July 17: What Happened on This Day in History
July 17th marks the 198th day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 199th in case of leap years). There are 167 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on July 17th in history, famous birthdays on July 17th, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to July 17.
What happened on July 17?
Here's what happened on July 17th in history:
- 2021: An armed group abducted three Chinese nationals and two Mauritanians from a construction site in Kwala, Mali, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region.
- 2014: Typhoon Rammasun (locally known as Glenda) caused significant destruction in the Philippines, resulting in at least 38 deaths and eight missing persons. The typhoon subsequently moved towards China and Vietnam, with Quezon province declared in a state of calamity.
- 2004: Pat Roach, a prominent British professional wrestler and actor known for his roles in films and television, passed away at the age of 67. Roach was recognized for his significant contributions to wrestling and entertainment.
- 2002: Apple introduced its calendar application iCal at the Macworld Expo in New York City. The program's icon uniquely displays the date of its initial launch (July 17, 2002) when the application is not in active use. This release was part of Apple's continued innovation in personal productivity software during the early 2000s.
- 2000: On July 17, 2000, Bashar al-Assad assumed office as the 10th President of Syria, succeeding his father Hafez al-Assad. This marked a significant transition of power in Syrian political leadership and would have profound implications for the country's future political trajectory.
- 1995: Juan Manuel Fangio, legendary Argentine racing driver and five-time Formula One World Champion, passed away. Known as 'El Maestro', Fangio is widely considered one of the greatest Formula One drivers in history.
- 1994: Nick Price wins the 123rd British Open Golf Championship at Turnberry, Scotland, with an impressive total score of 268, showcasing exceptional skill and precision in the tournament.
- 1988: Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros won the 117th British Golf Open at Royal Lytham, shooting an impressive total score of 273 and demonstrating his exceptional golfing skills.
- 1985: Tom Fletcher, a prominent British musician, singer-songwriter, and member of the popular pop-rock band McFly, was born on this date. Fletcher would later become known for his significant contributions to the UK music scene and his work with McFly and McBusted.
- 1981: The theatrical production 'This is Burlesque' concluded its run at the Princess Theater in New York City after a brief 28-performance engagement.
What famous birthdays are on July 17?
On July 17th there are the following famous birthdays:
![David Hasselhoff]()
David Hasselhoff (1952)David Hasselhoff is an iconic American actor and singer, famous for starring in 'Knight Rider' and 'Baywatch', who became a global...
![Phyllis Diller]()
Phyllis Diller (1917)Pioneering American comedian known for her eccentric stage persona, self-deprecating humor, and groundbreaking comedy performances in the...
![Mithun Chakraborty]()
Mithun Chakraborty (1950)Mithun Chakraborty is a prominent Indian actor who dominated Bollywood cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, known for his versatile...
![Donald Sutherland]()
Donald Sutherland (1935)Renowned Canadian-American actor with a prolific career spanning over six decades, known for versatile roles in film, television, and...
![Art Linkletter]()
Art Linkletter (1912)Art Linkletter was a legendary Canadian-American radio and television host known for his popular shows 'People Are Funny', 'House Party',...
![Diahann Carroll]()
Diahann Carroll (1935)Groundbreaking African American actress and singer who broke racial barriers, first Black woman to star in her own TV series with 'Julia',...
![Mélanie Thierry]()
Mélanie Thierry (1981)French actress known for her versatile roles in cinema and theater, particularly recognized for her performance in the science fiction film...
![Phoebe Snow]()
Phoebe Snow (1950)Phoebe Snow was an acclaimed American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 hit 'Poetry Man' and her influential folk-jazz musical...
![Lucie Arnaz]()
Lucie Arnaz (1951)Lucie Arnaz is an American actress from a famous entertainment family, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
![Eric Winter]()
Eric Winter (1976)Eric Winter is an American actor and model known for his roles in television series and films, with a successful career in entertainment.
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on July 17?
On July 17th the following celebrities died:
![Billie Holiday]()
Billie Holiday (1959)Legendary jazz and blues singer known as 'Lady Day', whose distinctive voice and emotional depth revolutionized American music and...
![Walter Cronkite]()
Walter Cronkite (2009)Legendary CBS News anchor who was a trusted voice of journalism during pivotal moments in American history, including the Vietnam War and...
![Elaine Stritch]()
Elaine Stritch (2014)Legendary Broadway and television actress known for her distinctive gravelly voice and powerful performances.
- John Coltrane (1967)
John Coltrane was a legendary jazz saxophonist and composer who revolutionized modern jazz with his innovative improvisational style.
- John Lewis (2020)
Prominent American civil rights leader and long-serving congressman who was a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
- Alexei Nikolaevich (1918)
Tsarevich of Russia, son of the last Russian imperial family, executed in 1918.
- Katharine Graham (2001)
Katharine Graham was a pioneering American publisher who led The Washington Post during the critical Watergate scandal, transforming...
- Charlotte Corday (1793)
Charlotte Corday was a French Girondin sympathizer who assassinated the Jacobin leader Jean-Paul Marat during the French Revolution.
- Jules Bianchi (2015)
Jules Bianchi was a talented French Formula One racing driver who tragically died from injuries sustained during the 2014 Japanese Grand...
What day of the year is July 17?
July 17th marks the 198th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 199th in case of leap years).
There are 167 days remaining until the end of the year.
July 17th is the 17th day of the month of July.
What day of the week is July 17?
On July 17th, 2025 the day of the week is Thursday.
| July | 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |||
What zodiac sign is associated with the day July 17?
The zodiac sign associated with July 17th is Cancer according to the Western Zodiac.
