What are the important events that happened on February 17? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
February 17: Facts & Myths About This Day
February 17 is the 48th day of the year 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 318 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Saturday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is February 4, 2024 – a Saturday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 1,708,128,000 seconds has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.
Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘tetracontaoctagon’ day.
Aquarius is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Amethyst is the modern birthstone for this month. Bloodstone is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 347 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.
The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,075 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
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February 17 Historical Events
- 1753 –In Sweden February 17 is followed by March 1 as the country moves from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.
- 1854 –The United Kingdom recognizes the independence of the Orange Free State.
- 1864 –American Civil War: The Ship becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.
- 1924 –In Miami, Florida, Johnny Weissmuller sets a new world record in the 100 meters freestyle swimming competition with a time of 57.4 seconds.
- 1944 –World War II: Operation Hailstone begins. U.S. naval air, surface, and submarine attack against Truk (Chuuk), Japan’s main base in the central Pacific, in support of the Eniwetok invasion.
- 1944 –World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok Atoll begins. The battle ends in an American victory on February 22.
- 1964 –Gabonese president Leon M'ba is toppled by a coup and his rival, Jean-Hilaire Aubame, is installed in his place.
- 1969 –New Year’s Day in Chinese calendar. Start of the year of the Earth Rooster in Chinese astrology.
- 1972 –Sales of the Volkswagen Beetle exceed those of the Ford Model-T.
- 2003 –The London Congestion Charge scheme begins.
Who were born on February 17?
- 1723 –Tobias Mayer, German astronomer (d. 1762)
- 1781 –René Laënnec, French physician (d. 1826)
- 1862 –Mori Ōgai, Japanese novelist and poet (d. 1922)
- 1914 –Arthur Kennedy, American actor (d. 1990)
- 1929 –Patricia Routledge, English actress
- 1948 –José José, Mexican singer and actor
- 1968 –Bryan Cox, American football player
- 1971 –Jeremy Edwards, British actor
- 1984 –Sadha, Indian film actress
- 1992 –Meaghan Jette Martin, American actress and singer
Who died on February 17?
- 1371 –Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
- 1673 –Molière, French playwright (b. 1622)
- 1780 –Andreas Felix von Oefele, German historian and librarian (b. 1706)
- 1883 –Napoleon Coste, French guitarist and composer (b. 1806)
- 1883 –Vasudeo Balwant Phadke, Indian revolutionary (b. 1845)
- 1912 –Edgar Evans, Welsh naval officer (b. 1876)
- 1934 –Siegbert Tarrasch, German chess player (b. 1862)
- 1962 –Bruno Walter, German conductor (b. 1876)
- 1962 –Joseph Kearns, American actor (b. 1907)
- 2007 –Mike Awesome, American professional wrestler (b. 1965)
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