On this day, April 17th, in history:

• 1521: Martin Luther appears before the Diet of Worms German theologian and religious reformer, Martin Luther, appeared before the Diet of Worms in 1521 to defend his views and teachings, which had challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. He refused to recant his beliefs and was eventually excommunicated from the church.

• 1790: Benjamin Franklin dies One of the founding fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin, passed away on this day in 1790 at the age of 84. He was a statesman, author, inventor, and scientist, and played a crucial role in the American Revolution and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

• 1961: Bay of Pigs invasion In 1961, a CIA-sponsored paramilitary group of Cuban exiles attempted to invade Cuba and overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. The operation, known as the Bay of Pigs invasion, failed and led to increased tensions between the U.S. and Cuba.

• 1970: Apollo 13 returns to Earth After suffering a critical malfunction in space, the Apollo 13 spacecraft successfully returned to Earth on April 17, 1970. The crew, consisting of Commander Jim Lovell, Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert, and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise, became known for their resourcefulness and courage in the face of adversity.

• 2014: South Korean ferry sinks The MV Sewol, a South Korean ferry carrying over 400 passengers, sank off the coast of Jindo Island on April 16, 2014. The tragedy claimed the lives of 304 people, mostly high school students on a field trip, and sparked national outrage over the country’s lax safety standards.