◆ On this day

November 17

4 sourced moments from November 17 in history: Elizabeth I became queen on 17 Nov 1558, not at her coronation; The Suez Canal opened, linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas (1869); Lunokhod 1 was the first rover to drive on another world (1970), plus 1 more.

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4 things happened on November 17

newest first ↓

1973 Society & Economy · Politics & Law

Nixon insisted to editors: "I am not a crook"

Cornered by Watergate, Nixon assured 400 newspaper editors at Disney World he had never profited from public office.

1970 Space · Space Exploration

Lunokhod 1 was the first rover to drive on another world

In 1970 a Soviet tub on eight wheels began driving across the Moon — 10.5 km that took Mars rovers years to match.

1869 Technology · Engineering

The Suez Canal opened, linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas

After a decade of digging, a procession of ships sailed the new Suez Canal in 1869, slicing thousands of miles off the route to Asia.

1558 History · Empires & Civilizations

Elizabeth I became queen on 17 Nov 1558, not at her coronation

Mary I's death made Elizabeth queen at 25. Her first speech survives, and her accession day stayed a holiday for two centuries.