1558
Politics
Accession to the throne of England and Ireland
Elizabeth succeeds her half-sister Mary I and is proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland as the last Tudor monarch.
View detailsThis Day
17November
20 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1558
Politics
Accession to the throne of England and Ireland
On Mary I’s death, Elizabeth acceded to the throne as Queen of England and Ireland, inaugurating the Elizabethan Age.
View details1558
Politics
Proclamation of Elizabeth as Queen
Elizabeth was formally proclaimed queen by the Privy Council, marking the start of the reign later known as the Elizabethan Age.
View details1558
Politics
Death of Mary I of England
Mary died in London after a short illness. She was succeeded by Elizabeth I.
View details1720
Science
Pleads pregnancy to delay execution
Bonny and Read successfully 'pleaded the belly,' claiming pregnancy, which led the Jamaican court to stay their execution.
View details1796
Science
Death of Catherine II
Catherine II dies in Saint Petersburg on 17 November 1796 at age 67, ending her 34-year reign as Empress of Russia.
View details1796
Politics
Death of Catherine the Great
Empress Catherine II dies at Tsarskoye Selo on 17 November 1796 at age 67, ending the longest reign of any female ruler in Russian history.
View details1878
Activism
Born in Grand Island, Nebraska
Grace Abbott was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, on November 17, 1878.
View details1934
Politics
Marriage to Lyndon B. Johnson
Claudia Alta Taylor married Lyndon B. Johnson in San Antonio, Texas, beginning a political partnership that led to the White House.
View details1969
Science
First Broadway theatre named for her: the Helen Hayes Theatre
The former Fulton Theatre was rededicated as the Helen Hayes Theatre, making her the first woman honored with a Broadway theatre in her name.
View details1971
Politics
Speech at Association of the Army banquet as first WAC general
Hoisington delivered a recorded banquet address on November 17, 1971, as the first Women's Army Corps officer to become a general.
View details1995
Science
Center renamed the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The University of Texas System Board of Regents renamed the National Wildflower Research Center as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in her honor.
View details2004
Activism
Death of Margaret Hassan
Margaret Hassan was killed on November 17, 2004, after being kidnapped in Iraq.
View details2010
Literature
National Book Award for Nonfiction for 'Just Kids'
Patti Smith's memoir *Just Kids* wins National Book Award for Nonfiction on November 17, 2010.
View details2011
Literature
Honorary Membership, American Academy of Arts and Letters
Elected honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
View details2013
Science
Death of Doris Lessing
Doris Lessing died on November 17, 2013, in London at age 94, leaving behind a literary legacy spanning over sixty years and more than fifty published works.
View details2014
Arts
Receives Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award
On November 17, 2014, Lansing received the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award.
View details2022
Politics
Announces she will not seek re-election as House Democratic leader
On the House floor, Pelosi announces she will not seek re‑election as House Democratic leader, ending a landmark leadership era.
View details2023
Science
Appointed interim CEO of OpenAI
Mira Murati served as interim CEO of OpenAI, guiding the company through a leadership transition.
View details2024
