June 17 in history
Events on June 17
Notable events that happened on June 17 in past years.
- 2021
Juneteenth National Independence Day is signed into law by President Joe Biden, to become the first federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Wikipedia article: Juneteenth - 1992
A "joint understanding" agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. president George Bush and Russian president Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II).
Wikipedia article: George H. W. Bush - 1985
Space Shuttle program: STS-51-G mission: Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Arab and first Muslim in space, as a payload specialist.
Wikipedia article: Space Shuttle program - 1963
A day after South Vietnamese president Ngo Dinh Diem announced the Joint Communiqué to end the Buddhist crisis, a riot involving around 2,000 people breaks out. One person is killed.
Wikipedia article: List of leaders of South Vietnam - 1952
Guatemala passes Decree 900, ordering the redistribution of uncultivated land.
Wikipedia article: Decree 900 - 1940
World War II: The British Army's 11th Hussars assault and take Fort Capuzzo in Libya from Italian forces.
Wikipedia article: 11th Hussars - 1932
Bonus Army: Around a thousand World War I veterans amass at the United States Capitol as the U.S. Senate considers a bill that would give them certain benefits.
Wikipedia article: Bonus Army - 1901
The College Board introduces its first standardized test, the forerunner to the SAT.
Wikipedia article: College Board - 1877
American Indian Wars: Battle of White Bird Canyon: The Nez Perce defeat the U.S. Cavalry at White Bird Canyon in the Idaho Territory.
Wikipedia article: Battle of White Bird Canyon - 1843
The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes place.
Wikipedia article: Wairau Affray - 1794
Foundation of Anglo-Corsican Kingdom.
Wikipedia article: Anglo-Corsican Kingdom - 1767
Samuel Wallis, a British sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island.
Wikipedia article: Samuel Wallis - 1579
Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England.
Wikipedia article: Francis Drake - 1300
Turku Cathedral is consecrated by Bishop Magnus I in the city of Turku (Swedish: Åbo).
- 653
Pope Martin I is arrested and taken to Constantinople, due to his opposition to monothelitism.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0