On This Day — February 27

Famous events, births, and deaths from February 27 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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50 events · 218 births · 74 deaths recorded for February 27.

🕰️ Notable Events on February 27

2015 — Assassination of Boris Nemtsov occurs. Wikipedia ↗
2013 — Five people (including the perpetrator) are killed and five others injured in a shooting at a factory in Menznau, Switzerland. Wikipedia ↗
2010 — An earthquake measuring 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale strikes central parts of Chile leaving over 500 victims, and thousands injured. The quake triggered a tsunami which struck Hawaii shortly after. Wikipedia ↗
2007 — The Chinese Correction: The Shanghai Stock Exchange falls 9%, the largest drop in ten years. Wikipedia ↗
2004 — A bombing of a Superferry by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines' worst terrorist attack kills 116. Wikipedia ↗
2004 — Shoko Asahara, the leader of the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, is sentenced to death for masterminding the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack Wikipedia ↗
2002 — Ryanair Flight 296 catches fire at London Stansted Airport. Subsequent investigations criticize Ryanair's handling of the evacuation. Wikipedia ↗
2002 — Godhra train burning: A Muslim mob torches a train returning from Ayodhya, killing 59 Hindu pilgrims. Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Gulf War: U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated". Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Sumgait pogrom: The Armenian community in Sumgait, Azerbaijan is targeted in a violent pogrom. Wikipedia ↗
1976 — The formerly Spanish territory of Western Sahara, under the auspices of the Polisario Front declares independence as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Doctors in the first Dutch abortion clinic (the Mildredhuis in Arnhem) start performing aborti provocati. Wikipedia ↗
1964 — The Government of Italy asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over. Wikipedia ↗
1963 — The Dominican Republic receives its first democratically elected president, Juan Bosch, since the end of the dictatorship led by Rafael Trujillo. Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Two dissident Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilots bomb the Independence Palace in Saigon in a failed attempt to assassinate South Vietnam President Ngô Đình Diệm. Wikipedia ↗
1961 — The first congress of the Spanish Trade Union Organisation is inaugurated. Wikipedia ↗
1951 — The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, is ratified. Wikipedia ↗
1943 — The Smith Mine #3 in Bearcreek, Montana, explodes, killing 74 men. Wikipedia ↗
1943 — In Berlin, the Gestapo arrest 1,800 Jewish men with German wives, leading to the Rosenstrasse protest. Wikipedia ↗
1942 — World War II: During the Battle of the Java Sea, an Allied strike force is defeated by a Japanese task force in the Java Sea in the Dutch East Indies. Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14. Wikipedia ↗
1939 — United States labor law: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that sit-down strikes violate property owners' rights and are therefore illegal. Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Reichstag fire: Germany's parliament building in Berlin, the Reichstag, is set on fire; Marinus van der Lubbe, a young Dutch Communist claims responsibility. The Nazis used the fire to solidify their power and eliminate the communists as political rivals. Wikipedia ↗
1922 — A challenge to the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, allowing women the right to vote, is rebuffed by the Supreme Court of the United States in Leser v. Garnett. Wikipedia ↗
1921 — The International Working Union of Socialist Parties is founded in Vienna. Wikipedia ↗
1902 — Second Boer War: Australian soldiers Harry "Breaker" Morant and Peter Handcock are executed in Pretoria after being convicted of war crimes. Wikipedia ↗
1900 — Second Boer War: In South Africa, British military leaders receive an unconditional notice of surrender from Boer General Piet Cronjé at the Battle of Paardeberg. Wikipedia ↗
1900 — The British Labour Party is founded. Wikipedia ↗
1900 — Fußball-Club Bayern München is founded. Wikipedia ↗
1898 — King George I of Greece survives an assassination attempt. Wikipedia ↗
1881 — First Boer War: The Battle of Majuba Hill takes place. Wikipedia ↗
1870 — The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships. Wikipedia ↗
1864 — American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia. Wikipedia ↗
1861 — Russian troops fire on a crowd in Warsaw protesting against Russian rule over Poland, killing five protesters. Wikipedia ↗
1860 — Abraham Lincoln makes a speech at Cooper Union in the city of New York that is largely responsible for his election to the Presidency. Wikipedia ↗
1844 — The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti. Wikipedia ↗
1812 — Argentine War of Independence: Manuel Belgrano raises the Flag of Argentina in the city of Rosario for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
1812 — Poet Lord Byron gives his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against Industrialism in his home county of Nottinghamshire. Wikipedia ↗
1809 — Action of 27 February 1809: Captain Bernard Dubourdieu captures HMS Proserpine Wikipedia ↗
1801 — Pursuant to the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, Washington, D.C. is placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress. Wikipedia ↗
1782 — American Revolutionary War: The House of Commons of Great Britain votes against further war in America. Wikipedia ↗
1776 — American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina breaks up a Loyalist militia. Wikipedia ↗
1700 — The island of New Britain is discovered. Wikipedia ↗
1626 — Yuan Chonghuan is appointed Governor of Liaodong, after he led the Chinese into a great victory against the Manchurians under Nurhaci. Wikipedia ↗
1617 — Sweden and Russia sign the Treaty of Stolbovo, ending the Ingrian War and shutting Russia out of the Baltic Sea. Wikipedia ↗
1594 — Henry IV is crowned King of France. Wikipedia ↗
1560 — The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Lords of the Congregation of Scotland. Wikipedia ↗
907 — Abaoji, a Khitan chieftain, is enthroned as Emperor Taizu, establishing the Liao dynasty in northern China. Wikipedia ↗
425 — The University of Constantinople is founded by Emperor Theodosius II at the urging of his wife Aelia Eudocia. Wikipedia ↗
