October 17th

Battle at Tours (Poitiers): Charles Martel's Frankish and Burgundian forces beat those of al-Andalus under Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi halting Islamic influence (date disputed).

Occupy Wall Street, an organized protest in New York's financial district, expands to other cities across the U.S., including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Occupy Wall Street defines itself as a group of activists who stand against corporate greed, social inequality, and the disproportion between the rich and poor.

An earthquake measuring 7.1 in magnitude killed 67 and injured over 3,000 in San Francisco.

Mother Theresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the poor in Calcutta, India.

OPEC Declares Oil Embargo. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries or OPEC led by Arab countries declared an oil embargo on any country that supported Israel during the Yom Kippur War, which was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states. The embargo led to a massive oil shortage and had long-lasting economic effects in the United States and Europe. The embargo was lifted in March 1974.

Bobby Fischer Wins the Game of the Century. The chess match between 13-year old Fischer and Donald Byrne took place at the Marshall Chess Club in New York City.

Albert Einstein arrived in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany.

Mobster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion for which he was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Guglielmo Marconi's company begins the first commercial transatlantic wireless service between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and Clifden, Ireland.

Thomas Edison files a patent for the Optical Phonograph (the first movie).

Cullin-la-Ringo Massacre. In what is thought to be the largest massacre of white settlers by Australian aborigines, the killings occurred after a group of settlers from Victoria led by politician Horatio Wills, set up a camp at Cullin-la-Ringo, which is located in present-day Central Queensland. 19 people were killed during the massacre.

1st British Golf Open: Willie Park Snr shoots a 164 at Prestwick Club, Scotland.

London Beer Flood. Vats of beer at the Meux and Company Brewery burst, flooding city streets with 610,000 liters of beer. The almost 15 feet tall wave of porter killed 8 people, some of whom were gathered for a funeral.

British Gen. Burgoyne surrendered in Saratoga, N.Y. during the American Revolution.

Charles II of Great Britain sells Dunkirk to France for 2.5 million livres (320,000 English pounds).