November 17

Facts & Historical Events On This Day

2019

A 55-year-old man became the first known person to contract COVID-19.

2014

The legislation was passed, allowing females to be appointed as bishops of The Church of England.

2009

A sequel to LittleBigPlanet was released for the PlayStation Portable.

2006

Sony released the PlayStation 3 console in North America.

1989

This day marked the beginning of The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

1986

The crew aboard Japan Airlines Flight 1628 sighted three potential UFOs above Alaska.

1970

The Soviet Lunokhod 1 became the first robotic lunar rover to land on the Moon's surface.

1922

The Ottoman Empire ended when the last Sultan Mehmed VI was exiled to Malta on a British warship.

1888

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony was performed for the first time in St Petersburg, Russia.

1855

Explorer David Livingstone became the first European to see Victoria Falls.

1837

An earthquake struck Valdivia, south-central Chile, which caused a tsunami that damaged Hawaii, French Polynesia, and Japan.

1800

The US Senate held its first session in the unfinished Capitol Building.

1798

Hundreds of people died after a New England Blizzard.

1603

Writer, explorer, and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh went on trial for suspected treason.

1558

Queen Elizabeth I was coronated and re-established the protestant Church of England.

1278

All of London's Jews (approx. 680) were accused and arrested for coin clipping and counterfeiting.