July 17th is celebrated as World Emoji Day and Yellow Pig Day.
Welcome to day 199 of the year folks, there are 167 days remaining in 2024.
Today is your lucky day because we have collected some of the most fascinating historical events that all just happened to occur on July 17th.
Did you know that on this day in 1959, Mary Leakey discovered ancient skull remains in Tanzania, Africa? This was the discovery of a new species of human-like creatures, Paranthropus boisei.
Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about July 17th in history!
Events
What memorable events happened on July 17 in history? Keep reading to find out!
1998
American swashbuckler film “The Mask of Zorro” was released in the United States.
Filming took around one year at Estudios Churubusco in Mexico City, Mexico, and had a $95 million budget. The film grossed a total of $250 million after its release on this day. Due to its success, the film was followed by a sequel, The Legend of Zorro, released in 2005.
1984
The US National Minimum Drinking Age Act was signed into law, raising the age to 21.
Until the 1960s, most US states had a minimum drinking age of 21. When the voting age was reduced to 18, many states lowered the drinking age to 18 or 19. Studies soon showed a huge increase in drunk driving, so the drinking age was ultimately set nationally at 21.
1975
The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project completed the world’s first international space rendezvous.
Two days after a successful joint launch, the American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz Spacecraft made headlines when they met in space and successfully docked with each other in Earth’s orbit. Within two hours of docking, the captains of each spacecraft met and exchanged the first international handshake in space. The meeting of the two spacecraft, which was widely televised, preceded two days of joint activities and experiments involving the former rivals. This monumental event is largely considered the final event in the Space Race.
1974
John Lennon was given 60 days to leave the US.
Lennon faced deportation from the United States if he did not leave within the given time frame. As a “global” citizen, this was not the first time Lennon had outstayed his welcome in the US. Although his wife Yoko Ono was granted permanent residence, Lennon was not and faced being deported back to the UK if he did not comply with the immigration rules.
1902
Willis Carrier invented the world’s first electronic air conditioner.
Carrier created the air conditioner to help cool down the rooms in which color printing presses were operated. However, high heat and humidity affected the quality of the images they printed. Carrier later developed several formulas that led to ever-increasing advances in air conditioning technology.
1585
The English secret service discovered the Babington Plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I.
Anthony Babington was one of the plot’s chief conspirators in killing Queen Elizabeth I and replacing her with her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. The plot’s motive was to restore England to its previous religion, as Queen Elizabeth I was a protestant and Mary Queen of Scots was a Roman Catholic.
Famous Births
Is today your birthday? If so, did you know that Tom Fletcher was also born on this day? Here are more famous people born on this day.
1976
Luke Bryan
American
Singer
Age:
48 years old
Born In:
Georgia, USA
1994
Kali Uchis
American
Singer
Age:
30 years old
Born In:
Pereira, Colombia
1952
David Hasselhoff
American
Actor
Age:
72 years old
Born In:
Maryland, USA
1985
Tom Fletcher
English
Singer
Age:
39 years old
Born In:
England, UK
Famous Deaths
Unfortunately, July 17th has also been a day where we’ve had to say some goodbyes over the years…
1915
1959
Billie Holiday
American
Singer
1915
1959
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American singer born on April 7, 1915. She died on this day in 1959, at age 44 in New York City, USA.
Died On:
Jul 17, 1959 (Age 44)
Died In:
New York City, USA
Quotes
Memorable quotes are being said or written every day. Here we have the most notable quote ever said on this day.
2013
However happy people say they are, nobody is satisfied: we always have to be with the prettiest woman, buy a bigger house, change cars, desire what we do not have.
Paulo Coelho
Brazilian Lyricist
Special Holidays
Are you looking for something to do today? Then why not find time today to celebrate the following special holidays.
World Emoji Day
There are countless emojis in use today to help us express ourselves in messages. Ever noticed the calendar emoji is July 17? That’s why today has been allocated as World Emoji Day. Be sure to use them liberally today.
National Yellow Pig Day
Don’t go thinking that today is about pigs, as it couldn’t be further from the truth! A bunch of mathematicians created Yellow Pig Day in the 1960s to celebrate the number 17 and its mathematical complexities and chose a yellow pig as the number’s mascot.
THe Fact Site’s
Fun Fact Of The Day
Sudan has more pyramids than any country, with 255. They outnumber Egyptian pyramids by twice the amount.
Birthday & Zodiac
If you were born on July 17th, your star sign is Cancer.
Cancers will keep other people’s secrets close to their hearts. So have no fear – you can always rely on Cancers. Did you know that in Hindu astrology, the sign of Cancer is named Karka and its Lord is the moon?
For those of you born in July, you have the Ruby birthstone. Ruby was regarded as the “king of gems” by the ancient Hindus and is traditionally a favored gem by royal families worldwide.
If you were born on July 17, your estimated date of conception falls on October 24 in the previous year.
A baby conceived on July 17, 2024, will likely be due next year around April 9.
