17 January It Happened Today

1706  Birth of American scientist and statesman Benjamin Franklin.

1773  Captain Cook’s ship Resolution becomes the first vessel to cross the Antarctic Circle.

1874  Death of the Siamese twins Chang and Eng. The twins died within three hours of each other.

1899  Birth of American gangster Al Capone.

1979  The Shah of Iran flees his country and goes into exile in Egypt.

2008 Death of former world chess champion Bobby Fischer.