17 October It Happened Today

1651  Defeated by Oliver Cromwell at Battle of Worcester, Charles II of England flees to France.

1806  Emperor Jacques I of Haiti is assassinated.

1956  Britains first nuclear power station at Calder Hall is officially opened.

1973  The ten Arab OPEC members vote to increase the price of a barrel of oil by 70% and cut production, in response to America’s support for Israel in Yom Kippur War.

1985  Italy’s Socialist Government under Bertino Craxi falls from power.