Monday, 17th October 1960 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Explore 61 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings cloudy with temperatures between 3°C and 11°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Libra. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Monday, 17th October in London, GB.

On 17th October 1960, London experienced cloudy conditions as the city went about its ordinary Monday routines. The capital, situated in south-east England on the River Thames, has served as the political and economic centre of the United Kingdom for centuries, with its influence extending across global affairs. The weather that day reflected the typical autumn pattern for the region, whilst those born under the Libra zodiac sign would have experienced a waxing gibbous moon in the evening sky.
Historical events have marked this calendar date across multiple centuries. In 1914, a British naval squadron achieved a significant military success off the coast of Texel, a Dutch island in the North Sea, when it sank the German 7th Half Flotilla of torpedo boats during the Battle off Texel. More recently, in 2000, a catastrophic rail crash at Hatfield in Hertfordshire prompted sweeping changes to Britain's railways, leading to the introduction of widespread speed limit reductions across the network and contributing to the eventual collapse of Railtrack, the railway management group.
The day has also witnessed notable individual achievements. German astronomer Johannes Kepler began his observations of an exceptionally bright celestial object in 1604, which science would later recognise as Kepler's Supernova appearing in the constellation Ophiuchus. These historical moments underscore how single dates can contain significant developments across politics, transport, astronomy and international relations.
DayAtlas provides detailed information about weather conditions, historical events, famous births and deaths for any given date and location, allowing users to explore the past with precision and context.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 17th October 1960
Stars shine brightest when surrounded by emptiness.
Fortune of the Day
17th October in the Stars – Star Sign Libra
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on October 17th blend classic Libran diplomacy with innovative Uranus energy. They think unconventionally yet radiate charm and balance. This subtle fusion creates modern minds with a keen sense of fairness and intellectual curiosity.
Strengths & Weaknesses Their greatest strength lies in creative problem-solving and balanced judgment. However, indecision and people-pleasing tendencies can cloud their path. Over-accommodation of others sometimes obscures their own authentic needs.
Love Partners appreciate their attentiveness and intellectual engagement. These natives seek equality and meaningful conversations. A somewhat detached approach occasionally prevents the emotional vulnerability deeper bonds require.
Caree & Finance Creative fields and innovative sectors naturally appeal to them. They excel in negotiation, design, and advisory roles. Financial stability improves when they overcome hesitation in major decisions.
Health The nervous system and kidneys warrant attention through stress management. Balance between mental stimulation and physical rest proves essential. Regular movement and creative outlets support overall wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its waxing gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Rat (Metal).
Fun Facts About 17th October
Name Days in Your Language: Brad, Braden, Bradford, Bradley, Brady, Braeden, Brayden, Braydon, Rodolfo, Rudi, Rudolf, Rudolph, Rudolphine, Rudy
Someone born on this day in 1960 would be 65 years old today — just 23,925 days into life, which is roughly 574,200 hours, 34,452,040 minutes, or 2,067,122,419 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 291. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 75 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 42 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 17th October
- Sergio Goycochea, Argentinian footballer and journalist (1963)
- Toby Young, English journalist and academic (1963)
- Glenn Braggs, American baseball player (1962)
- Jay Humphries, American basketball player (1962)
- Mike Judge, American animator, director, screenwriter, producer and actor (1962)
- David Means, American short story writer (1961)
- Guy Henry, English actor (1960)
- Rob Marshall, American director, producer, and choreographer (1960)
- Bernie Nolan, Irish singer (died 2013) (1960)
- Philippe Sands, American lawyer and academic (1960)
Lives Remembered on 17th October
- Jacques Hadamard, French mathematician and academic (born 1865) (1963)
- Natalia Goncharova, Russian painter, costume designer, and set designer (born 1882) (1962)
- Paul Outerbridge, American photographer (born 1896) (1958)
- Charlie Townsend, English cricketer and lawyer (born 1876) (1958)
- Wilhelmina Hay Abbott, Scottish suffragist and feminist (born 1884) (1957)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 17th October
- Christian feast day: Andrew of Crete
- Christian feast day: Anstrudis
- Christian feast day: Catervus
- Christian feast day: Ethelred and Ethelberht
- Christian feast day: Florentius of Orange
- Christian feast day: François-Isidore Gagelin (one of Vietnamese Martyrs)
- Christian feast day: Hosea
- Christian feast day: Ignatius of Antioch
- Christian feast day: John the Short (John Colobus)
- Christian feast day: Marguerite Marie Alacoque (pre-1969 calendar, Visitadines)
- Christian feast day: Nothhelm
- Christian feast day: Rule of Andrew
- Christian feast day: Richard Gwyn
- Christian feast day: Victor of Capua
- Christian feast day: October 17 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- Loyalty Day (Argentina)
- National Police Day (Thailand)
- National Heroes Day (Somaliland)
What Happened on 17th October?
- An explosion at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza kills hundreds of Palestinians during the Gaza war. (2023)
- Drug dealers in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico force the government to back down on an arrest. (2019)
- The 17 October Revolution starts in Lebanon. (2019)
- The recreational use of cannabis is legalized in Canada. (2018)
- A mass shooting and bombing at Kerch Polytechnic College in Crimea kills 21 people including the attacker and injures 70 others. (2018)
- Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capture the last foothold of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Raqqa, marking the end of the Battle of Raqqa. (2017)
- A fire that lasted over 15 hours destroyed almost one third of the East Tower of the Parque Central Urban Complex in Caracas, Venezuela. (2004)
- Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi is assassinated by Hamdi Quran, a member of the PFLP, thus becoming the highest-ranking Israeli to be killed by a Palestinian. (2001)
- The Hatfield rail crash leads to the collapse of Railtrack. (2000)
- Russian journalist Dmitry Kholodov is assassinated while investigating corruption in the armed forces. (1994)