On this day in history
October 17
American
1777British General Burgoyne surrenders his army at Saratoga, New York, the turning point of the Revolutionary War…
British General Burgoyne surrenders his army at Saratoga, New York, the turning point of the Revolutionary War that brings France into the fight.
Source: Wikipedia
1931Al Capone is convicted of federal income tax evasion in Chicago; the most feared mob boss in America goes down…
Al Capone is convicted of federal income tax evasion in Chicago; the most feared mob boss in America goes down for not paying taxes.
Source: Wikipedia
1989The Loma Prieta earthquake rocks the San Francisco Bay Area during the World Series, killing 63 people and col…
The Loma Prieta earthquake rocks the San Francisco Bay Area during the World Series, killing 63 people and collapsing a section of the Bay Bridge.
Source: Wikipedia
1941The destroyer USS Kearny is torpedoed by a German U boat off Iceland, the first American warship damaged in Wo…
The destroyer USS Kearny is torpedoed by a German U boat off Iceland, the first American warship damaged in World War II months before Pearl Harbor.
Source: Wikipedia
1966Twelve New York firefighters die battling a blaze on 23rd Street in Manhattan, the department's deadliest day …
Twelve New York firefighters die battling a blaze on 23rd Street in Manhattan, the department's deadliest day before September 11.
Source: Wikipedia
World
1961Paris police attack a peaceful Algerian independence march, beating and drowning protesters; dozens are killed…
Paris police attack a peaceful Algerian independence march, beating and drowning protesters; dozens are killed in the Paris massacre.
Source: Wikipedia
1970Quebec terrorists of the FLQ murder kidnapped minister Pierre Laporte, deepening the October Crisis in Canada.
Quebec terrorists of the FLQ murder kidnapped minister Pierre Laporte, deepening the October Crisis in Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
1973Arab oil producers impose an embargo on nations that backed Israel, quadrupling oil prices and plunging the We…
Arab oil producers impose an embargo on nations that backed Israel, quadrupling oil prices and plunging the West into recession.
Source: Wikipedia
1979Mother Teresa is announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, though the Nobel organization dates the awa…
Mother Teresa is announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, though the Nobel organization dates the award to October 27, so the announcement date is disputed.
Source: Wikipedia
1933Albert Einstein arrives in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany, settling at Princeton for the res…
Albert Einstein arrives in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany, settling at Princeton for the rest of his life.
Source: Wikipedia