17 August
What happened today in history?
- 1668 – 8000 are killed by an earthquake in Anatolia, Ottoman Empire.
- 1771 – The first recorded ascent of Ben Nevis is completed by James Robertson, a Scottish botanist.
- 1982 – First compact discs (CDs) are released to the public.
- 2008 – Michael Phelps becomes the first winner of 8 gold medals in one Olympic Games.
Who was born today?
- 1786 – Davy Crockett – American soldier and folk hero.
- 1893 – Mae West – American actress.
- 1930 – Ted Hughes – English poet and author.
- 1943 – Robert De Niro – American actor (Taxi Driver, The Godfather Part II, Goodfellas).
- 1960 – Sean Penn – American actor and director.
- 1970 – Jim Courier – American tennis player.
- 1977 – Thierry Henry – French footballer.
Who died today?
- 1983 – Ira Gershwin – American songwriter.
- 2007 – Bill Deedes – Engllish journalist.
