What happened on April 17 ?

1278 - Michael IX Palaeologus, co-ruling Eastern Roman Emperor (d. 1320)

1573 - Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria (d. 1651)

1586 - John Ford, English dramatist

1598 - Giovanni Riccioli, Italian astronomer (d. 1671)

1710 - Henry Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan, British Freemason (d. 1767)

1734 - Taksin, King of Thailand (d. 1782)

1750 - François de Neufchâteau, French statesman and intellectual figure (d. 1828)

1794 - Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius, German botanist (d. 1868)

1837 - J.P. Morgan, American financier, art collector, and philanthropist (d. 1913)

1842 - Maurice Rouvier, French statesman (d. 1911)

1863 - Augustus Edward Hough Love, English mathematician (d. 1940)

1866 - Ernest Starling, British physiologist (d. 1927)

1882 - Artur Schnabel, Polish pianist (d. 1951)

1885 - Isak Dinesen, Danish author (d. 1962)

1890 - Art Acord, American actor and rodeo rider (d. 1931)

1894 - Nikita Khrushchev, Premier of the Soviet Union (d. 1971)

1897 - Thornton Wilder, American dramatist (d. 1975)

1902 - Jaime Torres Bodet, Mexican writer, politician, and diplomat (d. 1974)

1903 - Gregor Piatigorsky, Russian cellist (d. 1976)

1903 - Morgan Taylor, American athlete (d. 1975)

1915 - Joe Foss, American soldier and politician (d. 2003)

1916 - Helenio Herrera, French footballer player and manager (d. 1997)

1917 - Bill Clements, Governor of Texas

1918 - William Holden, American actor (d. 1981)

1923 - Lindsay Anderson, English film director (d. 1994)

1923 - Harry Reasoner, American journalist (d. 1991)

1926 - Gerry McNeil, Canadian hockey player (d. 2004)

1929 - James Last, German band leader

1934 - Don Kirshner, American television producer and composer

1938 - Ben Barnes, Lieutenant Governor of Texas

1940 - Anja Silja, German soprano

1946 - Georges J.F. Kohler, German biologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (d. 1995)

1947 - Linda Martin, Irish singer and Eurovision Song Contest winner

1948 - Jan Hammer, Czech composer

1950 - Bruce McNall, American former NHL team owner

1951 - Olivia Hussey, Argentine-born actress

1952 - Zeljko Raznatovic, Serbian Warlord

1954 - Riccardo Patrese, Italian race car driver

1954 - "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs), Canadian professional wrestler and actor

1954 - Michael Sembello, American musician

1957 - Nick Hornby, English author

1959 - Sean Bean, English actor

1961 - Boomer Esiason, American football player

1963 - Joel Murray, American actor

1964 - Maynard James Keenan, American singer (Tool and A Perfect Circle)

1967 - Marquis Grissom, American baseball player

1967 - Liz Phair, American musician/songwriter

1969 - Henry Ian Cusick, Peruvian-born actor

1972 - Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lankan cricket player

1972 - Tony Boselli, American football player

1972 - Jennifer Garner, American actress

1973 - Brett Maher, Australian basketballer

1974 - Victoria Beckham, English singer

1974 - Mikael ÿkerfeldt, Swedish singer and guitarist (Opeth)

1977 - Sizzla, Jamaican dancehall artist

1977 - Chad Hedrick, American speed skater

1978 - Jordan Hill, American singer