Historical Events on March 17

St. Patrick's Day

Here are some historical events that took place on March 17:

180: Marcus Aurelius dies: Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius died in Vindobona (modern-day Vienna) while on a military campaign.

432: St. Patrick's Day: This is the traditional date for the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, which is celebrated as St. Patrick's Day.

461: St. Patrick's Death: St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, dies in Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland. This is the date traditionally celebrated as his feast day.

1337: Edward, the Black Prince, is made Duke of Cornwall: Edward, the eldest son of King Edward III of England, was given the title Duke of Cornwall.

1756: St. Patrick's Day First Celebrated in NYC: The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in the United States takes place in New York City, organized by Irish soldiers serving in the British Army.

1776: British Evacuate Boston: During the American Revolutionary War, British forces evacuate Boston, ending an 11-month siege by Patriot forces under General George Washington.

1845: Rubber Band Patented: Stephen Perry patents the rubber band in England.

1861: Italy Unified: Italy is unified into one nation under King Victor Emmanuel II, marking the completion of the Risorgimento, the Italian Unification movement.

1941: National Gallery of Art opens in Washington, D.C.: The National Gallery of Art officially opens its doors to the public in Washington, D.C.

1966: Offshore Oil Found in the North Sea: The first commercially significant offshore oil discovery in the North Sea is made by Phillips Petroleum Company.

1992: White South Africans Approve Reforms: White South Africans vote in favor of ending apartheid and establishing a power-sharing multi-racial government, leading to the eventual presidency of Nelson Mandela.

2011: Syrian Civil War Begins: Protests erupt in Syria, marking the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, a conflict that has lasted for years and led to significant humanitarian crises.

These are just a few events that happened on March 17 throughout history. The day holds significance for various reasons, from religious observances to political milestones and scientific discoveries.