380 — Edict of Thessalonica: Emperor Theodosius I and his co-emperors Gratian and Valentinian II, declare their wish that all Roman citizens convert to trinitarian Christianity. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on February 27

1995 — Laura Gulbe, Latvian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Ty Dillon, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Meyers Leonard, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Filip Krajinović, Serbian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Ioannis Potouridis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Jonjo Shelvey, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Azeem Rafiq, Pakistani cricketer Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Elijah Taylor, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — David Button, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Lloyd Rigby, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Iain Ramsay, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1988 — Dustin Jeffrey, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Scott Davies, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Bridie Kean, Australian wheelchair basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Florence Kiplagat, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Sandy Paillot, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Valeriy Andriytsev, Ukrainian wrestler Wikipedia ↗
1987 — Maximiliano Moralez, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Yovani Gallardo, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Jonathan Moreira, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Sandeep Singh, Indian field hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Russian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Braydon Coburn, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Vladislav Kulik, Ukrainian-Russian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Asami Abe, Japanese singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Thiago Neves, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Brett Stewart, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Aníbal Sánchez, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Lotta Schelin, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Akseli Kokkonen, Norwegian ski jumper Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Devin Harris, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1983 — Kate Mara, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Ali Bastian, English actress Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Pat Richards, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1982 — Bruno Soares, Brazilian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Josh Groban, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Cameron Ling, Australian footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Natalie Grandin, English-South African tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Élodie Ouédraogo, Belgian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Chelsea Clinton, American journalist and academic Wikipedia ↗
1980 — Scott Prince, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
1978 — James Beattie, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Kakha Kaladze, Georgian footballer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Emelie Öhrstig, Swedish skier and cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1978 — Simone Di Pasquale, Italian ballet dancer Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Sergei Semak, Ukrainian-Russian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Ludovic Capelle, Belgian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Aitor González, Spanish racing driver Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Prodromos Korkizoglou, Greek decathlete Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Colin Edwards, American motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Carte Goodwin, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Peter Andre, English-Australian singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
1973 — Mark Taylor, Welsh rugby player and manager Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Sara Blakely, American businesswoman, founded Spanx Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Derren Brown, English magician and painter Wikipedia ↗
1971 — David Rikl, Czech-English tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Roman Giertych, Polish lawyer and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Rozonda Thomas, American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress (TLC) Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Kent Desormeaux, American jockey Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Patricia Petibon, French soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Gareth Llewellyn, Welsh rugby union player Wikipedia ↗
1969 — Juan E. Gilbert, American computer scientist, inventor, and academic Wikipedia ↗
1968 — Matt Stairs, Canadian baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Danut Lupu, Romanian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Donal Logue, Canadian actor and director Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Oliver Reck, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Baltasar Kormákur, Icelandic actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Noah Emmerich, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Pedro Chaves, Portuguese race car driver Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Jeffrey Pasley, American educator and academic Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Adam Baldwin, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1961 — James Worthy, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Andrés Gómez, Ecuadorian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Johnny Van Zant, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Naas Botha, South African rugby player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Maggie Hassan, American politician, 81st Governor and junior senator of New Hampshire Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Danny Antonucci, Canadian animator, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Adrian Smith, English guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Robert de Castella, Australian runner Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Timothy Spall, English actor Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Kevin Curran, American screenwriter and television producer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Belus Prajoux, Chilean tennis player Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Peter Christopherson, English keyboard player, songwriter, and director (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Neal Schon, American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Stelios Kouloglou, Greek journalist, author, director and politician Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Gavin Esler, Scottish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Ian Khama, English-Botswanan lieutenant and politician, 4th President of Botswana Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Carl A. Anderson, 13th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Lee Atwater, American journalist, activist and political strategist (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Walter de Silva, Italian car designer Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Steve Harley, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Annabel Goldie, Scottish lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Julia Neuberger, Baroness Neuberger, English rabbi and politician Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Alan Guth, American physicist and cosmologist Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Gidon Kremer, Latvian violinist and conductor Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Ken Grimwood, American author (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Graeme Pollock, South African cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Mary Frann, American actress (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Morten Lauridsen, American composer and conductor Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Carlos Alberto Parreira, Brazilian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Jimmy Burns, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Robert H. Grubbs, American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Charlayne Hunter-Gault, American journalist Wikipedia ↗
1942 — Klaus-Dieter Sieloff, German footballer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Paddy Ashdown, British captain and politician Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Pierre Duchesne, Canadian lawyer and politician, 28th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Howard Hesseman, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Don McKinnon, English-New Zealand farmer and politician, 12th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Peter Revson, American race car driver (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Jake Thackray, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and journalist (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1937 — Barbara Babcock, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Ron Barassi, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1936 — Roger Mahony, American cardinal Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Mirella Freni, Italian soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Uri Shulevitz, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Vincent Fourcade, French interior designer (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Ralph Nader, American lawyer, politician, and activist Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Raymond Berry, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Malcolm Wallop, American politician (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Elizabeth Taylor, English-American actress and humanitarian (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — David Young, Baron Young of Graffham, English businessman and politician, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Jovan Krkobabić, Serbian politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Peter Stone, American screenwriter and producer (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Paul von Ragué Schleyer, American chemist and academic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Joanne Woodward, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Jack Gibson, Australian rugby league player, coach, and sportscaster (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Djalma Santos, Brazilian footballer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Patricia Ward Hales, British tennis player (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
1928 — René Clemencic, Austrian composer, recorder player, harpsichordist, conductor and clavichord player Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Peter Whittle, English-New Zealand mathematician and theorist Wikipedia ↗
1926 — David H. Hubel, Canadian-American neurophysiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Pia Sebastiani, Argentine pianist and composer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Kenneth Koch, American poet, playwright and professor (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Dexter Gordon, American saxophonist, composer, and actor (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Hans Rookmaaker, Dutch historian, author, and scholar (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Theodore Van Kirk, American soldier, pilot, and navigator (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1920 — Reg Simpson, English cricketer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
1917 — John Connally, American lieutenant and politician, 61st United States Secretary of Treasury (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1915 — Denis Whitaker, Canadian general, football player, and businessman (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1913 — Paul Ricœur, French philosopher and academic (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1913 — Kazimierz Sabbat, Polish soldier and politician, President of Poland (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
1913 — Irwin Shaw, American author and screenwriter (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Kusumagraj, Indian author, poet, and playwright (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Lawrence Durrell, Indian-French author, poet, and playwright (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1911 — Oscar Heidenstam, English bodybuilder (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Joan Bennett, American actress (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Peter De Vries, American journalist and author (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Genrikh Kasparyan, Armenian chess player and composer (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
1910 — Kelly Johnson, American engineer, co-founded Skunk Works (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
1907 — Mildred Bailey, American singer (d. 1951) Wikipedia ↗