Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1673, French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet reach the Mississippi River and become the first Europeans to make a detailed account of its course. In 1767, Samuel Wallis, a British sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island. In 1821, E. G. Squier, American archaeologist and journalist (died 1888) was born. In 1900, Evelyn Irons, Scottish journalist and war correspondent (died 2000) was born. In 1915, Marcel Cadieux, Canadian civil servant and diplomat, Canadian Ambassador to the United States (died 1981) was born. In 1922, John Amis, English journalist and critic (died 2013) was born. In 1936, Julius Seljamaa, Estonian journalist, politician, and diplomat, Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1883) passed away. In 1966, Mohammed Ghazy Al-Akhras, Iraqi journalist and author was born. In 1985, Space Shuttle program: STS-51-G mission: Space Shuttle Discovery launches carrying Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Arab and first Muslim in space, as a payload specialist. In 2020, Jean Kennedy Smith, American activist, humanitarian, author and diplomat (United States Ambassador to Ireland, 1993-1998) (born 1928) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.