March 17th: All Facts & Events That Happened Today In History

HISTORICAL EVENTS

• 1762: The first government in the world that chose to adopt a flag with vertical stripes was established in the Dutch Republic.
• 1855: The Colchester earthquake, one of the most significant earthquakes recorded in Britain, struck Colchester, England.
• 1948: The Soviet Union announced that it was withdrawing troops from Iran after Iranian leader Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi threatened to cut off oil supplies to the Soviet Union.
• 1966: Off the coast of Spain, the oil tanker SS Torrey Canyon ran aground, resulting in the largest oil spill in history at that time.
• 1992: A referendum in South Africa produced a majority in favor of ending apartheid and allowing full political representation for the black majority.

SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS

• 1869: Dmitri Mendeleev presented the first periodic table of elements to the Russian Chemical Society.
• 1912: The Camp-Hays transformation, a mathematical transformation used in astronomy to convert celestial coordinates, was introduced by Archibald Campbell Davidson.
• 1953: American scientist James Watson and British scientist Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA, the genetic material of living organisms.
• 1988: British scientists successfully cloned a human embryo for the first time, using a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer.
• 2008: The Kepler space satellite, designed to search for Earth-like planets orbiting other stars, was launched by NASA.

POLITICAL MILESTONES

• 432: Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, died in Saul, County Down, Ireland.
• 1801: The Kingdom of Ireland merged with the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, under the Act of Union.
• 1949: The North Atlantic Treaty was signed, establishing the NATO alliance for collective defense among Western European nations and North America.
• 1969: Golda Meir became the first female Prime Minister of Israel.
• 2011: Protests against government corruption and lack of political freedoms began in Syria, marking the start of the Syrian Civil War.

CULTURAL EVENTS

• 1776: The first performance of “The Marriage of Figaro,” an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, took place in Vienna, Austria.
• 1901: The opera “Salome” by Richard Strauss premiered at the Royal Opera House in Dresden, Germany.
• 1939: The film “Gone with the Wind” won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, at the 11th Academy Awards ceremony.
• 1988: The Irish rock band U2 released their album “Rattle and Hum,” which featured live performances and collaborations with other artists.
• 2013: Pope Francis was officially inaugurated as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the first Pope from the Americas.

BIRTHS

• 1901: Alfred Newman, American composer and conductor (d. 1970)
• 1919: Nat King Cole, American jazz pianist and singer (d. 1965)
• 1949: Patrick Duffy, American actor
• 1972: Mia Hamm, American soccer player
• 1986: Brittany Daniel, American actress

NOTABLE DEATHS

• 461: Saint Patrick, Christian missionary and patron saint of Ireland
• 1992: William Hanna, American animator and film producer, co-founder of Hanna-Barbera Productions (b. 1910)
• 2002: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother of the United Kingdom (b. 1900)
• 2011: Michael Gough, English actor (b. 1916)
• 2019: Agnès Varda, Belgian-born French film director and artist (b. 1928)

Conclusion

March 17th has witnessed numerous significant historical events, scientific breakthroughs, political milestones, cultural events, as well as births and notable deaths. From the establishment of the first government adopting a flag with vertical stripes to the discovery of DNA’s structure by Watson and Crick, and from the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty to the inauguration of Pope Francis, this day in history holds a diverse range of events that have shaped the world we live in. It serves as a reminder of how the past continues to influence our present and future.

FAQs

Q: What are some historical events that occurred on March 17th?

A: Some historical events that occurred on March 17th include the Colchester earthquake in 1855 and the referendum in South Africa in 1992 that ended apartheid.

Q: What scientific breakthroughs happened on March 17th?

A: On March 17th, notable scientific breakthroughs include Mendeleev presenting the first periodic table of elements in 1869 and the cloning of a human embryo in 1988.

Q: Are there any political milestones associated with March 17th?

A: Yes, political milestones on March 17th include the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 and the appointment of Golda Meir as the first female Prime Minister of Israel in 1969.

Q: What cultural events took place on March 17th?

A: Cultural events on March 17th include the first performance of Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro” in 1776 and the release of U2’s album “Rattle and Hum” in 1988.

Q: Who were some notable individuals born on March 17th?

A: Notable individuals born on March 17th include Nat King Cole, Mia Hamm, and Brittany Daniel.

Q: Who are some notable individuals who died on March 17th?

A: Notable individuals who died on March 17th include Saint Patrick, William Hanna (co-founder of Hanna-Barbera), and Agnès Varda (film director and artist).