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17th March

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1901: Van Gogh paintings shown


On 17 March 1901, paintings by Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh are shown at the Bernheim-Jeune gallery in Paris, France. The 71 paintings, which captured their subjects in bold brushstrokes and expressive colours, caused a sensation across the art world. Eleven years before, while living in Auvers-sur-Oise outside Paris, Van Gogh had committed suicide without any notion that his work was destined to win acclaim beyond his wildest dreams. One of the paintings shown in the 1901 exhibit, the Yasuda Sunflowers, sold for just under $40 million at a Christie's auction in 1987.

2005

In Spain the last statue of the military dictator Franco is taken down in Madrid.

2003

British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook reigns from the cabinet over the government’s policy towards Iraq.

1995

Ronnie Kray, the East End gangster, dies from a heart attack whilst serving a life prison sentence for murder, in Broadmoor jail.

1992

In Argentina, a suicide car-bomb kills 29 people at the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires.

1984

The annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities is postponed by one day as the Cambridge boat collides with a barge before the start of the race and sinks.

1968

Two hundred people are arrested as a anti-Vietnam War protest outside the American embassy in London turns violent.

1958

The American satellite Vanguard 1 is launched.

1957

British European Airways withdraw their fleet of Viscount 701s from service after one of them crashes at Manchester in England.

1948

Belgium, Britain, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Brussels, creating the defence pact the Western European Union.

1917

The First World War: French Prime Minister Aristide Briand is forced to resign.

1906

A massive earthquake and series of after shocks rock Taiwan, killing 1.200 people.

1805

The Kingdom of Italy is formed by Napoleon.

1762

In New York City, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade is held by Irish soldiers serving in the British army.

624

Muhammad defeats his Meccan opponents at the Battle of Badr, in the Arabian Peninsula.

44 BC

Julius Caesar wins his last military battle at Munda, defeating the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger.

1846

British illustrator Kate Greenaway.

1754

French author and revolutionary politician Madame Roland.