Osun Defender History Corner: February 17 In Focus

Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashback and recall some events that marked this day.

February 17, 1600

Giordano Bruno, an Italian philosopher, mathematician, and cosmological theorist, is burnt at the stake for heresy in Rome.

February 17, 1753

In Sweden, King Adolf Frederick of Sweden enacts a freedom of the press law, making Sweden the first country in the world to adopt such a law.

February 17, 1801

The U.S. House of Representatives breaks an electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, electing Jefferson as President and Burr as Vice President.

February 17, 1863

The International Red Cross is founded in Geneva, Switzerland, aiming to provide humanitarian aid to victims of conflict.

February 17, 1904

Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Madama Butterfly” premieres at La Scala in Milan, Italy.

February 17, 1925

The first issue of “The New Yorker” magazine is published.

February 17, 1933

The League of Nations holds a meeting in London, discussing the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.

February 17, 1944

Operation Hailstone begins as American naval forces launch an attack on the Japanese base at Truk in the Caroline Islands during World War II.

February 17, 1959

Vanguard 2, the first weather satellite, is launched into Earth’s orbit.

February 17, 1964

In Weslaco, Texas, USA, the first Fiber Optic system is demonstrated by Narinder Singh Kapany.

February 17, 1972

Volkswagen Beetle overtakes Ford Model T as the best-selling car in history.

February 17, 1996

In Philadelphia, world-famous chess player Garry Kasparov defeats the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in a chess match.

February 17, 2008

Kosovo formally declares independence from Serbia.

February 17, 2011

Libyan protests against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime begin.

February 17, 2015

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA announce that 2014 was the warmest year on record.

February 17, 2016

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft enters orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres, marking the first time a spacecraft has orbited a dwarf planet.

February 17, 2018

A mass shooting occurs at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, resulting in 17 deaths and numerous injuries.

February 17, 2019

A fire breaks out at the training ground of Brazilian football club Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, killing ten youth players.

February 17, 2020

The United States and the Taliban sign a peace agreement, aiming to end the 18-year-long war in Afghanistan.

February 17, 2021

NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully lands on Mars, beginning its mission to search for signs of past microbial life and collect samples for future return to Earth.

Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on February 17. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.