February 17th
1600
Italian philospher, alchemist, and Copernican theory advocate Giordano Bruno was burned at the stake for heresy by the Inquisition.
1801
The electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr was broken by the House of Representatives who elected Jefferson president.
1817
Baltimore became the first U.S. city lit by gas.
1864
The Confederate submarine Hunley, equipped with an explosive at the end of a protruding spar, rammed and sank the Union's ship Housatonic off the coast of Charleston, S.C.
1904
Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly premiered in Milan.
1933
Newsweek magazine was first published.
1943
Joe DiMaggio (New York Yankees) joined the U.S. Army as a voluntary inductee.
1976
The Eagles' album "Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)" was released.
1992
Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced in Milwaukee to life in prison.
1996
Chess champion Garry Kasparov beat the IBM computer, Deep Blue, winning the six-game match.
2007
Professional wrestler Mike Awesome died at age 42.
Birthdays
73 Jim Brown Football Hall of Famer
55 Rene Russo Actress
53 Richard Karn Actor
47 Lou Diamond Phillips Actor
46 Michael Jordan Basketball player
46 Larry the Cable Guy Actor, comedian ("Blue Collar TV")
44 Michael Bay Director
41 Bryan Cox Football player
38 Denise Richards Actress
37 Billie Joe Armstrong Rock musician (Green Day)
35 Jerry O'Connell Actor
33 Kelly Carlson Actress ("Nip/Tuck")
29 Jason Ritter Actor ("Joan of Arcadia")
29
GKitty Cigar Asylum Inmate
28 Joseph Gordon-Levitt Actor ("3rd Rock From the Sun")
28 Paris Hilton Heiress, reality tv personality
27 Brian Bruney Baseball player (New York Yankees)
23
gettysburgfreak Cigar Asylum Inmate
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SDmate Cigar Asylum Inmate
70 A. Montgomery Ward 2/17/1843 - 12/7/1913 American mail-order merchant
82 Thomas J. Watson, Sr. 2/17/1874 - 6/19/1956 American industrialist who built IBM
71 Wally Pippp 2/17/1893 - 1/11/1965 New York Yankee who lost his starting job to Lou Gehrig
84 Red Barber 2/17/1908 - 10/22/1992 American baseball broadcaster
75 Arthur Kennedy 2/17/1914 - 1/5/1990 American character actor