October 17 - This day in History

October 17 : General Interest
1931: Capone goes to prison

On this day in 1931, gangster Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion and fined $80,000, signaling the downfall of one of the most notorious criminals of the 1920s and 1930s... read more


American Revolution
1777 : Americans win more than a battle at Saratoga
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/americans-win-more-than-a-battle-at-saratoga


Automotive
1973 : OPEC states declare oil embargo
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/opec-states-declare-oil-embargo


Civil War
1864 : The Confederate's James Longstreet returns to command
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/longstreet-returns-to-command


Cold War
1986 : U.S. aid to Contras signed into law
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-aid-to-contras-signed-into-law


Crime
1906 : A shoemaker leads German soldiers in a robbery
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-shoemaker-leads-german-soldiers-in-a-robbery


Disaster
1989 : Loma Prieta earthquake strikes near San Francisco
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/loma-prieta-earthquake-strikes-near-san-francisco


General Interest
1777 : Patriot victory at Saratoga
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patriot-victory-at-saratoga

1961 : Algerians massacred in Paris
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/algerians-massacred-in-paris

1973 : OPEC enacts oil embargo
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/opec-enacts-oil-embargo


Hollywood
1974 : Benji debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benji-debuts


Literary
1903 : Nathanael West is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nathanael-west-is-born


Music
1960 : R&B legends the Drifters earn a #1 pop hit with "Save the Last Dance For Me"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rb-legends-the-drifters-earn-a-1-pop-hit-with-quotsave-the-last-dance-for-mequot


Old West
1835 : The first resolution formally creating the Texas Rangers is approved
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-first-resolution-formally-creating-the-texas-rangers-is-approved


Presidential
1974 : Ford explains his pardon of Nixon to Congress
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-explains-his-pardon-of-nixon-to-congress


Sports
1968 : Olympic protestors stripped of their medals
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/olympic-protestors-stripped-of-their-medals


Vietnam War
1966 : President Johnson goes to Asia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-johnson-goes-to-asia


World War I
1912 : Serbia and Greece declare war on Ottoman Empire in First Balkan War
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/serbia-and-greece-declare-war-on-ottoman-empire-in-first-balkan-war


World War II
1941 : Konoye government falls
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/konoye-government-falls

October 16 - This day in History

October 16 : General Interest
1934: The Long March

The embattled Chinese Communists break through Nationalist enemy lines and begin an epic flight from their encircled headquarters in southwest China. Known as Ch'ang Cheng-the "Long March"-the retreat lasted 368 days and covered 6,000 miles, nearly twice the distance from New York to San Francisco... read more


American Revolution
1773 : Philadelphia Resolutions criticize Tea Act
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/philadelphia-resolutions-criticize-tea-act


Automotive
1958 : Chevrolet introduces the El Camino
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chevrolet-introduces-the-el-camino


Civil War
1859 : Abolitionist John Brown leads a raid on Harpers Ferry
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-browns-raid-on-harpers-ferry


Cold War
1964 : China joins A-bomb club
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/china-joins-a-bomb-club


Crime
1991 : Twenty-three diners massacred at Texas restaurant
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/twenty-three-diners-massacred-at-texas-restaurant


Disaster
1996 : Stampede kills 84 at World Cup match
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stampede-kills-84-at-world-cup-match


General Interest
1793 : Marie-Antoinette is beheaded
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marie-antoinette-is-beheaded

1946 : Nazi war criminals executed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nazi-war-criminals-executed

1987 : Baby Jessica rescued from a well as the world watches
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/baby-jessica-rescued-from-a-well-as-the-world-watches


Hollywood
1925 : Angela Lansbury born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/angela-lansbury-born


Literary
1854 : Oscar Wilde's birthday
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/oscar-wildes-birthday


Music
1976 : "Disco Duck" hits the #1 spot on the U.S. pop chart
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quotdisco-duckquot-hits-the-1-spot-on-the-us-pop-chart


Old West
1851 : Psychopathic gunfighter "Wild Bill" Longley is born in Texas
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/psychopathic-gunfighter-wild-bill-longley-is-born-in-texas


Presidential
1854 : Lincoln speaks out against slavery
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-speaks-out-against-slavery


Sports
1912 : Fred Snodgrass drops ball and loses World Series
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fred-snodgrass-drops-ball-and-loses-world-series

2011 : IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon is killed in crash
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/indycar-driver-dan-wheldon-is-killed-in-crash


Vietnam War
1968 : Bombing halt discussed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bombing-halt-discussed

1973 : Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho awarded Nobel Peace Prize
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/henry-kissinger-and-le-duc-tho-awarded-nobel-peace-prize


World War I
1916 : British soldier Henry Farr executed for cowardice
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-soldier-henry-farr-executed-for-cowardice


World War II
1946 : Alfred Rosenberg is executed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alfred-rosenberg-is-executed

October 15 - This day in History

October 15: General Interest
1917: Mata Hari executed

Mata Hari, the archetype of the seductive female spy, is executed for espionage by a French firing squad at Vincennes outside of Paris. She first came to Paris in 1905 and found fame as a performer of exotic... read more


American Revolution
1780 : British retreat from Middleburgh
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-retreat-from-middleburgh


Automotive
2004 : "Funeral coaches" exempted from car-seat law
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/funeral-coaches-exempted-from-car-seat-law


Civil War
1863 : Confederate submarine sinks during tests
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/css-hunley-sinks-during-tests


Cold War
1990 : Mikhail Gorbachev wins Nobel Peace Prize
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mikhail-gorbachev-wins-nobel-peace-prize


Crime
1948 : A murderous husband is executed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-murderous-husband-is-executed


Disaster
1954 : Hurricane Hazel hits the Carolinas and Ontario
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hurricane-hazel-hits-the-carolinas-and-ontario


General Interest
1945 : Vichy leader executed for treason
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vichy-leader-executed-for-treason

1989 : Gretzky breaks scoring record
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gretzky-breaks-scoring-record

1991 : Thomas confirmed to the Supreme Court
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-confirmed-to-the-supreme-court


Hollywood
2007 : Drew Carey debuts as new host of The Price is Right
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/drew-carey-debuts-as-new-host-of-the-price-is-right


Literary
1881 : P.G. Wodehouse is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pg-wodehouse-is-born

1960 : Moneyball author Michael Lewis is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/moneyball-author-michael-lewis-is-born


Music
1930 : Duke Ellington records his first big hit, "Mood Indigo"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/duke-ellington-records-his-first-big-hit-quotmood-indigoquot


Old West
1880 : Chiricahua Apache leader Victorio is killed south of El Paso, Texas
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chiricahua-apache-leader-victorio-is-killed-south-of-el-paso-texas


Presidential
1948 : Gerald Ford marries Elizabeth Bloomer
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gerald-ford-marries-elizabeth-bloomer


Sports
1989 : Wayne Gretzky breaks NHL points record
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wayne-gretzky-breaks-nhl-points-record


Vietnam War
1965 : First draft card burned
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-draft-card-burned

1966 : Operation Attleboro continues in Tay Ninh Province
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-attleboro-continues-in-tay-ninh-province

1969 : National Moratorium demonstrations held across the United States
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/national-moratorium-demonstrations-held-across-the-united-states


World War I
1917 : Mata Hari is executed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mata-hari-is-executed


World War II
1946 : Herman Goering dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/herman-goering-dies

October 14 - This Day in History

October 14: General Interest
1947: Yeager breaks sound barrier

U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. Yeager, born in Myra, West Virginia, in 1923, was a combat fighter during World War II... read more


American Revolution
1780 : Patriots sting Loyalists at Shallow Ford, North Carolina
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patriots-sting-loyalists-at-shallow-ford-north-carolina


Automotive
1857 : Elwood Haynes, "Grandsire of Gasoline Cars," is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/elwood-haynes-grandsire-of-gasoline-cars-is-born


Civil War
1863 : Union repels Rebels at the Battle of Bristoe Station
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-bristoe-station


Cold War
1962 : The Cuban Missile Crisis begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-cuban-missile-crisis-begins


Crime
1975 : Trial begins in Amityville murders
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/trial-begins-in-amityville-murders


Disaster
1913 : Coal miners die in Wales
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/coal-miners-die-in-wales


General Interest
1066 : The Battle of Hastings
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-hastings

1912 : Theodore Roosevelt shot in Milwaukee
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/theodore-roosevelt-shot-in-milwaukee

1964 : King wins Nobel Peace Prize
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-wins-nobel-peace-prize

2012 : Skydiver breaks sound barrier with 24-mile jump
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/skydiver-breaks-sound-barrier-with-24-mile-jump


Hollywood
1994 : Pulp Fiction debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pulp-fiction-debuts


Literary
1822 : Victor Hugo marries Adele Foucher
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/victor-hugo-marries-adele-foucher


Music
1957 : "Wake Up Little Susie" becomes the Everly Brothers' first #1 hit
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quotwake-up-little-susiequot-becomes-the-everly-brothers39-first-1-hit


Old West
1939 : Ralph Lauren, designer of popular western-style clothing, is born in New York
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ralph-lauren-designer-of-popular-western-style-clothing-is-born-in-new-york


Presidential
1890 : Dwight D. Eisenhower is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dwight-d-eisenhower-is-born


Sports
2003 : Steve Bartman catches ball
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/steve-bartman-catches-ball


Vietnam War
1964 : Khrushchev ousted as premier of Soviet Union
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/khrushchev-ousted-as-premier-of-soviet-union

1968 : U.S. servicemen sent to Vietnam for second tours
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-servicemen-sent-to-vietnam-for-second-tours


World War I
1918 : Adolf Hitler wounded in British gas attack
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-wounded-in-british-gas-attack


World War II
1944 : "The Desert Fox" commits suicide
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-desert-fox-commits-suicide

October 13 - This Day in History

October 13: General Interest
1792: White House cornerstone laid

The cornerstone is laid for a presidential residence in the newly designated capital city of Washington. In 1800, President John Adams became the first president to reside in the executive mansion, which soon became... read more


American Revolution
1775 : Continental Congress authorizes first naval force
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/continental-congress-authorizes-first-naval-force


Automotive
1953 : World's first traveling art museum opens in Virginia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/worlds-first-traveling-art-museum-opens-in-virginia


Civil War
1863 : Ohio voters reject Vallandigham
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ohio-voters-reject-vallandigham


Cold War
1957 : Popular sci-fi film reflects America's ambivalence about nuclear weapons
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/popular-sci-fi-film-reflects-americas-ambivalence-about-nuclear-weapons


Crime
1999 : Grand jury dismissed in JonBenet Ramsey murder case
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/grand-jury-dismissed-in-jonbenet-ramsey-murder-case


Disaster
2010 : Chilean miners are rescued after 69 days underground
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chilean-miners-are-rescued-after-69-days-underground


General Interest
1775 : Continental Navy established
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/continental-navy-established

1812 : Sir Isaac Brock saves Canada
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sir-isaac-brock-saves-canada

1843 : B'nai B'rith founded
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bnai-brith-founded

1977 : Palestinians hijack German airliner
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/palestinians-hijack-german-airliner


Hollywood
1950 : Jimmy Stewart stars in Harvey
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jimmy-stewart-stars-in-harvey


Literary
1943 : Poet Robert Lowell sentenced to prison
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/poet-robert-lowell-sentenced-to-prison


Music
1975 : Singer Charlie Rich protests John Denver's big win at the CMA Awards
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/singer-charlie-rich-protests-john-denver39s-big-win-at-the-cma-awards


Old West
1845 : Texans ratify a state constitution and approve annexation
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/texans-ratify-a-state-constitution-and-approve-annexation


Presidential
1792 : White House cornerstone is laid
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/white-house-cornerstone-is-laid


Sports
1967 : American Basketball Association debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-basketball-association-debuts


Vietnam War
1966 : McNamara claims that war is progressing satisfactorily
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mcnamara-claims-that-war-is-progressing-satisfactorily

1970 : Sir Robert Thompson advises President Nixon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sir-robert-thompson-advises-president-nixon


World War I
1915 : Poet Charles Sorley killed at Loos
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/poet-charles-sorley-killed-at-loos


World War II
1943 : Italy declares war on Germany
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italy-declares-war-on-germany

October 12 - This Day in History

October 12: General Interest
1492: Columbus reaches the New World

After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sights a Bahamian island, believing he has reached East Asia... read more


American Revolution
1776 : British troops head up East River
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-troops-head-up-east-river


Automotive
1940 : Silent-film star Tom Mix dies in Arizona car wreck; brained by "Suitcase of Death"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/silent-film-star-tom-mix-dies-in-arizona-car-wreck-brained-by-suitcase-of-death


Civil War
1870 : Confederate leader Robert E. Lee dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/robert-e-lee-dies


Cold War
1960 : Nikita Khrushchev throws a tantrum at the United Nations
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nikita-khrushchev-throws-a-tantrum-at-the-united-nations


Crime
1998 : The victim of an anti-gay assault dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-victim-of-an-anti-gay-assault-dies


