May 17 birthdays
1749 EDWARD JENNER English physician
Jenner created the smallpox vaccine, the world’s first vaccine. On May 14, 1796, Jenner inoculated eight-yearold James Phipps, his gardener’s son. In 1840, Britain began supplying vaccinations.
1929 JOHN DAVIES Australian swimmer
Davies won gold at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games in the 200m breaststroke. He later became a naturalised American and was appointed as US
District Judge. Davies presided over the trial of police officers charged with assaulting Rodney King.
1943 JOHNNY WARREN Australian footballer
Warren made his international debut for Australia against Cambodia in 1965 at the age of 22. He played 42 international matches, including Australia’s first World Cup appearance in 1974. The award for the best player in the A-league is named the Johnny Warren Medal.
1956 SUGAR RAY LEONARD American boxer
Leonard competed professionally from 1977 until 1997 and won world titles in five weight divisions. As an amateur, Leonard won the light welterweight gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
1956 BOB SAGET American actor
Saget is known for playing Danny Tanner in the TV sitcom Full House from 1987–1995, and its sequel Fuller House from 2016 until 2020. He was the original host of America’s Funniest Home Videos.
1961 ENYA Irish singer
Enya is the best-selling Irish solo artist in history, and second-best-selling overall behind U2. Her career started when she joined her family’s Celtic folk band Clannad. Enya has won four Grammy Awards as a solo artist.
1965 TRENT REZNOR
American musician Reznor is the lead vocalist,
multi-instrumentalist, and principal songwriter of the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, which he founded in 1988, and of which he was the sole official member until 2016. He has been awarded two Academy Awards for soundtracks.