On This Day - What Happened On October 17 | Britannica

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1979 Mother Teresa awarded Nobel Prize On this day in 1979, Mother Teresa, founder of a Roman Catholic order of women dedicated to the poor and particularly to the destitute of India, was named the recipient of that year's Nobel Prize for Peace. Copyright Laurent Maous/Gamma Liaison

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Mae Jemison American physician and astronaut bornOctober 17, 1956 (age 69)Decatur, AlabamaAP 1972 Eminem American musician 1962 Mike Judge American animator, writer, director, and producer 1938 Evel Knievel American stuntman 1920 Montgomery Clift American actor 1918 Rita Hayworth American actress See All Biographies On This Day

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2018 Recreational marijuana became legal in Canada. Why is marijuana illegal in the U.S.?Courtesy of Prairie Plant Systems 2005 The Colbert Report—an ironic send-up of television news programs, hosted by Stephen Colbert—debuted on Comedy Central; it ran until 2014. Test your knowledge of pop culture© Featureflash/Dreamstime.com 1972 American rapper and actor Eminem, who was one of the most controversial and best-selling artists of the early 21st century, was born. Take our hip-hop quiz© Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images 1968 The American action film Bullitt was released; it features Steve McQueen in what many consider his definitive role and is also known for its iconic car-chase sequence. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about A-list actors© Warner Brothers/Seven Arts 1939 The American classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring James Stewart, had its world premiere; although it angered the political establishment, the drama won wide acclaim from the public and film industry. Take our film buff quiz© 1939 Columbia Pictures Corporation; photograph from a private collection 1918 American actress Rita Hayworth, whose portrayal of seductresses helped earn her the nickname “The Love Goddess,” was born. Test your knowledge of women in classic cinema© 1946 Columbia Pictures 1854 British and French troops began the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. Take our history of war quizLibrary of Congress, Washington, D.C. (Digital File Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-05697) 1777 British General John Burgoyne surrendered his troops following his shocking defeat in the Second Battle of Saratoga. How much do you know about the American Revolution?Architect of the Capitol 1707 German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach at Dornheim. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about music composers© Photos.com/Getty Images 1448 The last major effort by Crusaders to free the Balkans from Ottoman rule began with the second Battle of Kosovo in Serbia, in which a Hungarian-Walachian army suffered a crushing defeat. Take our quiz about the Ottoman Empire 1346 At the Battle of Neville's Cross, the English defeated the Scots, who, as allies of the French, had invaded England in an attempt to distract Edward III from the siege of Calais, France. Test your knowledge of English kingsBy permission of the British Library SIGN UP FOR History's Biggest Headlines Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors. SIGN UP Thanks for signing up for Today in History. Your first newsletter will arrive soon! SIGN UP By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.