Today In History [17th August, 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
August 17

1743		By the Treaty of Abo, Sweden cedes southeast Finland to Russia, ending Sweden’s failed war with Russia.
1812		Napoleon Bonaparte’s army defeats the Russians at the Battle of Smolensk during the Russian retreat to Moscow.
1833		The first steam ship to cross the Atlantic entirely on its own power, the Canadian ship Royal William, begins her journey from Nova Scotia to The Isle of Wight.
1863		Union gunboats attack Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, for the first time.
1942		Marine Raiders attack Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands from two submarines.
1943		Allied forces complete the conquest of Sicily.
1944		The mayor of Paris, Pierre Charles Tattinger, meets with the German commander Dietrich von Choltitz to protest the explosives being deployed throughout the city.
1945		Upon hearing confirmation that Japan has surrendered, Sukarno proclaims Indonesia’s independence.
1960		American Francis Gary Powers pleads guilty at his Moscow trial for spying over the Soviet Union in a U-2 plane.
1978		Three Americans complete the first crossing of the Atlantic in a balloon.
1987		93-year-old Rudolf Hess, former Nazi leader and deputy of Hitler, is found hanged to death in Spandau Prison.
1988		Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq is killed in an airplane crash suspected of being an assassination.
1998		President Bill Clinton admits to the American public that he had affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
1999		A 7.4-magnitude earthquake near Izmit, Turkey kills over 17,000 and injures nearly 45,000.
2005		Israel begins the first forced evacuation of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank, as part of a unilateral disengagement plan.
2012		Moscow’s top court upholds ban of gay pride events in Russia’s capital city for 100 years.
Born on August 17
1786		Davy Crockett, American frontiersman and politician who died in the defense of the Alamo.
1882		Samuel Goldwyn, American movie mogul who helped start MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer).
1887		Marcus Garvey, Jamaican-born black nationalist who advocated the departure of African-Americans back to Africa.
1890		Harry Hopkins, who organized the Works Projects Administration under President Roosevelt.
1892		Mae West, American actress in burlesque, vaudeville, Broadway and movies.
1923		Larry Rovers, painter and sculptor.
1932		John (Red) Kerr, basketball coach.
1943		Robert DeNiro, American actor, won Oscars for his roles in The Godfather Part II and Raging Bull.
1944		Lawrence Joseph Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation.
1953		Judith Regan, controversial book publisher, editor, talk show host.
1960		Sean Penn, actor, screenwriter, director, political and social activist (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Mystic River).
1965		Robert Manry, copy editor of Cleveland Plain Dealer who sailed solo in a sailboat from Falmouth, Massachusetts, to Falmouth, Cornwall, England.