Major Events
- 1492Christopher Columbus signs a contract with the Spanish monarchs to find the "Indies" with the stated goal of converting people to Catholicism. This promises him 10% of all riches found, and the governorship of any lands encountered.
- 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki is signed ending the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95)
- 1961 1,400 Cuban exiles land in the Bay of Pigs in a doomed attempt to overthrowFidel Castro
- 1982 Canadian Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau andQueen Elizabeth II sign the "Proclamation of the Constitution Act", establishing the "Charter of Rights and Freedoms" as part of the country’s new Constitution
- 2012 The 8th centurySt. Cuthbert Gospel, Europe's oldest intact book, is purchased by the British Library for 9 million pounds
- More April 17 Events
Apr 17 in Film & TV
- 2011 "Game of Thrones", based on the fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin premieres on HBO
Apr 17 in Music
- 1970Paul McCartney releases his 1st solo album "McCartney"
Apr 17 in Sport
- 1860 Champion of England Tom Sayers and American John Heenan fight out brutal 2 hour, 27 minute draw near Farnborough, England; police stop fight acknowledged asfirst world title bout
- 1976 NL greatest comeback: trailing 12-1, Philadelphia Phillies beat Chicago Cubs, 18-16 in 10 innings at Wrigley Field;Mike Schmidt hits 4 consecutive HRs
Did You Know?
The fictional characters inGeoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" begin their pilgrimage to Canterbury (according to scholars)
Marguerite Bourgeoys
J. P. Morgan
Thornton Wilder
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
William Holden
Harry Reasoner
Roddy Piper
Jennifer Garner
Victoria Beckham
Alexander Cartwright
Mikhail Botvinnik
Fun Fact About April 17
Modern Snooker invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain, a bored British officer in Jabalpur, India
Famous Weddings
Famous Divorces
- 2006 American actorEddie Murphy (44) divorces Nicole Mitchell after 13 years of marriage
More April 17 Weddings
Benjamin Franklin
Alexander Mackenzie
Ralph Abernathy
Linda McCartney
Gabriel García Márquez
Doris RobertsArticles, Photos and Quiz
Police Halt Boxing Match
The first "world championship" boxing match was a brutal affair, lasting nearly two and a half hours and stretching over 42 rounds.
April 17, 1860
St. Cuthbert Gospel
The St. Cuthbert Gospel cover and the first page of text
April 17, 2012
Weekly Quiz for April 13 - 19
Who was the first black actor or actress to win an Academy Award? Who shot US President Abraham Lincoln? Is there an effective vaccine for typhoid?
