On this day
17
September

Frederick Ashton, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, Ruth Benedict

Born: Frederick Ashton (1904), Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (1730)
Died: Ruth Benedict (1948)

Born on this day

17SepBorn 1904122nd birthday

Frederick Ashton

The founder of English ballet created “La fille mal gardée” and “Cinderella” – after seeing Anna Pavlova dance as a boy in Peru.

17SepBorn 1730296th birthday

Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

A Prussian officer who helped train the Continental Army and left an enduring place in American military history.

Died on this day

17SepDied 194878th anniversary of death

Ruth Benedict

The anthropologist who wrote “Patterns of Culture” argued that what counts as normal depends on culture – and loved Margaret Mead.