On this day

17 December in history.

5 moments from 1665 to 1903: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Wright Flyer

1903

The Wright brothers fly. At Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled, powered flight in a heavier-than-air machine, the Wright Flyer.

Wikipedia: Wright brothers

Photo: John T. Daniels / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 17 December

  1. Richard Lower (1631-1691), anatomist. Oil painting by Jacob Huysmans. Iconographic Collections Keywords: Jacob Huysmans

    1665

    The first account of a blood transfusion

    The first published account of a blood transfusion appeared, as a letter from physician Richard Lower to chemist Robert Boyle.

    Wikipedia: Blood transfusionWikipedia: Richard Lower (physician)

    Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

  2. Monolith of the Stone of the Sun, also named Aztec calendar stone (National Museum of Anthropology and History, Mexico City)

    1790

    The Aztec calendar stone is found

    Workers in Mexico City's main square uncovered the Aztec calendar stone, one of the most famous works of Aztec sculpture.

    Wikipedia: Aztec sun stone

    Photo: El Comandante / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

  3. oil medium QS:P186,Q296955 painting , After watercolor medium QS:P186,Q22915256 (1825)

    1865

    Schubert's Unfinished Symphony is heard

    Franz Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony was performed for the first time, decades after he wrote it.

    Wikipedia: Symphony No. 8 (Schubert)Wikipedia: Franz Schubert

    Photo: Wilhelm August Rieder / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  4. 1892

    The first issue of Vogue

    The first issue of Vogue magazine was published.

    Wikipedia: Vogue (magazine)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.