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On This Day in History — December 27
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Highlights of December 27
- 2024 — Acting president and prime minister of South Korea Han Duck-soo was impeached by the National Assembly. Read more
- 2009 — During protests in Tehran against the recent presidential election, Iranian security forces opened fire on demonstrators. Read more
- 2007 — Riots erupted in Mombasa, Kenya, after Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election—the first event in a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis. Read more
- 2007 — Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated while leaving a Pakistan People's Party political rally at Liaqat National Bagh in Rawalpindi. Read more
- 2002 — The human-cloning company Clonaid claimed to have performed the first reproductive cloning of a human, but provided no evidence for the claim. Read more
- 1997 — Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright was assassinated in HM Prison Maze by members of the Irish National Liberation Army. Read more
- 1985 — The body of murdered American primatologist Dian Fossey was discovered inside her cabin in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Read more
- 1979 — Soviet–Afghan War: Soviet troops stormed Tajbeg Palace outside Kabul and killed Afghan president Hafizullah Amin and his 100–150 elite guards. Read more
- 1949 — Indonesian National Revolution: Queen Juliana of the Netherlands signed papers that relinquished sovereignty of most of the Dutch East Indies, officially recognising the independence of Indonesia. Read more
- 1939 — A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck central Turkey, destroying 90 per cent of the buildings in the area, and causing over 32,000 deaths. Read more
- 1932 — New York City's Radio City Music Hall (pictured) opened with the world's largest auditorium at the time. Read more
- 1922 — The Imperial Japanese Navy commissioned Hōshō (pictured), the world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier. Read more
- 1831 — HMS Beagle departed Plymouth, England, on a voyage to South America that established Charles Darwin (pictured) as a naturalist. Read more
- 1657 — Citizens of New Netherland presented the Flushing Remonstrance to Peter Stuyvesant, the director general of the colonial province, requesting an exemption to his ban on Quaker worship. Read more
- 1521 — A period of unrest in Wittenberg following the arrival of three men of the Radical Reformation, known as the Zwickau prophets, was quelled after Martin Luther's release from custody. Read more
- 537 — The reconstructed Hagia Sophia in Constantinople was inaugurated; built as a church, it later became a mosque and a museum. Read more
Events
- 2025 — An estimated €30 million were stolen from a Sparkasse bank in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Read more
- 2019 — Bek Air Flight 2100 crashes during takeoff from Almaty International Airport in Almaty, Kazakhstan, killing 13. Read more
- 2009 — Iranian election protests: On the Day of Ashura in Tehran, Iran, government security forces fire upon demonstrators. Read more
- 2008 — Operation Cast Lead: Israel launches three-week operation on Gaza. Read more
- 2007 — Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated in a shooting incident. Read more
- 2007 — Riots erupt in Mombasa, Kenya, after Mwai Kibaki is declared the winner of the presidential election, triggering a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis. Read more
- 2004 — Radiation from an explosion on the magnetar SGR 1806-20 reaches Earth. It is the brightest extrasolar event known to have been witnessed on the planet. Read more
- 2002 — Two truck bombs kill 72 and wound 200 at the pro-Moscow headquarters of the Chechen government in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia. Read more
- 1999 — Burger King and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission order a recall of plastic Poké Ball containers after they are determined to be a choking hazard. Read more
- 1997 — Protestant paramilitary leader Billy Wright is assassinated in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Read more
- 1996 — Taliban forces retake the strategic Bagram Airfield which solidifies their buffer zone around Kabul, Afghanistan. Read more
- 1991 — Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 751 crashes in Gottröra in the Norrtälje Municipality in Sweden, injuring 92. Read more
- 1989 — The Romanian Revolution concludes, as the last minor street confrontations and stray shootings abruptly end in the country's capital, Bucharest. Read more
- 1985 — Palestinian guerrillas kill eighteen people inside the airports of Rome, Italy, and Vienna, Austria. Read more
- 1983 — Pope John Paul II visits Mehmet Ali Ağca in Rebibbia's prison and personally forgives him for the 1981 attack on him in St. Peter's Square. Read more
- 1978 — Spain becomes a democracy after 40 years of fascist dictatorship. Read more
- 1968 — Apollo program: Apollo 8 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean, ending the first orbital crewed mission to the Moon. Read more
- 1968 — North Central Airlines Flight 458 crashes at O'Hare International Airport, killing 28. Read more
- 1966 — The Cave of Swallows, the largest known cave shaft in the world, is discovered in Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Read more
- 1949 — Indonesian National Revolution: The Netherlands officially recognizes Indonesian independence. End of the Dutch East Indies. Read more
- 1945 — The International Monetary Fund is created with the signing of an agreement by 29 nations. Read more
- 1939 — The 7.8 Mw Erzincan earthquake shakes eastern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). At least 32,700 people were killed. Read more
- 1939 — Winter War: Finland holds off a Soviet attack in the Battle of Kelja. Read more
- 1935 — Regina Jonas is ordained as the first female rabbi in the history of Judaism. Read more
- 1932 — Radio City Music Hall, "Showplace of the Nation", opens in New York City. Read more
- 1929 — Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin orders the "liquidation of the kulaks as a class". Read more
- 1927 — Kern and Hammerstein's musical play Show Boat, considered to be the first true American musical play, opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Broadway. Read more
- 1922 — Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō becomes the first purpose-built aircraft carrier to be commissioned in the world. Read more
- 1918 — The Great Poland Uprising against the Germans begins. Read more
- 1918 — Ukrainian War of Independence: The Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine occupies Yekaterinoslav and seizes seven airplanes from the UPRAF, establishing an Insurgent Air Fleet. Read more
- 1911 — "Jana Gana Mana", the national anthem of India, is first sung in the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress. Read more
- 1845 — Ether anesthetic is used for childbirth for the first time by Dr. Crawford Long in Jefferson, Georgia. Read more
- 1845 — Having coined the phrase "manifest destiny" the previous July, journalist John L. O'Sullivan argued in his newspaper New York Morning News that the United States had the right to claim the entire Oregon Country. Read more
- 1836 — The worst ever avalanche in England occurs at Lewes, Sussex, killing eight people. Read more
- 1831 — Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard HMS Beagle, during which he will begin to formulate his theory of evolution. Read more
- 1814 — War of 1812: The destruction of the schooner USS Carolina brings to an end Commodore Daniel Patterson's makeshift fleet, which fought a series of delaying actions that contributed to Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans. Read more
- 1703 — Portugal and England sign the Methuen Treaty which allows Portugal to export wines to England on favorable trade terms. Read more
- 1688 — The Dutch Guards, commanded by Count Solms, enter London and occupy the Palace of Whitehall and St James's Palace, securing the capital for William of Orange during the 1688 invasion of England. Read more
- 1657 — The Flushing Remonstrance articulates for the first time in North American history that freedom of religion is a fundamental right. Read more
- 1655 — Second Northern War/the Deluge: Monks at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa are successful in fending off a month-long siege. Read more
- 1521 — The Zwickau prophets arrive in Wittenberg, disturbing the peace and preaching the Apocalypse. Read more
- 1512 — The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regard to native Indians in the New World. Read more
- 537 — The second Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is consecrated. Read more
Born on December 27
- 2001 — Ander Barrenetxea, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1999 — Brock Purdy, American football player Read more
- 1998 — Luka Garza, American basketball player Read more
- 1997 — Mads Juel Andersen, Danish footballer Read more
- 1997 — Vachirawit Chivaaree, Thai actor and singer Read more
- 1997 — Ana Konjuh, Croatian tennis player Read more
- 1997 — Jang Gyu-ri, South Korean actress Read more
- 1995 — Timothée Chalamet, French-American actor Read more
- 1995 — Nick Chubb, American football player Read more
- 1995 — Ghislain Konan, Ivorian footballer Read more
- 1995 — Mark Lapidus, Estonian chess player Read more
- 1994 — Isi Palazón, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1993 — Olivia Cooke, English actress Read more
- 1992 — Joel Indermitte, Estonian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Maicel Uibo, Estonian decathlete Read more
- 1991 — Chloe Bridges, American actress Read more
- 1991 — Michael Morgan, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1991 — Beth Potter, Scottish triathlete and long-distance runner Read more
- 1991 — Danny Wilson, Scottish footballer Read more
- 1990 — Max Lindholm, Finnish figure skater Read more
- 1990 — Jonathan Marchessault, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1990 — Milos Raonic, Canadian tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Zelina Vega, American wrestler Read more
- 1989 — Ingrid Várgas Calvo, Peruvian tennis player Read more
- 1988 — Jorge Gutiérrez, Mexican basketball player Read more
- 1988 — Hera Hilmar, Icelandic actress Read more
- 1988 — Zavon Hines, Jamaican-English footballer Read more
- 1988 — Ok Taec-yeon, South Korean singer and actor Read more
- 1988 — Rick Porcello, American baseball player Read more
- 1988 — Hayley Williams, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1987 — Lily Cole, English model Read more
- 1986 — Torah Bright, Australian snowboarder Read more
- 1986 — Jamaal Charles, American football player Read more
- 1986 — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Jamaican sprinter Read more
- 1985 — Logan Bailly, Belgian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Jérôme d'Ambrosio, Belgian racing driver Read more
- 1985 — Adil Rami, French footballer Read more
- 1985 — Paul Stastny, Canadian-American ice hockey player Read more
- 1984 — Andrejs Perepļotkins, Ukrainian-Latvian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Gilles Simon, French tennis player Read more
Died on December 27
- 2024 — Greg Gumbel, American sportscaster (born 1946) Read more
- 2024 — Olivia Hussey, Argentinian-English actress (born 1951) Read more
- 2024 — Charles Shyer, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1941) Read more
- 2023 — Lee Sun-kyun, South Korean actor (born 1975) Read more
- 2023 — Gaston Glock, Austrian firearm engineer and founder of Glock (born 1929) Read more
- 2019 — Maria Creveling, American League of Legends player (born 1995) Read more
- 2018 — Frank Blaichman, Polish resistance fighter (born 1922) Read more
- 2016 — Carrie Fisher, American actress, screenwriter, author, producer, and speaker (born 1956) Read more
- 2016 — Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Sri Lankan politician (born 1933) Read more
- 2015 — Stein Eriksen, Norwegian-American skier (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Dave Henderson, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1958) Read more
- 2015 — Ellsworth Kelly, American painter and sculptor (born 1923) Read more
- 2015 — Meadowlark Lemon, American basketball player and minister (born 1932) Read more
- 2015 — Alfredo Pacheco, Salvadoran footballer (born 1982) Read more
- 2015 — Stevie Wright, English-Australian singer-songwriter (born 1947) Read more
- 2014 — Ben Ammi Ben-Israel, American-Israeli religious leader, founded the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem (born 1939) Read more
- 2014 — Ulises Estrella, Ecuadorian poet and academic (born 1939) Read more
- 2014 — Ronald Li, Hong Kong accountant and businessman (born 1929) Read more
- 2014 — Karel Poma, Belgian bacteriologist and politician (born 1920) Read more
- 2013 — Richard Ambler, English-Scottish biologist and academic (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — Mohamad Chatah, Lebanese economist and politician, Lebanese Minister of Finance (born 1951) Read more
- 2013 — Gianna D'Angelo, American soprano and educator (born 1929) Read more
- 2013 — John Matheson, Canadian colonel, lawyer, and politician (born 1917) Read more
- 2013 — Farooq Sheikh, Indian actor, philanthropist and a popular television presenter (born 1948) Read more
- 2012 — Harry Carey, Jr., American actor, producer, and screenwriter (born 1921) Read more
- 2012 — Lloyd Charmers, Jamaican singer, keyboard player, and producer (born 1938) Read more
- 2012 — Tingye Li, Chinese-American physicist and engineer (born 1931) Read more
- 2012 — Archie Roy, Scottish astronomer and academic (born 1924) Read more
- 2012 — Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., American general and engineer (born 1934) Read more
- 2012 — Salt Walther, American race car driver (born 1947) Read more
- 2011 — Catê, Brazilian footballer and manager (born 1973) Read more
- 2011 — Michael Dummett, English soldier, philosopher, and academic (born 1925) Read more
- 2011 — Helen Frankenthaler, American painter and educator (born 1928) Read more
- 2011 — Johnny Wilson, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach (born 1929) Read more
- 2009 — Isaac Schwartz, Ukrainian-Russian composer and educator (born 1923) Read more
- 2008 — Delaney Bramlett, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1939) Read more
- 2008 — Robert Graham, Mexican-American sculptor (born 1938) Read more
- 2007 — Benazir Bhutto, Pakistani politician, Prime Minister of Pakistan (born 1953) Read more
- 2007 — Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Polish director and screenwriter (born 1922) Read more
- 2007 — Jaan Kross, Estonian author and poet (born 1920) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Blessed Francesco Spoto; Christian feast day:
Blessed Sára Salkaházi; Christian feast day:
Fabiola; Christian feast day:
John the Apostle; Christian feast day:
Pope Maximus of Alexandria; Christian feast day:
Nicarete; Christian feast day:
Theodorus and Theophanes; Christian feast day:
December 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Constitution Day (North Korea); Emergency Rescuer's Day (Russia); Saint Stephen's Day (Eastern Orthodox Church; a public holiday in Romania); The third of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “December 27”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.