November 17: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

A 55-year-old man became the first known person to contract COVID-19.

The unnamed man hailed from the Hubei province, where the virus was first recorded. Despite cases of the virus being found as early as this, the Chinese government didn't recognize it as a new virus until a few weeks later.

The legislation was passed, allowing females to be appointed as bishops of The Church of England.

A sequel to LittleBigPlanet was released for the PlayStation Portable.

This PSP sequel was confusingly called LittleBigPlanet, so it's often referred to as LittleBigPlanet PSP. Many of the game's levels look similar to the PS3 sequel, but the story is completely different.

Sony released the PlayStation 3 console in North America.

This day marked the beginning of The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

The Velvet Revolution, also called the Gentle Revolution, was a series of non-violent protests and demonstrations led by Prague students against the communist government. Riot police broke up this first demonstration, which sparked a series of ongoing student protests until December 29, 1989.

The crew aboard Japan Airlines Flight 1628 sighted three potential UFOs above Alaska.

The Boeing 747 aircraft flew from Paris to Narita International Airport in Japan with a cargo of French wine. While flying over Alaska, the crew reportedly saw two unidentified flying objects close in on their plane and escort it. After the two UFOs departed, another larger circular object was witnessed tailing the aircraft. No other aircraft in the area were able to confirm the sightings.

The Soviet Lunokhod 1 became the first robotic lunar rover to land on the Moon’s surface.

The Ottoman Empire ended when the last Sultan Mehmed VI was exiled to Malta on a British warship.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 5th symphony was performed for the first time in St Petersburg, Russia.

The symphony is 50 minutes long and features the piccolo, three flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, timpani, and strings.

Explorer David Livingstone became the first European to see Victoria Falls.

An earthquake struck Valdivia, south-central Chile, which caused a tsunami that damaged Hawaii, French Polynesia, and Japan.

The US Senate held its first session in the unfinished Capitol Building.

Hundreds of people died after a New England Blizzard.

Writer, explorer, and courtier Sir Walter Raleigh went on trial for suspected treason.

Raleigh was imprisoned in the Tower of London until 1616 and was found not guilty of treason. The King pardoned him in 1617.

Queen Elizabeth I was coronated and re-established the protestant Church of England.

It was a resettlement that became a compromise between Protestants and Catholics.

All of London’s Jews (approx. 680) were accused and arrested for coin clipping and counterfeiting.

Two hundred and ninety-three of them were later hanged.