Today in History for 17th May 2026

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Historical Events

1787 - English slave ship Sisters, en route from Africa to Cuba, capsizes killing hundreds
1921 - US President Warren G. Harding opens (via telephone) the 1st Valencia Orange Show in Anaheim, California
1949 - British government recognises Republic of Ireland (previously Irish Free State)
1979 - Emmy 6th Daytime Award presentation, "Ryan's Hope" wins Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
2023 - Scientists discover comb jellies (ctenophores) are the closest relative to the very first animals that evolved half a billion years ago, by focusing on groups of genes on chromosomes

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Famous Birthdays

1908 - Sigismund Toduţă, Romanian composer, born in Simeria, Romania (d. 1991)
1934 - Earl Morrall, American NFL quarterback (Super Bowl 1970, 72, 73; Pro Bowl 1957, 68; First-team All-Pro 1968, 72; NFL MVP 1968; Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins), born in Muskegon, Michigan (d. 2014)
1936 - Lars Gustafsson, Swedish poet and novelist (The Death of a Beekeeper, The Cracks in the Wall), born in Västerås, Sweden (d. 2016)
1960 - Lou DiBella, American boxing promoter
1977 - Jere Michael, American figure skater (1994 National Jr champ), born in Aspen, Colorado

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Famous Deaths

1695 - Cornelis de Heem, Dutch painter, dies
1888 - Giacomo Zanella, Italian poet (b. 1820)
1986 - Lyudmila Pakhomova, Russian ice dancer (World C'ship gold x 6; Olympic gold USSR 1976; with Alexandr Gorshkov), dies from leukemia at 39
2002 - Joe Black, American baseball pitcher (NgL All-Star 1947, 48, 50 Baltimore Elite Giants; first black pitcher to win World Series game 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers), dies of prostate cancer at 78
2024 - Sid Going, New Zealand rugby union halfback (29 Tests; Northland RU), dies at 80

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