All Events

Historical Events on October 17

  • American Revolutionary War

    1777

    American Revolutionary War: British General John Burgoyne surrenders his army at Saratoga, New York.

  • Haitian Revolution

    1806

    Former leader of the Haitian Revolution, Emperor Jacques I of Haiti is assassinated after an oppressive rule.

  • Bulgaria

    1912

    Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia declare war on the Ottoman Empire, joining Montenegro in the First Balkan War.

  • Albert Einstein

    1933

    Albert Einstein flees Nazi Germany and moves to the United States.

  • World War II

    1941

    World War II: a German submarine attacks an American ship for the first time in the war.

  • The Holocaust in Poland

    1943

    The Holocaust in Poland: Sobibór extermination camp is closed.

  • Algeria

    1961

    Scores of Algerian protesters (some claim up to 400) are massacred by the Paris police at the instigation of former Nazi collaborator Maurice Papon, then chief of the Prefecture of Police.

  • Montreal

    1970

    Montreal: Quebec Vice-Premier and Minister of Labour Pierre Laporte was murdered by members of the FLQ terrorist group.

  • OPEC

    1973

    OPEC imposes an oil embargo against a number of Western countries, considered to have helped Israel in its war against Egypt and Syria.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on October 17

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on October 17

16. October

18. October