Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was executed for treason, marking a significant event in the power struggles of the English nobility during the reign of King Henry VIII.
In History, Today on May 17
Today we explore events from the year 1521 to the year 2019. Events span the globe, from the countries of England, United States, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Various, Global, Taiwan.
1521
London, England
1792
New York City, United States
The Buttonwood Agreement was signed by 24 stockbrokers and merchants outside 68 Wall Street in New York City, marking the origin of what would become the New York Stock Exchange.
1875
Louisville, United States
The first Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, establishing what would become the longest-running horse race in the United States.
1954
Washington, D.C., United States
The United States Supreme Court delivered its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional and marking a pivotal moment in the American Civil Rights Movement.
1973
Washington, D.C., United States
The televised hearings of the United States Senate Watergate Committee began, investigating the Watergate scandal that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
1990
Geneva, Switzerland
The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses, marking a significant step in LGBTQ+ rights.
2004
Boston, United States
Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage following a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in November 2003.
2006
New York City, United States
The United Nations General Assembly elects South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon as the next Secretary-General, succeeding Kofi Annan.
2009
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan government declared victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), ending a 26-year civil war.
2014
Global, Various
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia was celebrated globally, raising awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulating interest in LGBT rights work worldwide.
2015
Waco, United States
A shootout between rival biker gangs in Waco, Texas, leaves nine people dead and 18 others injured.
2017
Various, Global
The WannaCry ransomware attack affects hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide, exploiting vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows.
2019
Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan's parliament becomes the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, following a 2017 constitutional court ruling.