1720
Science
Birth of Marie-Geneviève-Charlotte Darlus in Paris
Born in Paris to a wealthy family, the future Geneviève Thiroux d'Arconville would become one of the Enlightenment's most prolific, if anonymous, female scientific writers.
View detailsThis Day
17October
20 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1720
Arts
Birth of Maria Teresa Agnesi in Milan
Maria Teresa Agnesi Pinottini was born in Milan into a wealthy and intellectually vibrant family that would nurture her musical talents from an early age.
View details1864
Literature
Birth of Elinor Glyn
Elinor Glyn was born on the island of Jersey on October 17, 1864.
View details1868
Activism
Death of Laura Secord
Laura Secord passed away on October 17, 1868, in Chippewa, Ontario.
View details1910
Science
Death of Julia Ward Howe
Julia Ward Howe died on October 17, 1910, in Rhode Island at age 91, having lived to see much of her suffrage advocacy bear fruit.
View details1921
Politics
Death in exile in the Seychelles
Yaa Asantewaa died in the Seychelles on October 17, 1921.
View details1956
Science
Birth of Mae Carol Jemison
Mae Carol Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, the youngest of three children.
View details1956
Science
Birth of Mae Jemison
Mae Carol Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama, on October 17, 1956.
View details1957
Politics
First address by a reigning British monarch to the UN General Assembly
She addressed the United Nations, a first for a reigning monarch.
View details1961
Law
First Black woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court
Constance Baker Motley argued Hamilton v. Alabama, her first Supreme Court case.
View details1962
Science
Died in Paris, France
Natalia Goncharova died on October 17, 1962, in Paris, France, where she had lived and worked since 1921.
View details1979
Activism
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize on October 17, 1979, recognizing her humanitarian work.
View details1979
Science
Death of Esther McGowin Blake
Esther McGowin Blake, the first enlisted woman in the United States Air Force, died on October 17, 1979.
View details1989
Arts
Release of debut studio album "Selena"
EMI Latin releases Selena’s self-titled debut studio album, marking her major-label entry into Tejano and Latin music.
View details1991
Politics
Defeat in provincial election
The Social Credit Party, led by Rita Johnston, was defeated on October 17, 1991.
View details1998
Literature
Georg Büchner Prize
Received the prestigious Georg Büchner Prize for her contributions to German-language literature.
View details2002
Sports
Death of Aileen Riggin Soule
Aileen Riggin Soule, pioneering Olympic diving champion and swimmer, died on October 17, 2002, at age 96 in Hawaii.
View details2018
Arts
Presentation of AIGA Medal to Susan Kare
AIGA presented Susan Kare with the 2018 AIGA Medal at the Pasadena Design Conference.
View details2019
Arts
Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement
Susan Kare received Cooper Hewitt's National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019.
View details2019
Science
Death of Alicia Alonso in Havana
Alicia Alonso died in Havana, Cuba, on October 17, 2019, at the age of 98, prompting three days of national mourning.
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