AUGUST 17 | Birthdays and Events
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Notable Birthdays for August 17
Davy Crockett (1786-1836) - Known as the "King of the Wild Frontier."
Laura de Force Gordon (1838-1907) - The first woman to run a daily newspaper in the U.S. (Stockton Daily Leader, PA).
Frederick F. Russell (1870-1960) - Physician who developed the first successful typhoid fever vaccine.
John A. Sampson (1873-1946) - One gynecologist who is credited with being one of the first doctors to study endometriosis.
Ralph Teetor (1890-1982) - Blind automotive engineer who invented cruise control.
Mae West (1893-1980) - Stage and film actress who was considered a prominent sex symbol of her time.
Robert De Niro (1943-Still Living) - Multi-award winning actor who is considered a legend (The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull, The Deer Hunter, The Untouchables, and Goodfellas).
Larry Ellison (1944-Still Living) - Co-founder of the Oracle Corporation.
Belinda Carlisle (1958-Still Living) - Lead singer of the Go-Go's.
Sean Penn (1960-Still Living) - Fast Times at Ridgemont High actor who also starred in Mystic River and Carlito's Way.
Donnie Wahlberg (1969-Still Living) - Founding member of the New Kids on the Block who turned actor (Band of Brothers and Blue Bloods.
Memorable Events for August 17
1590 - The Governor of Roanoke Island (NC) colony John White, returns from England to find no trace of the colonists he left there three years earlier.
1870 - Hazard Stevens and P. B. Van Trump becomes the first to climb Mt Rainier (WA).
1891 - The first public bath house (with showers) opens in NY City.
1936 - Neils Ruud receives the first unemployment benefit check ($15) paid under a State law.
1953 - First meeting of Narcotics Anonymous takes place in CA.
2008 - Swimmer Michael Phelps becomes the first person to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games.