On This Day in History — February 27

Highlights of February 27

• 2015 — Russian statesman and politician Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, was assassinated in central Moscow. Read more
• 2002 — Violent riots, perceived to have been instigated by a train fire that killed 59 Hindu pilgrims, broke out in the Indian state of Gujarat, killing at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, over three days. Read more
• 1996 — The multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green. Read more
• 1988 — The Armenian community of Sumgait in Azerbaijan was the target of a violent pogrom (memorial pictured). Read more
• 1982 — The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, known for its performances of Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas, gave its final performance. Read more
• 1972 — The Sunday People revealed that James Humphreys, a notorious pornographer, had bribed a senior London police officer with a holiday to Cyprus and Beirut. Read more
• 1962 — Two dissident Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilots bombed the Independence Palace in Saigon in a failed attempt to assassinate President Ngo Dinh Diem. Read more
• 1940 — American biochemists Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discovered carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, which is now used extensively as the basis of the radiocarbon dating method to date archaeological and geological samples. Read more
• 1933 — The Reichstag building, the seat of the German parliament in Berlin, was set on fire in a pivotal event in the establishment of the Nazi regime. Read more
• 1900 — FC Bayern Munich, Germany's most successful football club, was founded. Read more
• 1870 — The current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships. Read more
• 1814 — Peninsular War: In the south of France, Spanish, British and Portuguese soldiers under the command of the Marquess of Wellington defeated French soldiers in the Battle of Orthez, causing the French to retreat east. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: A Patriot victory at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge resulted in the arrests of 850 Loyalists over the following days. Read more
• 1617 — Sweden signed the Treaty of Stolbovo to end the Ingrian War with Russia, making large territorial gains. Read more
• 1560 — The Treaty of Berwick was signed, setting the terms under which an English fleet and army could enter Scotland to expel French troops defending the regency of Mary of Guise (pictured). Read more

Events

• 2019 — Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder downs Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's Mig-21 in an aerial dogfight and captures him after conducting airstrikes in Jammu and Kashmir. Read more
• 2015 — Russian politician Boris Nemtsov is assassinated in Moscow while out walking with his girlfriend. Read more
• 2013 — A shooting takes place at a factory in Menznau, Switzerland, in which five people (including the perpetrator) are killed and five others injured. Read more
• 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 triggers a tsunami which strikes Hawaii shortly after. Read more
• 2008 — Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari escapes from a detention center in Singapore, hiding in Johor, Malaysia until he was recaptured over a year later. Read more
• 2007 — Chinese stock bubble of 2007: The Shanghai Stock Exchange falls 9%, the largest daily fall in ten years, following speculation about a crackdown on illegal share offerings and trading, and fears about accelerating inflation. Read more
• 2004 — A bombing of a SuperFerry by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines' worst terrorist attack kills more than 100 passengers. Read more
• 2004 — Shoko Asahara, the leader of the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, is sentenced to death for masterminding the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack. Read more
• 2002 — Ryanair Flight 296 catches fire at London Stansted Airport causing minor injuries. Read more
• 2002 — Godhra train burning: A Muslim mob torches a train returning from Ayodhya, killing 59 Hindu pilgrims. Read more
• 2001 — Loganair Flight 670A crashes while attempting to make a water landing in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. Read more
• 1991 — Gulf War: U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated". Read more
• 1988 — Sumgait pogrom: The Armenian community in Sumgait, Azerbaijan is targeted in a violent pogrom. Read more
• 1976 — The former Spanish territory of Western Sahara, under the auspices of the Polisario Front declares independence as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Read more
• 1973 — The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee in protest of the federal government. Read more
• 1971 — Doctors in the first Dutch abortion clinic (the Mildredhuis in Arnhem) start performing artificially-induced abortions. Read more
• 1964 — The Government of Italy asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over. Read more
• 1963 — The Dominican Republic receives its first democratically elected president, Juan Bosch, since the end of the dictatorship led by Rafael Trujillo. Read more
• 1962 — Vietnam War: 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. Read more
• 1961 — The first congress of the Spanish Trade Union Organisation is inaugurated. Read more
• 1951 — The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, is ratified. Read more
• 1943 — The Smith Mine #3 in Bearcreek, Montana, explodes, killing 74 men. Read more
• 1943 — The Holocaust: In Berlin, the Gestapo arrest 1,800 Jewish men with German wives, leading to the Rosenstrasse protest. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: Operation Biting launches its overnight raid on the German coastal radar station at Bruneval to retrieve a Würzburg installation. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1940 — Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14. Read more
• 1939 — United States labor law: The U.S. Supreme Court rules in NLRB v. Fansteel Metallurgical Corp. that the National Labor Relations Board has no authority to force an employer to rehire workers who engage in sit-down strikes. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1932 — The Mäntsälä rebellion begins when members of the far-right Lapua Movement start shooting at the social democrats' event in Mäntsälä, Finland. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1921 — The International Working Union of Socialist Parties is founded in Vienna. Read more
• 1916 — Ocean liner SS Maloja strikes a mine near Dover and sinks with the loss of 155 lives. Read more
• 1902 — Second Boer War: Australian soldiers Harry "Breaker" Morant and Peter Handcock are executed in Pretoria after being convicted of war crimes. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1900 — The British Labour Party is founded. Read more
• 1900 — Fußball-Club Bayern München is founded. Read more
• 1898 — King George I of Greece survives an assassination attempt. Read more
• 1881 — First Boer War: The Battle of Majuba Hill takes place. Read more
• 1870 — The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships. Read more
• 1864 — American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia. Read more
• 1860 — Abraham Lincoln makes a speech at Cooper Union in the city of New York that plays an important role in his election to the Presidency. Read more
• 1859 — United States representative Daniel Sickles, after learning of an affair between his wife and United States Attorney Philip Barton Key II, murders him in Washington, D.C. Read more
• 1844 — The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti. Read more
• 1812 — Argentine War of Independence: Manuel Belgrano raises the Flag of Argentina in the city of Rosario for the first time. Read more
• 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. Read more
• 1809 — Action of 27 February 1809: Captain Bernard Dubourdieu captures HMS Proserpine. Read more
• 1801 — Pursuant to the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, Washington, D.C. is placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress. Read more
• 1782 — American Revolutionary War: The House of Commons of Great Britain votes against further war in America. Read more
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina breaks up a Loyalist militia. Read more
• 1626 — Yuan Chonghuan is appointed Governor of Liaodong, after leading the Chinese into a great victory against the Manchurians under Nurhaci. Read more
• 1617 — Sweden and the Tsardom of Russia sign the Treaty of Stolbovo, ending the Ingrian War and shutting Russia out of the Baltic Sea. Read more
• 1594 — Henry IV is crowned King of France. Read more
• 1560 — The Treaty of Berwick is signed by England and the Lords of the Congregation of Scotland, establishing the terms under which English armed forces were to be permitted in Scotland in order to expel occupying French troops. Read more
• 907 — Abaoji, chieftain of the Yila tribe, is named khagan of the Khitans. Read more
• 425 — The University of Constantinople is founded by Emperor Theodosius II at the urging of his wife Aelia Eudocia. Read more
• 380 — Edict of Thessalonica: Emperor Theodosius I and his co-emperors Gratian and Valentinian II declare their wish that all Roman citizens convert to Nicene Christianity. Read more

Born on February 27

• 2002 — Johnny Davis, American basketball player Read more
• 1998 — Todd Cantwell, English footballer Read more
• 1996 — Chris Godwin, American football player Read more
• 1996 — Ten, Thai singer and dancer Read more
• 1995 — Laura Gulbe, Latvian tennis player Read more
• 1995 — Sergej Milinković-Savić, Serbian footballer Read more
• 1995 — Tomáš Souček, Czech footballer Read more
• 1994 — Mike Matheson, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1993 — Alphonse Areola, French footballer Read more
• 1992 — Meyers Leonard, American basketball player Read more
• 1992 — Ioannis Potouridis, Greek footballer Read more
• 1992 — Jonjo Shelvey, English footballer Read more
• 1992 — Callum Wilson, English footballer Read more
• 1991 — Azeem Rafiq, Pakistani cricketer Read more
• 1990 — Chandler Jones, American football player Read more
• 1990 — Adam Morgan, American baseball player Read more
• 1990 — Lindsey Morgan, American actress Read more
• 1989 — David Button, English footballer Read more
• 1989 — Lloyd Rigby, English footballer Read more
• 1988 — Dustin Jeffrey, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1988 — Iain Ramsay, Australian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Valeriy Andriytsev, Ukrainian wrestler Read more
• 1987 — Florence Kiplagat, Kenyan runner Read more
• 1986 — Yovani Gallardo, Mexican baseball player Read more
• 1986 — Daniel Gibson, American basketball player and coach Read more
• 1986 — Jonathan Moreira, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Sandeep Singh, Indian field hockey player Read more
• 1985 — Asami Abe, Japanese singer and actress Read more
• 1985 — Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Russian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Vladislav Kulik, Ukrainian-Russian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Thiago Neves, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1984 — James Augustine, American basketball player Read more
• 1984 — Jumbo Díaz, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1984 — Akseli Kokkonen, Norwegian ski jumper Read more
• 1984 — Aníbal Sánchez, Venezuelan baseball player Read more
• 1984 — Lotta Schelin, Swedish footballer Read more
• 1984 — Denard Span, American baseball player Read more
• 1983 — Devin Harris, American basketball player Read more
• 1983 — Kate Mara, American actress Read more
• 1982 — Ali Bastian, English actress Read more

