What Happened on February 17?
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events
births
deaths
holidays
EVENTS ON FEBRUARY 17
Columbia, South Carolina
Year:
1865
American Civil War: Columbia, South Carolina, is burned as Confederate forces flee from advancing Union forces.
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American Civil War
Year:
1864
American Civil War: The H. L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.
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Geneva
Year:
1863
A group of citizens of Geneva found an International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, which later became known as the International Committee of the Red Cross.
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Cochinchina campaign
Year:
1859
Cochinchina Campaign: The French Navy captures the Citadel of Saigon, a fortress manned by 1,000 Nguyễn dynasty soldiers, en route to conquering Saigon and other regions of southern Viet Nam.
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Russian Revolution of 1905
Year:
1905
Russian Revolution of 1905: Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia is assassinated in the Moscow Kremlin by Socialist Revolutionary Ivan Kalyayev.
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Armory Show
Year:
1913
The Armory Show opens in New York City, displaying works of artists who are to become some of the most influential painters of the early 20th century.
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February 2016 Ankara bombing
Year:
2016
Military vehicles explode outside a Turkish Armed Forces barracks in Ankara, Turkey, killing at least 29 people and injuring 61 others.
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World War II
Year:
1944
World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok begins. The battle ends in an American victory on February 22.
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BIRTHS ON FEBRUARY 17
Annie Glenn
Year of birth:
1920
Annie Glenn, American disability and communication disorder advocate (died 2020)
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DEATHS ON FEBRUARY 17
Siegbert Tarrasch
Year of death:
1934
Siegbert Tarrasch, German chess player and theoretician (born 1862)
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Willy Hess (violinist)
Year of death:
1939
Willy Hess, German violinist and educator (born 1859)
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Wilfrid Laurier
Year of death:
1919
Wilfrid Laurier, Canadian lawyer and politician, 7th Prime Minister of Canada (born 1841)
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Christopher Latham Sholes
Year of death:
1890
Christopher Latham Sholes, American publisher and politician (born 1819)
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William Bickerton
Year of death:
1905
William Bickerton, English-American religious leader, leader in the Latter Day Saint movement (born 1815)
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HOLIDAYS ON FEBRUARY 17
Kosovo Independence Day
Independence Day, celebrates the independence declaration of Kosovo in 2008, still partially recognized.
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February 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: February 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
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Donatus, Romulus, Secundian, and 86 Companions
Christian feast day: Donatus, Romulus, Secundian, and Companions
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