What Happened on October 17

North American Campaigns

1777 — Burgoyne Yields Sword; 6,200 British Troops Surrender at Saratoga

General Burgoyne surrendered his sword to Gates this morning near Saratoga, delivering 6,200 British soldiers and officers into American hands after ten days of fighting.

SARATOGA, October 17 — The long contest between Britain and her colonies has this day produced a reversal none foresaw, as General John Burgoyne, commanding His Majesty's northern army, has delivered his sword to the American commander Gates and surrendered every man under his charge.

The capitulation, which took place this morning upon the field near Saratoga in the province of New York, brings to an end ten days of fighting since the second engagement of that name. The British force, numbering 6,200 soldiers and officers, had marched from Canada with intent to divide the rebellious provinces; instead, surrounded by American troops and cut off from supply, Burgoyne found no course but honorable surrender.

The prisoners, according to articles agreed between the commanders, are to be conveyed to Boston and thence transported to England, provisions permitting. The enlisted men shall remain in American custody as prisoners of war; Burgoyne and his fellow officers are granted passage home upon parole.

Historians already remark upon the magnitude of this event. Edmund Morgan, writing upon the war, has termed the surrender "a great turning point of the war" and predicts it shall secure for the Americans that foreign assistance long sought from the court of Versailles.

• Burgoyne surrendered his entire army of 6,200 men on October 17, 1777.
• The surrender occurred ten days after the Second Battle of Saratoga at Saratoga, New York.
• Historian Edmund Morgan called the surrender 'a great turning point of the war' that won foreign assistance for the Americans.
• Burgoyne and his officers returned to England while the enlisted men became prisoners of war.
• The United States celebrated its first Thanksgiving on December 18, 1777, marking the victory at Saratoga.

Source: Wikipedia — American Revolutionary War

European Science Desk

1933 — Einstein Quits Reich; Famed Physicist Lands in America With Wife

Einstein and Elsa arrived October 17 in New York after fleeing Germany, where his works were ordered burned by the Reich, to join the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton.

NEW YORK, October 17 — Albert Einstein, the German physicist whose name has become synonymous with the revolutionary reconception of space and time, has fled the Nazi regime and arrived upon these shores with his wife Elsa.

The couple, seen upon the vessel bearing them to America, have taken residence at Princeton, where the Institute for Advanced Study has secured his services. Einstein's departure follows months of increasing peril; his property in Germany was seized, his citizenship questioned, his scientific works publicly consigned to flames by order of the Reich authorities.

The physicist, awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, had until recently maintained his professorship in Berlin.

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

Source: Wikipedia — Albert Einstein

International Honors

1979 — Mother Teresa Awarded Nobel Peace Prize for Service to Calcutta's Poor

The 1979 honor, worth $190,000, recognizes a nun who spent three decades caring for the dying after selection from 56 nominees.

OSLO, October 17 — Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun who ministered to Calcutta's dying poor, has been awarded the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian committee selected her from 56 nominated candidates. It cited her establishment of the Missionaries of Charity and her dedication to those abandoned by society. The prize carries a monetary award of approximately $190,000.

• Mother Teresa is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Source: Wikipedia — Mother Teresa

Virginia Operations

1781 — Cornwallis Surrenders Sword at Yorktown; War Nears End

The siege concludes — British southern army capitulates — combined American and French forces claim decisive victory.

YORKTOWN, October 17 — General Charles, Earl Cornwallis, commanding His Majesty's forces in the southern colonies, has this day surrendered his army to the allied American and French commanders besieging his position upon the Virginia peninsula.

The capitulation of Cornwallis, which occurred this afternoon following two days of formal negotiation, brings to a close the siege that has consumed the past three weeks. The British southern army, numbering between seven and eight thousand effectives, had retired to Yorktown in expectation of relief by sea; the appearance of the French fleet in Chesapeake Bay rendered that hope vain, and the concentrated fire of American batteries and French siege guns reduced the British works to ruin.

Cornwallis, finding his position untenable and his escape cut off, sought terms on the 17th. The articles of capitulation, substantially similar to those granted Burgoyne four years past, provide for the surrender of all arms, public stores, and shipping, with the officers retaining their personal baggage and swords. The rank and file are to become prisoners of war.

British officers were observed this afternoon delivering their swords to the American and French commanders in formal ceremony. Lord Cornwallis himself, pleading indisposition, delegated his second to perform this office; General Washington, maintaining the punctilio of military courtesy, directed his own subordinate to receive the surrender in like manner.

The consequences of this event are already understood on both sides of the Atlantic. The British ministry, which has pursued this American war through six years and vast expense, can scarcely sustain the pretense that the colonies remain subdued. Parliament is expected to demand peace.

• American Revolutionary War: British General Charles, Earl Cornwallis surrenders at the Siege of Yorktown.

Source: Wikipedia — Siege of Yorktown

Imperial Mathematics

1604 — Kepler Observes New Star Burning Bright in Ophiuchus

Kepler this day commences observations of a stellar object that first appeared nine days past and now exceeds all fixed lights in brightness near θ Ophiuchi.

PRAGUE, October 17 — In the imperial court where globes and compasses mark the hours, Johannes Kepler this day turns his gaze to a marvel that has kindled in the southern sky. A new star, exceeding in brightness all fixed lights of heaven, burns now in the constellation Ophiuchus near θ Ophiuchi.

The German astronomer, mathematician to Emperor Rudolf II, commences his observations this evening. The object first appeared nine days past, recorded by Lodovico delle Colombe in northern Italy.

