October 17, 1777 - American troops defeat the British in the Battle of Saratoga.
October 17, 1931 - Al Capone convicted of income tax evasion.
October 17, 1933 - Albert Einstein, fleeing Nazi Germany, moves to the US.
October 17, 1979 - Mother Teresa awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
October 17, 2003 - Eunuchs in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh float the political party Jiti Jitayi Politics.
( But I know what you mean E!)