1817 Events:

James Monroe becomes the fifth U.S. President. 

US Resident Population is 9,638,453 at the 1820 census

The Gloucester sea serpent, a "large marine animal, supposed to be a serpent, seen near Cape Ann, Massachusetts

2nd Bank of U.S. opens · 

English freighter Diana sinks off Malaysia

The University of Michigan is founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan