November 17

1292

John Balliol acceded to Scottish throne

Scotland

John Balliol or John de Balliol (c. 1249 – late 1314), known derisively as Toom Tabard (meaning ’empty coat’), was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296. Little is known of …

1814

U.S. Confederte General, Joseph Finegan, is born in Clones, Co. Monaghhan

Ireland

Joseph Finegan, (November 17, 1814 – October 29, 1885), was an American businessman and brigadier general for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Finegan was …

1852

Donegal-born Brigadier Michael Corcorans Irish Legion is mustered into the Federal service

Ireland

Michael Corcoran (September 21, 1827 – December 22, 1863) was an Irish-American general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a close confidant of President Abraham …

1855

David Livingstone reached Victoria Falls in Africa

Scotland

David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, reached Victoria Falls in Africa on November 16, 1855. He was born on 19 March 1813 in the mill town of Blantyre, Scotland, …

1858

Robert Owen, Welsh-Scottish industrialist and social reformer, founder of New Lanark community, died

Wales

Robert Owen (14 May 1771 – 17 November 1858) was a Welsh textile manufacturer, philanthropist and social reformer, and a founder of utopian socialism and the co-operative movement. …

1922

The Irish Free State begins the executions of seventy seven anti Treaty republican prisoners

Ireland

The first four executions occurred a month after most Republicans had rejected the amnesty that expired in mid-October 1922. On 17 November, four Anti-Treaty IRA fighters were shot …

1930

Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake

Ireland

The Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstake was a lottery established in the Irish Free State in 1930 as the Irish Free State Hospitals’ Sweepstake to finance hospitals. It is …

1939

Birth of Luke Kelly of the Dubliners

Ireland

Luke Kelly, the renowned Irish folk singer and founding member of The Dubliners, was born on November 17, 1940, in Dublin, Ireland. Born into a working-class household in Dublin …