52ºc, New York
History Events on April 17
The Ellis Island immigration center processes 11,747 people, more than on any other day.
#Ellis_Island
NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star.
#NASA
Russian troops open fire on striking goldfield workers in northeast Siberia, killing at least 150.
#Russian_Empire
An explosion at a fertilizer plant in the city of West, Texas, kills 15 people and injures 160 others.
#West_Fertilizer_Company_explosion
Citizens of Verona begin an unsuccessful eight-day rebellion against the French occupying forces.
#Verona
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia chairman Alexander Dub?ek is deposed.
#Communist_Party_of_Czechoslovakia
The Supreme Court of the United States decides Lochner v. New York, which holds that the "right to free contract" is implicit in the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
#Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States
The rule of the Bavand dynasty in Mazandaran is brought to an end by the murder of Hasan II.
#Bavand_dynasty
Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.
#Harald_III_of_Denmark
The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park.
#Peak_District
Trial of Martin Luther over his teachings begins during the assembly of the Diet of Worms. Initially intimidated, he asks for time to reflect before answering and is given a stay of one day.
#Martin_Luther
Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, in what would be one of the largest invasions of the Spanish territories in the Americas.
#Ralph_Abercromby
Spain and Christopher Columbus sign the Capitulations of Santa Fe for his voyage to Asia to acquire spices.
#Christopher_Columbus
The Cambodian Civil War ends. The Khmer Rouge captures the capital Phnom Penh and Cambodian government forces surrender.
#Cambodian_Civil_War
Catalpa rescue: The rescue of six Fenian prisoners from Fremantle Prison in Western Australia.
#Catalpa_rescue
Kaunas Castle falls to the Teutonic Order after a month-long siege.
#Kaunas_Castle
The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede the southern portion of the Fengtien province, Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan.
#Treaty_of_Shimonoseki
French prisoner of war General Henri Giraud escapes from his castle prison in Königstein Fortress.
#Prisoner_of_war
American Civil War: Grierson's Raid begins: Troops under Union Army Colonel Benjamin Grierson attack central Mississippi.
#American_Civil_War
The People's Republic of Bangladesh is formed.
#Bangladesh
World War II: Montese, Italy, is liberated from Nazi forces.
#World_War_II
Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy.
#Sirhan_Sirhan
Bay of Pigs Invasion: A group of Cuban exiles financed and trained by the CIA lands at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.
#Bay_of_Pigs_Invasion
Giovanni da Verrazzano reaches New York harbor.
#Giovanni_da_Verrazzano
The state of Virginia's secession convention votes to secede from the United States, later becoming the eighth state to join the Confederate States of America.
#Virginia
World War II: The Kingdom of Yugoslavia surrenders to Germany.
#World_War_II
Forces of the Communist-controlled Greek People's Liberation Army attack the smaller National and Social Liberation resistance group, which surrenders. Its leader Dimitrios Psarros is murdered.
#Greek_People's_Liberation_Army
Apollo program: The ill-fated Apollo 13 spacecraft returns to Earth safely.
#Apollo_program
