March 17: What Happened on This Day in History
March 17th marks the 76th day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 77th in case of leap years). There are 289 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on March 17th in history, famous birthdays on March 17th, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to March 17.
What happened on March 17?
Here's what happened on March 17th in history:
- 2013: A devastating car bombing near the Garmat Ali bus station in Basra, Iraq, resulted in at least 10 fatalities. The attack underscored the ongoing security challenges and sectarian tensions in the region.
- 2008: The stock market witnessed a dramatic 20 percent decline in the value of shares for American investment bank Lehman Brothers, signaling deepening financial instability during the emerging global economic crisis.
- 2006: The Naval Vessel Register officially records the United States' two remaining Iowa-class battleships, symbolically concluding the historic battleship age in naval warfare. These massive warships, which played crucial roles in multiple conflicts from World War II through the Gulf War, were finally retired from active service.
- 1991: Irish Lesbians and Gays made a significant statement by marching in the St. Patrick's Day parade, representing an important moment of visibility and social progress for LGBTQ+ rights in Ireland.
- 1990: Capucine (born Germaine Lefebvre in 1931), a renowned French actress known for her roles in international cinema, passed away.
- 1987: IBM released PC-DOS version 3.3, a significant update to its personal computer operating system that enhanced functionality and performance for IBM PC users.
- 1986: Olesya Rulin, a Russian-born actress, was born on this date. She would later become known for her roles in various films and television series, representing the growing international presence of actors in Hollywood.
- 1983: Haldan Keffer Hartline, a distinguished American physiologist who made significant contributions to understanding the neurophysiology of vision, passed away. Hartline was a Nobel Prize laureate recognized for his groundbreaking research on the functional mechanisms of the visual system, particularly in studying the neural processes of visual perception.
- 1978: The Amoco Cadiz oil tanker ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France, resulting in a catastrophic environmental disaster. Approximately 1.6 million gallons of crude oil were spilled into the ocean, causing significant ecological damage to marine and coastal ecosystems.
- 1975: Andrew "Test" Martin, a notable Canadian professional wrestler, was born on this date, who would later become known for his career in professional wrestling organizations.
What famous birthdays are on March 17?
On March 17th there are the following famous birthdays:
![Gary Sinise]()
Gary Sinise (1955)Gary Sinise is a renowned American actor, director, and musician, famous for his powerful performances in films like Forrest Gump and Apollo...
![Olesya Rulin]()
Olesya Rulin (1986)American actress known for her role in the High School Musical film series, particularly as Katherine 'Kate' McKessie in the Disney...
![Kurt Russell]()
Kurt Russell (1951)Kurt Russell is a renowned American actor who began his career as a child actor with Disney and later transitioned to successful film roles.
![John Boyega]()
John Boyega (1992)John Boyega is a prominent British actor best known for his breakthrough role as Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, which significantly...
![Rob Lowe]()
Rob Lowe (1964)Prominent American actor known for his roles in television and film, with a successful career spanning several decades and notable...
![Lesley-Anne Down]()
Lesley-Anne Down (1954)British actress known for her role in the iconic TV series 'Upstairs Downstairs'.
![Brigitte Helm]()
Brigitte Helm (1908)Famous German actress best known for her iconic role in Fritz Lang's groundbreaking silent film 'Metropolis' (1927), where she portrayed...
![Patti Hansen]()
Patti Hansen (1956)Patti Hansen is a renowned American model and actress who rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, famously married to Rolling Stones...
![Clare Grogan]()
Clare Grogan (1962)Scottish actress and lead singer of the 1980s pop group 'Altered Images', known for her role in 'Gregory's Girl' and the hit song 'Happy...
![Rudy Ray Moore]()
Rudy Ray Moore (1937)Pioneering African American comedian and actor known for his influential comedy albums and blaxploitation films like 'Dolemite'.
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 March 17?
On March 17th the following celebrities died:
![Helen Hayes]()
Helen Hayes (1993)Helen Hayes was a renowned American actress who began her stage career as a child prodigy and became an Oscar and Emmy-nominated performer.
![Michael Gough]()
Michael Gough (2011)Renowned English actor known for his versatile roles in film and television, including appearances in Batman films and numerous stage...
![Mai Zetterling]()
Mai Zetterling (1994)Swedish actress, film director, and writer known for her avant-garde cinema and feminist perspectives.
- Christian Doppler (1853)
Discovered the Doppler effect, which explains the change in frequency of a wave as the source and observer move relative to each other.
- Luchino Visconti (1976)
Renowned Italian film director and screenwriter, a key figure of neorealist cinema who created masterpieces like 'Rocco and His Brothers'...
- Lance Reddick (2023)
Acclaimed American actor known for roles in 'The Wire', 'John Wick' series, and 'Destiny' video game franchise.
- George F. Kennan (2005)
Renowned American diplomat and historian who was a key architect of the US Cold War containment policy towards the Soviet Union.
- Ronnie Kray (1995)
Ronnie Kray was a notorious British gangster, part of the infamous Kray twins who dominated London's criminal underworld in the 1950s and...
What day of the year is March 17?
March 17th marks the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 77th in case of leap years).
There are 289 days remaining until the end of the year.
March 17th is the 17th day of the month of March.
What zodiac sign is associated with the day March 17?
The zodiac sign associated with March 17th is Pisces according to the Western Zodiac.