Disaster
1918 : Fire rages in Minnesota
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fire-rages-in-minnesota


General Interest
1810 : The origin of Oktoberfest
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-origin-of-oktoberfest

1915 : British nurse executed in WWI
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-nurse-executed-in-wwi

1945 : Conscientious objector wins Medal of Honor
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/conscientious-objector-wins-medal-of-honor

1964 : USSR leads the space race
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ussr-leads-the-space-race

2000 : USS Cole attacked by terrorists
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/uss-icolei-attacked-by-terrorists

2002 : Terrorists kill 202 in Bali
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/terrorists-kill-202-in-bali


Hollywood
2007 : Al Gore wins Nobel Prize in the wake of An Inconvenient Truth
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/al-gore-wins-nobel-prize-in-the-wake-of-an-inconvenient-truth


Literary
1912 : Actress, playwright, novelist Alice Childress is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actress-playwright-novelist-alice-childress-is-born


Music
1997 : John Denver dies in an aircraft accident
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-denver-dies-in-an-ultra-light-aircraft-accident


Old West
1940 : The Cowboy actor Tom Mix dies in an Arizona car accident
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-cowboy-actor-tom-mix-dies-in-an-arizona-car-accident


Presidential
1786 : Thomas Jefferson composes romantic letter
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-jefferson-composes-romantic-letter


Sports
1929 : Athletics score 10 in eighth inning of championship game
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/athletics-score-10-in-eighth-inning-of-championship-game


Vietnam War
1967 : Dean Rusk criticizes Congress while fighting continues in South Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dean-rusk-criticizes-congress-while-fighting-continues-in-south-vietnam

1970 : Nixon announces another round of troop withdrawals
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-another-round-of-troop-withdrawals

1972 : Racial violence breaks out aboard U.S. Navy ships
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/racial-violence-breaks-out-aboard-us-navy-ships


World War I
1915 : British nurse Edith Cavell executed
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-nurse-edith-cavell-executed


World War II
1946 : Gen. Joseph Stilwell dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gen-joseph-stilwell-dies

October 11 - This Day in History

October 11: General Interest
2002: Jimmy Carter wins Nobel Prize

On this day in 2002, former President Jimmy Carter wins the Nobel Peace Prize "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights... read more


American Revolution
1776 : Benedict Arnold fights valiantly at Valcour Island
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benedict-arnold-fights-valiantly-at-valcour-island


Automotive
2008 : Blind driver breaks land-speed record
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/blind-driver-breaks-land-speed-record


Civil War
1862 : Rebels raid Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stuart-hits-pennsylvania


Cold War
1986 : Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reagan-and-gorbachev-meet-in-reykjavik


Crime
1923 : A mail car explodes in a train robbery
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-mail-car-explodes-in-a-train-robbery


Disaster
1793 : Yellow fever breaks out in Philadelphia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yellow-fever-breaks-out-in-philadelphia


General Interest
1776 : Benedict Arnold and the Battle of Valcour Island
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benedict-arnold-and-the-battle-of-valcour-island

1899 : Boer War begins in South Africa
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/boer-war-begins-in-south-africa

1962 : Pope opens Vatican II
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pope-opens-vatican-ii

1968 : Apollo 7 launched
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/iapollo-7i-launched


Hollywood
1975 : Saturday Night Live debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/saturday-night-live-debuts


Literary
1925 : Elmore Leonard is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/elmore-leonard-is-born


Music
1975 : Bruce Springsteen scores his first pop hit with "Born to Run"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bruce-springsteen-scores-his-first-pop-hit-with-quotborn-to-runquot


Old West
1809 : Meriwether Lewis dies along the Natchez Trace, Tennessee
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meriwether-lewis-dies-along-the-natchez-trace-tennessee


Presidential
1975 : Bill Clinton marries Hillary Rodham
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bill-clinton-marries-hillary-rodham


Sports
2003 : Martinez-Zimmer scuffle interrupts ALCS
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/martinez-zimmer-scuffle-interrupts-alcs


Vietnam War
1954 : Viet Minh take control in the north
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/viet-minh-take-control-in-the-north

1961 : Kennedy ponders the Vietnam situation
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kennedy-ponders-the-vietnam-situation


World War I
1915 : Bulgaria enters World War I
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bulgaria-enters-world-war-i


World War II
1942 : United States defeats Japanese in the Battle of Cape Esperance
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-defeats-japanese-in-the-battle-of-cape-esperance