May 17 in history — What Happened Today in History

Prince Charles calls a proposed addition to the National Gallery, London, a "monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend", sparking controversies on the proper role of the Royal Family and the course of modern architecture.

The U.S. Department of Energy declassifies documents showing world's largest mercury pollution event in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (ultimately found to be 4.2 million pounds [1.9 kt]), in response to the Appalachian Observer's Freedom of Information Act request.

Lebanon, Israel, and the United States sign an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea seizes control of the government and declares martial law in order to suppress student demonstrations.

On the eve of presidential elections, Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path attacks a polling location in Chuschi (a town in Ayacucho), starting the Internal conflict in Peru.

Rioting breaks out in downtown Miami, following the acquittal of four white police officers in the killing of Arthur McDuffie, a black insurance salesman.

Nolan Bushnell opens the first Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (later renamed Chuck E. Cheese) in San Jose, California.

The Troubles: Thirty-three civilians are killed and 300 injured when the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) detonates four car bombs in Dublin and Monaghan, Ireland.

Police in Los Angeles raid the Symbionese Liberation Army's headquarters, killing six members, including Camilla Hall.

Watergate scandal: Televised hearings begin in the United States Senate.

Venera program: Soviet Venera 6 begins its descent into the atmosphere of Venus, sending back atmospheric data before being crushed by pressure.

Six-Day War: President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt demands dismantling of the peace-keeping UN Emergency Force in Egypt.

In Cuba, the First Agrarian Reform Law – a cornerstone of the Cuban Revolution – is signed by Fidel Castro, aiming to eliminate large foreign-owned estates and redistribute land to over 100,000 peasants.

The United States Supreme Court hands down a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, outlawing racial segregation in public schools.

Delta Air Lines Flight 318 crashes near Marshall, Texas, killing 19.

World War II: Dambuster Raids commence by No. 617 Squadron RAF.

World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium.

The Columbia Lions and the Princeton Tigers play in the United States' first televised sporting event, a collegiate baseball game in New York City.

Spanish Civil War: The Largo Caballero government resigns in the wake of the Barcelona May Days, leading Juan Negrín to form a government, without the anarcho-syndicalist CNT, in its stead.

Vidkun Quisling and Johan Bernhard Hjort form Nasjonal Samling — the national-socialist party of Norway.

The last British Liberal Party government (led by H. H. Asquith) falls.

The Protocol of Corfu is signed, recognising full autonomy to Northern Epirus under nominal Albanian sovereignty.

Greek archaeologist Valerios Stais discovers the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient mechanical analog computer.

The children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, is first published in the United States. The first copy is given to the author's sister.

Aristides wins the first Kentucky Derby with the jockey Oliver Lewis (2:37.75).

The International Telegraph Union (later the International Telecommunication Union) is established in Paris.

Rosalía de Castro publishes Cantares Gallegos, the first book in the Galician language.

American Civil War: During the Vicksburg campaign, Union forces under John A. McClernand defeat a Confederate rearguard and capture around 1,700 men at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge.

Nikki Reed, American actress, singer, and screenwriter

Edvald Boasson Hagen, Norwegian cyclist

Aleandro Rosi, Italian footballer

Marius Činikas, Lithuanian footballer

Timo Simonlatser, Estonian skier

Jodie Taylor, English footballer

Teófilo Gutiérrez, Colombian footballer

Derek Hough, American actor, singer, and dancer

Christine Nesbitt, Canadian speed skater

Todd Redmond, American baseball player

Matt Ryan, American football player

Christian Bolaños, Costa Rican footballer

Christine Ohuruogu, English runner

Philippe Gaumont, French cyclist (born 1973)

Peter Schulz, German politician, Mayor of Hamburg (born 1930)

Ken Venturi, American golfer and sportscaster (born 1931)

Jorge Rafael Videla, Argentine Commander in Chief and dictator (born 1925)

Gideon Ezra, Israeli geographer and politician, Israeli Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (born 1937)

Patrick Mafisango, Congolese-Rwandan footballer (born 1980)

Donna Summer, American singer-songwriter (born 1948)

Harmon Killebrew, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1936)

Yvonne Loriod, French pianist, composer, and educator (born 1924)

Walasse Ting, Chinese-American painter and poet (born 1929)

Mario Benedetti, Uruguayan journalist, author, and poet (born 1920)

Jung Seung-hye, South Korean journalist and producer (born 1965)

Lloyd Alexander, American soldier and author (born 1924)