Osun Defender History Corner: January 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.

January 17, 395

The Roman Emperor Theodosius I dies, leading to the division of the Roman Empire between his two sons.

January 17, 1377

Pope Gregory XI moves the papacy back to Rome from Avignon, ending the Avignon Papacy.

January 17, 1781

American Revolutionary War: Battle of Cowpens – American forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan defeat British forces.

January 17, 1893

The overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii takes place as a group of American sugar planters led by Sanford Dole deposes Queen Liliuokalani.

January 17, 1929

Popeye the Sailor Man, a cartoon character created by E.C. Segar, first appears in the Thimble Theatre comic strip.

January 17, 1945

Soviet forces liberate Warsaw during World War II.

January 17, 1961

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers his farewell address, warning about the growing influence of the “military-industrial complex.”

January 17, 1977

Convicted murderer Gary Gilmore is executed by a firing squad in Utah, marking the end of a decade-long moratorium on the death penalty in the United States.

January 17, 1991

Operation Desert Storm begins, as coalition forces led by the United States launch a massive air campaign against Iraq during the Gulf War.

January 17, 1994

The 6.7 Northridge earthquake strikes Southern California, causing widespread damage and resulting in numerous fatalities.

January 17, 1995

The Great Hanshin earthquake devastates Kobe, Japan, resulting in the deaths of over 6,000 people.

January 17, 2001

The U.S. government announces the capture of al-Qaeda operative Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, a key planner of the September 11 attacks.

January 17, 2002

Mount Nyiragongo erupts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, displacing thousands of people and causing widespread destruction.

January 17, 2010

Rioting and civil unrest break out in several Tunisian cities, marking the beginning of the Arab Spring.

January 17, 2013

A hostage crisis at a natural gas facility in Algeria ends with the deaths of 39 foreign hostages and 29 militants.

January 17, 2016

The World Health Organization declares the Zika virus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

January 17, 2018

A false missile alert is sent out in Hawaii, causing panic and confusion among the residents before the error is corrected.

January 17, 2019

A car bomb explodes in Bogotá, Colombia, killing 21 people and injuring dozens during a police academy graduation ceremony.

January 17, 2020

The first case of COVID-19 is reported in the United States, marking the beginning of the global pandemic.

January 17, 2022

In a historic mission, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is launched to study the universe’s earliest galaxies and the formation of stars and planets.

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