MARCH 17 | Birthdays and Events

Notable Birthdays for March 17

Norbert Rillieux (1806-1894) - Chemical engineer and inventor of the sugar refiner.

Cornelia Clapp (1849-1934) - First woman to earn a PhD (Marine biologist) in the U.S.

Jozef Mazur (1897-1970) - Stained glass artist and painter.

Bobby Jones (1902-1971) - Lawyer, professional golfer and co-founder of the Masters Tournament.

Bayard Rustin (1910-1987) - American civil rights leader who helped organize the March on Washington.

Nat King Cole (1919-1965) - Renowned Singer and pianist.

Zola Taylor (1938-2007) - Pop singer and member of The Platters.

Jim Gary (1939-2006) - Sculptor known for creating colorful dinosaurs made from discarded automobile parts.

Patrick Duffy (1949-Still Living) - Actor best known for his role as Bobby Ewing in the tv series Dallas.

Kurt Russell (1951-Still Living) - Multi-award winning actor with lead roles in Thing, Overboard, and Mean Seasons, to name a few.

Gary Sinise (1955-Still Living) - Multi-award winning actor with roles in Apollo 13, CSI: NY, and Forrest Gump.

Janet Gardner (1962-Still Living) - Lead singer for the rock band Vixen.

Kalpana Chawla (1962-2003) - The first woman of Indian origin into space (later died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster).

Rob Lowe (1964-Still Living) - Acclaimed actor with award winning roles in The Outsiders, St. Elmo's Fire, West Wing, and Youngblood.

Memorable Events for March 17

1762 - The first Saint Patrick's Day parade is held in NY City.

1854 - The first park land is purchased by a city in the U.S. (Worcester, Massachusetts).

1871 - The National Association of Professional Base-Ball players is organized.

1884 - John Joseph Montgomery makes the first glider flight at Otay, California.

1894 - The U.S. and China sign a treaty preventing Chinese laborers from entering U.S.

1898 - John Philip Holland achieves a successful test run for the first modern submarine off Staten Island.

1917 - The first all women's bowling tournament begins in St Louis, Missouri.

1958 - The U.S. launches the first solar-powered satellite.

1963 - Elizabeth Ann Seton (New York) becomes the first American to become  canonized.

1968 - U.S. Army Chemical Corps conducts nerve gas testing in Skull Valley, Utah.

1995 - The U.S. approves the first chicken pox vaccine (Varivax).