Today In History [17th May, 2015]

A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.

Today in History
May 17

1540           Afgan chief Sher Khan defeats Mongul Emperor Humayun at Kanauj.
1630           Italian Jesuit Niccolo Zucchi sees the belts on Jupiter's surface.
1681           Louis XIV sends and expedition to aid James II in Ireland. As a result, England declares war on France.
1756           Britain declares war on France.
1792           Merchants form the New York Stock Exchange at 70 Wall Street.
1814           Denmark cedes Norway to Sweden.
1863           Union General Ulysses Grant continues his push towards Vicksburg at the Battle of the Big Black River Bridge.
1875           The first Kentucky Derby is run in Louisville.
1881           Frederick Douglass is appointed recorder of deeds for Washington, D.C.
1940           Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium and begins the invasion of France.
1954           The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rules for school integration in Brown v. Board of Education.
1973           The Senate Watergate Committee begins its hearings.

Born on May 17
1444           Sandro Botticelli, painter (The Birth of Venus).
1749           Edward Jenner, physician.
1836           Joseph Norman Lockyer, British astonomer, discovered helium.
1866           Erik Alfred Leslie Satie, French composer.
1900           Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iranian religious leader.
1903           James "Cool Papa" Bell, baseball player.
1912           Archibald Cox, special prosecutor in the Watergate hearings, fired by President Nixon.