Born on June 17
3 figures in our catalog were born on June 17, from the earliest to the most recent.
Charles XII of Sweden
King of Sweden from 1697 to 1718, Charles XII was one of the greatest military commanders of his era. He led the Great Northern War against a European coalition, winning the Battle of Narva (1700) before suffering a crushing defeat at Poltava (1709). He died during the siege of Fredriksten, marking the end of Swedish dominance in Europe.
Charles Gounod
1818 — 1893
French composer (1818–1893), Charles Gounod is the creator of the opera Faust and the Ave Maria. A major figure in French lyric music, he left a profound mark on 19th-century musical life.
Setsuko Hara
1920 — 2015
A Japanese actress considered one of the greatest in Japanese cinema, she is inseparable from the films of Yasujirō Ozu. Her radiant smile and restrained presence earned her the nickname “Eternal Goddess.” She mysteriously retired from cinema in 1963.
Only figures whose birth day is known for certain appear here. Dates are given as the sources record them.