What Happened on February 17 in History?
February 17 is marked by significant political transitions, pioneering scientific achievements, and major cultural milestones.
Political & Global Milestones
Jefferson Elected President (1801): After a deadlocked Electoral College, the U.S. House of Representatives broke a tie on the 36th ballot to elect Thomas Jefferson as the third U.S. President, defeating Aaron Burr.
Kosovo Declares Independence (2008): Kosovo formally declared its independence from Serbia, becoming one of Europe's youngest nations, though its recognition remains a point of international dispute.
Red Cross Foundations (1863): A group of citizens in Geneva, Switzerland, formed the "International Committee for Relief to the Wounded," the direct precursor to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
China Invades Vietnam (1979): Tensions between the two nations escalated into a month-long border conflict known as the Sino-Vietnamese War.
Science & Technology
First Weather Satellite (1959): The U.S. launched Vanguard 2, the first satellite designed to measure cloud-cover distribution and weather patterns from space.
Deep Blue vs. Kasparov (1996): In a landmark moment for artificial intelligence, world chess champion Garry Kasparov defeated IBM’s supercomputer "Deep Blue" in their first match (though the computer won the rematch a year later).
Volkswagen Record (1972): The Volkswagen Beetle overtook the Ford Model T as the world’s best-selling car after the 15,007,034th unit rolled off the assembly line.
Culture & Entertainment
The Armory Show Opens (1913): This massive art exhibition in New York City introduced the American public to modernism, featuring works by Picasso, van Gogh, and Matisse.
Madama Butterfly Premiere (1904): Giacomo Puccini’s legendary opera premiered at La Scala in Milan; despite a poor initial reception, it became one of the most performed operas in history.
Newsweek Debuts (1933): The first issue of the prominent American news magazine was published.
Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show Debut (2014): Jimmy Fallon took over as host of The Tonight Show on NBC, succeeding Jay Leno.
Notable Birthdays & Deaths
Born (1963): Michael Jordan, legendary NBA player and six-time champion.
Born (1991): Ed Sheeran, global pop superstar and singer-songwriter.
Born (1981): Paris Hilton, media personality and entrepreneur.
Died (1600): Giordano Bruno, philosopher and mathematician, was burned at the stake for heresy after proposing that stars were distant suns.
Died (1909): Geronimo, the historic Apache leader and warrior, died in captivity at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
