WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012

Today is Wednesday, October 17, the 291st day of 2012. There are 75 days left in the year.

1492 ― Columbus sights isle of San Salvador (Watling Island, Bahamas)

1860 ― First pro golf tournament held (Scotland) (Willie Park wins)

1871 ― President Grant suspends writ of habeas corpus

1918 ― Yugoslavia proclaims itself a republic

1931 ― Al Capone convicted of tax evasion, sentenced to 11 years in prison

1933 ― Albert Einstein arrives in the U.S., a refugee from Nazi Germany

1945 ― Juan Peron becomes dictator of Argentina

1959 ― Queen Elizabeth is fined $140 for withdrawing her race horse

1967 ― The play "Hair" is first performed

1979 ― Mother Teresa of India, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize