This Day in History — October 17

1739 - Thomas Coram was granted a Royal Charter from George II so a "hospital for the maintenance and education of exposed and deserted young children" in Londond, England.
1777 - American troops defeated British forces in Saratoga, NY. It was the turning point in the American Revolutionary War.
1888 - The first issue of "National Geographic Magazine" was released at newsstands.
1931 - Al Capone was convicted on income tax evasion and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released in 1939.
1933 - "News-Week" appeared for the first time at newsstands. The name was later changed to "Newsweek."
1933 - Dr. Albert Einstein moved to Princeton, NJ, after leaving Germany.
1939 - "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" premiered.
1945 - Ava Gardner and Artie Shaw were married.
1945 - Colonel Juan Peron became the dictator of Argentina after staging a coup in Buenos Aires.
1973 - The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) began an oil-embargo against several countries including the U.S. and Great Britain. The incident stemmed from Western support of Israel when Egypt and Syria attacked the nation on October 6, 1973. The embargo lasted until March of 1974.
1978 - U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a bill that restored full U.S. citizenship rights to Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
1979 - Mother Teresa of India was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
1987 - U.S. First Lady Nancy Reagan underwent a modified radical mastectomy at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.