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, Saturday March 1894, Paul Green, novelist, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, born (d. 1981)
On 17, Monday March 1919, Nat King Cole, African-American singer (“Unforgettable”), born (d. 1965)
On 17, Friday March 1944, Pattie Boyd, English model and first wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton, born
On 17, Friday March 1944, John Sebastian, American singer-songwriter (The Lovin’ Spoonful)
On 17, Friday March 1944, Mario Bravo, Argentinian politician and writer, died (b. 1862)
On 17, Tuesday March 1959, Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama escapes Tibet, arrives in India.
On 17, Tuesday March 1959, Danny Ainge, American basketball player, coach and baseball player, born
On 17, Tuesday March 1959, Ken Lo, Hong Kong actor and member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, born
On 17, Tuesday March 1959, Galaktion Tabidze, Georgian poet, died (b. 1891)
On 17, Monday March 1969, Alison Forman, football (soccer) midfielder, born
On 17, Monday March 1969, Golda Meir becomes the first female prime minister of Israel.
On 17, Monday March 1969, The Longhope life-boat is lost after answering a mayday call during severe storms in the Pentland Firth between Orkney and the northern tip of Scotland; the entire crew of 8 die.
On 17, Monday March 1969, Alexander McQueen, British fashion designer, born (d. 2010)
On 17, Saturday March 1979, The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the U.K. collapses, killing two workers.
On 17, Saturday March 1979, Samoa Joe, American wrestler, born
On 17, Friday March 1989, First day of the Australian Track & Field Championships for the 1988–1989 season, which are held at the QEII Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland.
On 17, Friday March 1989, Donald Friend, artist, died (born 1915)
On 17, Friday March 1989, The Civic Tower of Pavia, built in the eleventh century, collapses.
On 17, Friday March 1989, Alfredo Cristiani is elected as President of El Salvador.
On 17, Friday March 1989, Mason Musso, American singer, born
On 17, Friday March 1989, Shinji Kagawa, Japanese football player, born
On 17, Friday March 1989, Merritt Butrick, American actor, died (b. 1959)
On 17, Thursday March 1994, Ellsworth Vines, American tennis player, died (b. 1911)
On 17, Thursday March 1994, Mai Zetterling, Swedish actor and director, died (b. 1925)
On 17, Wednesday March 1999, Ernest Gold, Austrian-born composer, died (b. 1921)
On 17, Tuesday March 2009, The President of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, is overthrown in a coup d’état, following a month of unrest in Antananarivo.
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch
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