What Happened on Apr 17

Battle of Martinique

In the first meeting between them on April 17 to the leeward of Martinique, Guichen escaped disaster only through the clumsy manner in which Sir... Read more

Treaty of Leoben

The Treaty of Leoben (also known as the Peace of Leoben) was signed on 17 April 1797 by Napoleon Bonaparte. It was a preliminary accord that... Read more

Battle of Vermillion Bayou

Other Names: None Location: Lafayette Parish Campaign: Operations in West Louisiana (1863) Date(s): April 17, 1863 Principal... Read more

Battle of Plymouth - Confederates Retake Union Forts

Description: In a combined operation with the CSS ram Albemarle, Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. R.F. Hoke, attacked the Federal garrison at... Read more

Thornton Niven Wilder Is Born

Thornton Niven Wilder was born April 17, 1897, in Madison, Wisconsin. Arguably one of the greatest playwrights of the twentieth century, Wilder is... Read more

Babe Ruth Marries Claire Merritt Hodgson

Born near Athens, Georgia, United States, she met Ruth in 1923, a year after her husband Frank Hodgson died, leaving her with a daughter, Julia.... Read more

Battle of Central Henan

The Battle of Central Henan, was the first offensive in the Japanese Operation Ichi-Go during the Second Sino-Japanese War. In the Battle of... Read more

Empire of Japan Initiates Operation Ichi-Go

Operation Ichi-Go (一号作戦 Ichi-gō Sakusen, lit. "Operation Number One") was a campaign of a series of major battles between the Imperial Japanese... Read more

"Imitation Of Life" Is Released

Imitation of Life is a 1959 film directed by Douglas Sirk, adapted from Fannie Hurst's novel Imitation of Life, produced by Ross Hunter and... Read more

33rd Academy Awards

The 33rd Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1960, were held on April 17, 1961 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica,... Read more

Bay of Pigs Invasion

The Bay of Pigs Invasion (known as La Batalla de Girón in Cuba), was an unsuccessful attempt by a U.S.-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade... Read more

"The Bride Wore Black" Is Released

The Bride Wore Black (French: La Mariée était en noir) is a 1968 French film directed by François Truffaut and based on the novel of the same name... Read more

"Salesman" Is Released

Salesman is a 1969 direct cinema documentary film directed by brothers Albert and David Maysles, and Charlotte Zwerin. The documentary follows... Read more

Bangladesh Tornado of 1973

In one of the worst tornado tragedies to hit Bangladesh, 681 people were killed in the Manikganj subdivision of Dhaka district on 17 April 1973.... Read more

The Eagles release Desperado

Desperado is the second studio album by the American rock band Eagles. It was recorded at Island Studios in London, United Kingdom and released in... Read more

Mir Akbar Khyber Is Assassinated

In 1978 a prominent member of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), Mir Akbar Khyber (or “Kaibar”), was killed by the government.... Read more

Motörhead release Iron Fist

Iron Fist is the fifth album by the British band Motörhead. Released on 17 April 1982, it peaked at #6 on the UK album charts. It was preceded by... Read more

Osama bin Laden in the Soviet-Afghan War

It was the eve of April 17, 1987 when Osama bin Laden led his assault in the Soviet-Afghan War. It was his first company lsized attack in the... Read more

Bulger Appears on "America's Most Wanted"

Just in case the photographs on the FBI wanted posters don't do justice to fugitive gangster James "Whitey" Bulger, the FBI is showing America a... Read more

Boston Red Sox defeat Seattle Mariners, 7-6

This was all new to him, the visitor from Southern California said, this quirky regional holiday known as Patriots Day (''Got to have something to... Read more

Nine Inch Nails releases Year Zero

Year Zero is the fifth studio album by American industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released on April 17, 2007, by Interscope Records. Frontman... Read more

Raila Odinga Becomes the New Prime Minister of Kenya

Raila Amollo Odinga (born January 7, 1945) is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He... Read more

Boston Red Sox defeat Baltimore Orioles, 10-8

The Red Sox' offense didn't need warm weather or more time or new players. It needed a challenge. Brad Penny's second-inning implosion last night -... Read more

Minnesota Twins defeat Los Angeles Angels, 11-9

Torii Hunter has spent recent days talking about the baseball field being a haven during troubling times and how there's healing in laughter, but... Read more

Ray Harron refuses to testify about X-rays

Radiologist Ray Harron refuses to testify about X-rays he read twice with different results, according to railroad company CSX... Read more