July 17

Today in History
• 180 - 6 inhabitants of Carthage, North Africa executed for being Christians
• 1505 - Martin Luther enters into an Augustinian monastery at Erfurt
• 1549 - Jews are expelled from Ghent, Belgium
• 1775 - 1st military hospital approved
• 1794 - African Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia, dedicated
• 1821 - Spain cedes Florida to U.S.
• 1841 - British humor magazine "Punch" 1st published
• 1867 - 1st U.S. dental school, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, established


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Fast of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz
• King's Birthday in Lesotho
• Korean Constitution Day
• Marine Day in Japan
• U Tirot Sing Day
• World Day for International Justice
• World Emoji Day
• Wrong Way Corrigan Day

Birthdays
• 1487 - Ismail I, Shah of Persia, converted Iran from Sunni to Shi'ah
• 1674 - Isaac Watts, England, writer/preacher/hymnist, Horae Lyrican
• 1744 - Elbridge Gerry, DR, 5th Vice President, Governor, invented gerrymandering
• 1763 - John Jacob Astor, Germany, richest man in U.S., banker/fur trader
• 1827 - Frederick Able, English chemist and inventor (cordiet)
• 1830 - Eelco Refer, linguist (Dictionary for the Dutch translator)
• 1839 - Ephraim Shay, American inventor of Shay type of geared steam locomotive
• 1859 - Luis Muñoz Rivera, Puerto Rican journalist (founded Federalist Party)