Important Events

1773 Captain James Cook becomes 1st to cross Antarctic Circle (66° 33′ S)
1873 A group of Modoc warriors defeats the United States Army in the First Battle of the Stronghold, a part of the Modoc War
1912 Captain Robert Scott’s expedition arrives at the South Pole, one month after Roald Amundsen
1946 United Nations Security Council holds its 1st meeting
1991 Operation Desert Storm begins, with US-led coalition forces bombing Iraq, during the Gulf War

Jan 17 in Film & TV

1984 Supreme Court rules (5-4) that private use of home VCRs to tape TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal copyright laws

Jan 17 in Music

1976 “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow hits #1

Jan 17 in Sport

1916 Rodman Wanamaker organises a lunch to discuss forming a golfers association (later the PGA) at the Taplow Club, Martinique Hotel, New York City