Died on February 27

• 2025 — Boris Spassky, Russian chess grandmaster (born 1937) Read more
• 2023 — Gérard Latortue, Haitian prime minister (born 1934) Read more
• 2021 — Ng Man-tat, Hong Kong actor (born 1952) Read more
• 2019 — France-Albert René, Seychellois politician, 2nd President of Seychelles (born 1935) Read more
• 2018 — Steve Folkes, Australian rugby league player and coach (born 1959) Read more
• 2016 — Yi Cheol-seung, South Korean lawyer and politician (born 1922) Read more
• 2016 — James Z. Davis, American lawyer and judge (born 1943) Read more
• 2015 — Boris Nemtsov, Russian academic and politician, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia (born 1959) Read more
• 2015 — Leonard Nimoy, American actor (born 1931) Read more
• 2015 — Julio César Strassera, Argentinian lawyer and jurist (born 1933) Read more
• 2014 — Aaron Allston, American game designer and author (born 1960) Read more
• 2014 — Terry Rand, American basketball player (born 1934) Read more
• 2013 — Van Cliburn, American pianist (born 1934) Read more
• 2013 — Ramon Dekkers, Dutch mixed martial artist and kick-boxer (born 1969) Read more
• 2013 — Dale Robertson, American actor (born 1923) Read more
• 2013 — Adolfo Zaldívar, Chilean lawyer and politician (born 1943) Read more
• 2012 — Ma Jiyuan, Chinese general (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — Tina Strobos, Dutch physician and psychiatrist (born 1920) Read more
• 2012 — Helga Vlahović, Croatian journalist and producer (born 1945) Read more
• 2011 — Frank Buckles, American soldier (born 1901) Read more
• 2011 — Necmettin Erbakan, Turkish engineer and politician, 32nd Prime Minister of Turkey (born 1926) Read more
• 2011 — Duke Snider, American baseball player, manager, and sportscaster (born 1926) Read more
• 2011 — Gary Winick, American director and producer (born 1961) Read more
• 2010 — Nanaji Deshmukh, Indian educator and activist (born 1916) Read more
• 2008 — William F. Buckley, Jr., American author and journalist, founded the National Review (born 1925) Read more
• 2008 — Myron Cope, American journalist and sportscaster (born 1929) Read more
• 2008 — Ivan Rebroff, German vocalist of Russian descent with four and a half octave range (born 1931) Read more
• 2007 — Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven, German general (born 1914) Read more
• 2006 — Otis Chandler, American publisher (born 1927) Read more
• 2006 — Robert Lee Scott, Jr., American general and author (born 1908) Read more
• 2006 — Linda Smith, English comedian and author (born 1958) Read more
• 2004 — Yoshihiko Amino, Japanese historian and academic (born 1928) Read more
• 2004 — Paul Sweezy, American economist and journalist (born 1910) Read more
• 2003 — John Lanchbery, English-Australian composer and conductor (born 1923) Read more
• 2003 — Fred Rogers, American minister and television host (born 1928) Read more
• 2002 — Spike Milligan, Irish soldier, actor, comedian, and author (born 1918) Read more
• 1999 — Horace Tapscott, American pianist and composer (born 1934) Read more
• 1998 — George H. Hitchings, American pharmacologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1905) Read more
• 1998 — J. T. Walsh, American actor (born 1943) Read more
• 1993 — Lillian Gish, American actress (born 1893) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Anne Line; Christian feast day: Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows; Christian feast day: George Herbert (Anglicanism); Christian feast day: Gregory of Narek; Christian feast day: Honorina; Christian feast day: Leander; Christian feast day: February 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Doctors' Day (Vietnam); Independence Day (Dominican Republic), celebrates the first independence of Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1844.; Majuba Day (some Afrikaners in South Africa); Marathi Language Day (Maharashtra, India); World NGO Day

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