Portal:University of Oxford/On this day/August 17

Births
 * 1556 – Alexander Briant (Hart Hall), Jesuit martyr
 * 1660 – Sir Richard Bulkeley, 2nd Baronet (Christ Church), politician
 * 1718 – Francis Willis (Lincoln, St Alban Hall and Brasenose), physician who treated George III
 * 1873 – Walter Rice, 7th Baron Dynevor (Christ Church), civil servant and politician
 * 1878 – Douglas Lloyd Savory (St John's), Professor of French and politician
 * 1905 – Guy Sanderson (Merton), Bishop of Plymouth 1962–72
 * 1921 – Elinor Lyon (Lady Margaret Hall), children's author
 * 1944 – Peter Gibbs, cricketer and scriptwriter
 * 1951 – Robert Joy (Corpus Christi), Canadian actor
 * 1956 – Philippe Aghion (Nuffield), French economist

Deaths
 * 1657 – Robert Blake (Wadham), admiral
 * 1723 – Joseph Bingham (University), clergyman and scholar
 * 1729 – Sir Jacob Astley, 1st Baronet (Christ Church), politician
 * 1906 – Herman Charles Merivale (Balliol), dramatist and poet
 * 1946 – Robert Younger, Baron Blanesburgh (Balliol), Scottish barrister and judge
 * 1956 – William Havard (Jesus), Welsh international rugby union player and bishop
 * 1969 – Gerry Crutchley, English cricketer
 * 1990 – Roderick Cook (Queen's), actor and writer