• Kepler's Star was visible to the naked eye during the day for over three weeks.
• The supernova had an apparent magnitude of −2.5 at its peak, brighter than any other star in the night sky.
• The first recorded observation in Europe was by Lodovico delle Colombe in northern Italy on 9 October 1604.
• Kepler began his observations on 17 October 1604 while working at the imperial court in Prague for Emperor Rudolf II.
• The supernova occurred in the constellation Ophiuchus, near θ Ophiuchi.

Source: Wikipedia — Johannes Kepler

Milan Conservatory

1771 — Mozart's Ascanio in Alba Opens to Acclaim; Teen Composer Triumphs Again

The fifteen-year-old follows his Mitridate success — second Milan visit yields fresh opera — premiere tonight at court

MILAN, October 17 — The prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but fifteen years of age, has secured his reputation as the most remarkable musical genius of our age with tonight's premiere of Ascanio in Alba. The new opera, composed during his second sojourn here from August through December, crowns the triumph of his Mitridate, re di Ponto, which conquered this city in 1770.

The court performance establishes Mozart beyond precocity; it announces a master already formed. Milan, which witnessed his first operatic victory, now hails the maturity of his second. The young composer, pictured among the company, has given Italy further reason to wonder at the gifts of Salzburg.

• Mozart wrote the opera Ascanio in Alba in 1771, which premiered in Milan.
• The premiere of Ascanio in Alba took place during Mozart's second visit to Milan from August to December 1771.
• Mozart composed Ascanio in Alba after the successful performance of his earlier opera Mitridate, re di Ponto in Milan in 1770.

Source: Wikipedia — Ascanio in Alba

Northern Marches

1346 — King David II Seized at Neville's Cross; Scottish Host Shattered

On October 17, the Scottish monarch fell to English arms at Neville's Cross, his capture marking the collapse of Scotland's invasion.

NEVILLE'S CROSS, October 17 — In this season of the Hundred Years' War, when French appeals for diversion drew Scottish arms southward, King David II has met his ruin upon English soil.

• King David II of Scotland invaded northern England in response to a French appeal for a diversionary attack.
• His army was defeated and he was captured at the Battle of Neville's Cross on 17 October 1346.
• David II's capture at Neville's Cross greatly reduced the threat from Scotland to England.

Source: Wikipedia — Hundred Years' War

Parliamentary Affairs

2018 — Canada Legalizes Recreational Cannabis Use Nationwide

Adult possession and consumption permitted — retailers licensed — criminal penalties lifted

OTTAWA, October 17 — Canadians may today legally purchase, possess and consume cannabis for recreational purposes, as federal legislation takes full effect across all provinces and territories. The move ends nearly a century of criminal prohibition for adult use.

Licensed retailers open for business. Personal possession limits apply.

• The recreational use of cannabis is legalized in Canada.

Source: Wikipedia — Cannabis Act (Canada)

Sicilian Crime Desk

1969 — Caravaggio masterpiece stolen from Palermo oratory overnight

Thieves cut 'Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence' from its baroque frame

Thieves have stolen Caravaggio's Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence from the Oratory of Saint Lawrence in Palermo. The 17th-century canvas was cut from its frame overnight. Police discovered the empty ornate baroque frame at dawn.

• The Caravaggio painting Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence is stolen from the Oratory of Saint Lawrence in Palermo.

Source: Wikipedia — Caravaggio

Jerusalem Bureau

2001 — Israeli Tourism Minister Ze'evi Shot Dead at Hotel by Palestinian Gunmen

Four gunmen killed Ze'evi, 75, at a Mount Scopus hotel this morning, two days after he resigned to protest the government's handling of the intifada.

JERUSALEM, October 17 — Four Palestinian gunmen assassinated Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel on Mount Scopus this morning, shooting him in the head and throat before fleeing.

Ze'evi, 75, had resigned his post just two days earlier in protest of the government's handling of the intifada.

• Rehavam Ze'evi was shot by four Palestinian gunmen at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel on Mount Scopus on 17 October 2001.
• He was taken to Hadassah Medical Center and died before 10 am that same day.
• The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility, citing revenge for Israel's assassination of Abu Ali Mustafa.
• The four gunmen were identified as Hamdi Quran, Basel al-Asmar, Majdi Rahima Rimawi, and Ahad Olma.
• Thousands of people attended Ze'evi's funeral at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl.

Source: Wikipedia — Rehavam Ze'evi

Scottish Links

1860 — Willie Park Wins First Open Championship at Prestwick

Red leather Challenge Belt worth £25 goes to Ayrshire victor over eight golfers

Eight golfers contested the first Open Championship at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. The competition over the twelve-hole links course was organized to find a successor to Allan Robertson. Willie Park, Sr. won by two strokes from Old Tom Morris. He received the Challenge Belt, made from red leather with a silver buckle and worth £25. George Daniel Brown was the only Englishman in the field.

• Eight golfers contested the event, with Willie Park, Sr. winning by 2 shots from Old Tom Morris.
• The winner received the Challenge Belt, made from red leather with a silver buckle and worth £25.
• The competition was over three rounds of the twelve-hole links course at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland.
• James Ogilvie Fairlie of Prestwick Golf Club organized the competition to determine the successor to Allan Robertson.
• George Daniel Brown was the only Englishman to play in the event.

Source: Wikipedia — The Open Championship

Petroleum & Diplomatic

1973 — OPEC Embargo Cuts Oil Flow to Israel's Allies

Arab producers slash exports to U.S., others — prices quadruple, queues form at pumps, winter rationing feared

VIENNA, October 17 — Motorists face empty pumps and heating bills will soar this winter: OPEC today imposed a total oil embargo against nations it judges aided Israel in the Yom Kippur War, cutting deliveries to the United States, the Netherlands, and others.

The cartel's ministers acted in emergency session here.

• OPEC imposes an oil embargo against countries they deem to have helped Israel in the Yom Kippur War.

Source: Wikipedia — 1973 oil crisis