Today in History

Exploring Major Historical Milestones and Events That Occurred on October 17

Today is the 290th day of 2026. In 1777, British forces under Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered to American troops in Saratoga, New York, marking a turning point in the Revolutionary War. In 1931, Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison, fined $50,000 and ordered to pay back taxes. In 1967, Puyi, the last emperor of China, died at age 61. In 1989, Game 3 of the World Series was cancelled due to the Loma Prieta earthquake. In 2024, Israel announced its forces in Gaza killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

Topics