April 17 has been shaped by military invasions, diplomatic disasters, and scientific achievements.
Geoffrey Chaucer is believed to have first told some of his Canterbury Tales at the court of Richard II. The collection of stories became one of the foundational works of English literature.
Martin Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms and refused to recant his writings against the Catholic Church. His famous declaration, 'Here I stand, I can do no other,' launched the Protestant Reformation.
Benjamin Franklin died in Philadelphia at age 84. The printer, inventor, diplomat, and Founding Father was one of the most accomplished Americans in history.
Virginia became the eighth state to secede from the United States. The state's secession was particularly significant as it included the future Confederate capital of Richmond.
CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched an invasion at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, attempting to overthrow Fidel Castro. The operation was a catastrophic failure and a major embarrassment for the Kennedy administration.
Ford Motor Company introduced the Mustang at the New York World's Fair. The affordable sports car was an immediate sensation, selling over 400,000 units in its first year.
The damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft splashed down safely in the South Pacific. The crew's survival after an oxygen tank explosion was hailed as NASA's 'successful failure.'