesday's putrid effort. He benched two veterans, sparking a shouting match with one. And he gave Henrik Lundqvist yet another start. Yes, John Tortorel...