Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 17, Sunday December 1843, Charles Dickens’s novella A Christmas Carol is first published in London, England. Released on December 19, it sells out by Christmas Eve.
On 17, Tuesday December 1918, The Darwin Rebellion takes place, with 1,000 demonstrators demanding the resignation of the Administrator of the Northern Territory, John A. Gilruth.
On 17, Tuesday December 1918, Darwin Rebellion in Australia: Disaffected workers march on Government House, Darwin, demanding the resignation of the Administrator of the Northern Territory, John A. Gilruth.
On 17, Tuesday December 1918, Dusty Anderson born, American actress, model
On 17, Friday December 1943, Ron Geesin born, British musician and songwriter (Pink Floyd)
On 17, Friday December 1943, Rick Nolan born, American politician
On 17, Tuesday December 1968, In England, Mary Bell, aged 11, is found guilty of murdering two small boys and sentenced to life in detention, but is later released from prison in 1980 and granted anonymity.
On 17, Tuesday December 1968, Paul Tracy born, Canadian race car driver
On 17, Sunday December 1978, Manny Pacquiao born, Filipino boxer and politician
On 17, Sunday December 1978, Chase Utley born, American baseball player
On 17, Saturday December 1988, David Rudisha born, Kenyan middle-distance runner
On 17, Saturday December 1988, Rin Takanashi born, Japanese film and television actress
On 17, Saturday December 1988, Jerry Hopper died, American film and television director (b. 1907)
On 17, Friday December 1993, Ralph Willis replaces John Dawkins as Federal Treasurer after John Dawkins goes to the backbench, announcing his imminent retirement.
On 17, Friday December 1993, Kiersey Clemons born, American actress and singer
On 17, Friday December 1993, Janet Margolin died, American actress (b. 1943)
On 17, Thursday December 1998, Martin Ødegaard born, Norwegian footballer
On 17, Thursday December 1998, Jasmine Armfield born, English actress
On 17, Thursday December 1998, Claudia Benton died, Peruvian-born child psychologist (b. 1959)
On 17, Tuesday December 2013, Cricket: Australia regains The Ashes for the first time in seven years, after winning the first three tests of the 2013–14 Ashes series.
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch
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