Today In History Spotlights Feb. 17, 1864, HL Hunley becomes the First Submarine to Sink a Ship

Today’s History Spotlight

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The HL Hunley becomes the first submarine to sink a ship. Developed by Horace L. Hunley, this was a Confederate submarine, operated by a hand-cranked propeller. The American Civil War is often considered to be the dawn of modern warfare, as it introduced many new concepts not seen before on the battlefield. These included the submarine, ironclad ship, repeating rifle, Gatling gun, and others.

After finding its target, the USS Housatonic, in Charleston Harbor, the Hunley attacked, intending to break through the Union blockade. Although it sank the Housatonic, the Hunley was too close to the blast radius, sinking itself in the process and killing all eight crewmen, resulting in a Pyrrhic victory for Confederate forces.

What Happened On This Day – February 17

2008 Kosovo declares its independence. The region’s secession from Serbia followed an armed conflict referred to as the Kosovo War.
1992 Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is jailed for life. Dahmer was convicted of murdering and dismembering at least 17 young men and boys.
1913 The “Armory Show” opens in New York. The art exhibition featured works by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh and marked the advent of artistic modernism in the United States.
1904 “Madama Butterfly” is premiered. Giacomo Puccini’s opera, one of the world’s most performed works of musical theater, was poorly received in its first performance.
1863 A precursor of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is founded. The “Committee for Relief to the Wounded” was created by a group of citizens in Geneva, Switzerland.

Births On This Day – February 17

1981 Paris Hilton – American model, actress, singer
1963 Michael Jordan – American basketball player, actor
1949 Fred Frith – English guitarist, composer
1904 Hans Morgenthau – German philosopher
624 Wu Zetian – Chinese empress

Deaths On This Day – February 17

1998 Ernst Jünger – German author
1986 Jiddu Krishnamurti – Indian/American philosopher, author
1982 Thelonious Monk – American pianist, composer
1856 Heinrich Heine – German poet
1673 Molière – French playwright, actor

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Garrett Smith

Garrett Smith is a writer for NRN and recent graduate from Western Carolina University. He is a history major with a minor in political science. As a Conservative, Smith believes that the Left has taken over America's education system, which means they now control its history. To make their fellow Americans feel guilty, they often invoke a feeling of "American Shame" in students, indoctrinating them with radical, un-American ideas. It is Smith's goal to teach Americans the true history of America, and along with this, use its history to explain what makes us great.