Did you know
Siegel created ten of the earliest members of the Legion of Super-Heroes, one of DC's most popular team books, which is set in the 30th Century.
Famous Birthdays on October 17
1914 — Jerry Siegel
American author and illustrator (died 1996)
October 17 has 380 recorded notable births across history, from 503 to 2002. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Famous Birthdays
380 source records
503 – 2002
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Today in history
Major events on October 17
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio is signed between France and Austria, ending the War of the First Coalition. Source
- 1919 Leeds United F.C. founded at Salem Chapel, Holbeck after the winding up of Leeds City F.C. for making illegal payments to players during World War I Source
- 1811 The silver deposits of Agua Amarga are discovered in Chile becoming in the following years instrumental for the Patriots to finance the Chilean War of Independence. Source
- 1941 World War II: The USS Kearny becomes the first U.S. Navy vessel to be torpedoed by a U-boat. Source
Did you know
Richard Roeper is a former columnist and film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, where he wrote for 39 years dating back to 1986 until his departure in 2025.
Did you know
Johnny Haynes also had a spell on loan with Toronto City in 1961 and ended his playing days at Durban City, winning there the only trophy he won in his football career.
Did you know
in April 2006 Concepcion won the Big Division in the first season of Little Big Star.
Did you know
Don Coryell coached in high school, college, and the professional ranks; his most notable NCAA post was with the San Diego State Aztecs for 12 seasons from 1961 to 1972 before he moved on to the National Football (NFL), first with the St.
More major people born on October 17
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1959
Richard Roeper
American journalist and critic
Richard E. Roeper is an American writer. He is a former columnist and film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, where he wrote for 39 years dating back to 1986 until his departure in 2025.
1934
Johnny Haynes
English-Scottish footballer (died 2005)
John Norman Haynes was an English association footballer who played as an inside forward. He made 56 appearances for his country including 22 as captain.
1992
Sam Concepcion
Filipino musician and dancer
Samuel Lawrence Lopez Concepcion is a Filipino singer, dancer, actor, VJ and host. in April 2006 Concepcion won the Big Division in the first season of Little Big Star.
1924
Don Coryell
American football player and coach (died 2010)
Donald David Coryell was an American football coach. He coached in high school, college, and the professional ranks; his most notable NCAA post was with the San Diego State Aztecs for 12 seasons from 1961 to 1972 before…
1918
Ralph Wilson
American businessman, founded the Buffalo Bills (died 2014)
Ralph Cookerly Wilson Jr. was an American businessman and sports executive. He was best known as the founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, a team in the National Football League (NFL).
1898
Shinichi Suzuki
Japanese violinist and educator (died 1998)
Shinichi Suzuki was a Japanese violinist, philosopher, composer, and educator and the founder of the international Suzuki method of music education and developed a philosophy for educating people of all ages and…
1940
Jim Smith
English footballer and manager (died 2019)
James Michael Smith was an English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of the Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United,…
1883
Alexander Neill
Scottish educator (died 1973)
Alexander Sutherland Neill was a Scottish educator and author known for his school, Summerhill, and its philosophy of freedom from adult coercion and community self-governance.
1968
Alejandra Ávalos
Mexican artist
Alejandra Margarita Ávalos Rodríguez is a Mexican singer, musician and actress. She began her career in 1980, when she took part in the musical contest La Voz del Heraldo.
1792
John Bowring
English polyglot and governor of Hong Kong (died 1826)
Sir John Bowring, or Phrayā Siam Mānukūlakicca Siammitra Mahāyaśa was a British political economist, traveller, writer, literary translator, polyglot and the fourth Governor of Hong Kong.
1840
André Gill
French caricaturist (died 1885)
André Gill was a French caricaturist. Born Louis-Alexandre Gosset de Guînes at Paris, the son of the Comte de Guînes and Sylvie-Adeline Gosset, Gill studied at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture.
1960
Rob Marshall
American director, producer, and choreographer
Robert Doyle Marshall Jr. is an American film and theater director, producer, and choreographer.
1937
Paxton Whitehead
English actor (died 2023)
Francis Edward Paxton Whitehead was an English actor and theatre director. He was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Pellinore in the 1980 revival of Camelot.
1948
Robert Jordan
American soldier and author (died 2007)
James Oliver Rigney Jr., known by his pen name Robert Jordan, was an American author of epic fantasy. He is best known as the author of The Wheel of Time series, which comprises 14 books and a prequel novel.
1965
Aravinda de Silva
Sri Lankan cricketer
Deshabandu Pinnaduwage Aravinda de Silva is a former Sri Lankan cricketer.
1941
Jim Seals
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and violinist (died 2022)
Seals & Crofts were an American soft rock duo formed in 1969 by Jim Seals and Dash Crofts in Los Angeles, California.
1980
Yekaterina Gamova
Russian volleyball player
Yekaterina Aleksandrovna Gamova is a Russian retired volleyball player.
1995
Jamal Adams
American football player
Jamal Lee Adams is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the LSU Tigers, and was selected by the New York Jets sixth overall in the 2017 NFL draft.
1971
Derrick Plourde
American drummer (died 2005)
Derrick William Plourde was an American drummer, musician and artist. Born in Goleta, California, he was active from 1989 until his death in 2005.