Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1397, The Kalmar Union is formed under the rule of Margaret I of Denmark. In 1740, Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet, English politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer (born 1687) passed away. In 1795, The burghers of Swellendam expel the Dutch East India Company magistrate and declare a republic. In 1839, Lord William Bentinck, English general and politician, 14th Governor-General of India (born 1774) passed away. In 1898, Harry Patch, English soldier and firefighter (died 2009) was born. In 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover signs the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law. In 1982, Jodie Whittaker, English actress was born. In 1992, A "joint understanding" agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II). In 2013, Atiqul Haque Chowdhury, Bangladeshi playwright and producer (born 1930) passed away. In 2021, Juneteenth National Independence Day, was signed into law by President Joe Biden, to become the first federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.