On This Day in History — May 27

Highlights of May 27

• 2014 — The football club Kerala Blasters FC and its first supporters' group Manjappada were formed. Read more
• 2006 — An earthquake registering 6.4 Mw struck near the city of Yogyakarta on the southern side of the Indonesian island of Java, killing more than 5,700 people. Read more
• 2001 — Twenty tourists were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in Palawan, Philippines, triggering a hostage crisis that lasted for more than a year. Read more
• 1997 — A destructive F5-rated tornado tracked through a subdivision of homes northwest of Jarrell, Texas, killing 27 people. Read more
• 1995 — American actor Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse, leaving him quadriplegic; he later became an activist on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries. Read more
• 1995 — Bosnian War: Forces of the Army of Republika Srpska captured a United Nations post at Vrbanja Bridge in Sarajevo; six soldiers of both sides were killed when French forces retook the post later in the day. Read more
• 1983 — An explosion at an illegal fireworks factory near Benton, Tennessee, killed eleven people. Read more
• 1983 — An explosion at an illegal fireworks factory near Benton, Tennessee, killed eleven people. Read more
• 1975 — The deadliest road accident in England took place when the brakes on a coach failed and it crashed in North Yorkshire, killing 32 people. Read more
• 1967 — Australians voted overwhelmingly to include Indigenous Australians in population counts for constitutional purposes and to allow the federal government to make special laws affecting them in states. Read more
• 1963 — American singer Bob Dylan (pictured) released The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, his first album to include a significant number of original songs. Read more
• 1962 — A fire at a landfill in Centralia, Pennsylvania, spread to an abandoned coal mine, where it continues burning today. Read more
• 1958 — The F-4 Phantom II, the principal air superiority jet fighter for both the U.S. Navy and Air Force, made its first flight. Read more
• 1954 — The security clearance of American nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, head of Project Y, was revoked. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: The German battleship Bismarck was sunk by gun and torpedo fire by the British battleships HMS Rodney and HMS King George V and supporting cruisers. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Ninety-seven soldiers of the British Royal Norfolk Regiment were killed after surrendering to German forces. Read more
• 1937 — The Golden Gate Bridge, at the time the world's longest suspension bridge by span, opened between San Francisco and Marin County, California. Read more
• 1935 — The United States Supreme Court ruled in A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States that the National Industrial Recovery Act, a major component of the New Deal, was unconstitutional. Read more
• 1930 — Standing at 1,047 ft (319 m), New York City's Chrysler Building opened as the world's tallest building before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building 11 months later. Read more
• 1923 — French drivers André Lagache and René Léonard completed the most laps during the first edition of the sports car race the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Read more
• 1915 — HMS Princess Irene promulgated the Pio-Benedictine Code, the first official comprehensive codification of Latin canon law. Read more
• 1896 — One of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in U.S. history struck St. Louis, Missouri, and East St. Louis, Illinois, killing more than 255 people and injuring at least 1,000 others. Read more
• 1799 — War of the Second Coalition: Austrian forces defeated the French Army of the Danube, capturing the strategically important Swiss town of Winterthur. Read more
• 1644 — Manchu regent Dorgon defeated rebel leader Li Zicheng of the Shun dynasty at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, allowing the Manchus to enter and conquer the capital city of Beijing. Read more
• 1153 — Malcolm IV was crowned King of Scotland at the age of twelve. Read more
• 1096 — The largest of the Rhineland massacres (depicted) took place in Mainz, where at least 1,100 Jews were killed by the People's Crusade. Read more

Events

• 2018 — Maryland Flood Event: A flood occurs throughout the Patapsco Valley, causing one death, destroying the entire first floors of buildings on Main Street in Ellicott City, and causing cars to overturn. Read more
• 2017 — Andrew Scheer takes over after Rona Ambrose as the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Read more
• 2016 — Barack Obama is the first president of the United States to visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and meet Hibakusha. Read more
• 2014 — The football club Kerala Blasters FC and its first supporters' group Manjappada are formed. Read more
• 2006 — The 6.4 Mw Yogyakarta earthquake shakes central Java with an MSK intensity of VIII (Damaging), leaving more than 5,700 dead and 37,000 injured. Read more
• 2001 — Members of Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist separatist group, seize twenty hostages from an affluent island resort on Palawan in the Philippines; the hostage crisis would not be resolved until June 2002. Read more
• 1999 — Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-96, the first shuttle mission to dock with the International Space Station. Read more
• 1998 — Oklahoma City bombing: Michael Fortier is sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined $200,000 for failing to warn authorities about the terrorist plot. Read more
• 1997 — The 1997 Central Texas tornado outbreak occurs, spawning multiple tornadoes in Central Texas, including the F5 that killed 27 in Jarrell. Read more
• 1996 — First Chechen War: Russian president Boris Yeltsin meets with Chechen rebels for the first time and negotiates a cease-fire. Read more
• 1988 — Somaliland War of Independence: The Somali National Movement launches a major offensive against Somali government forces in Hargeisa and Burao, then the second- and third-largest cities of Somalia. Read more
• 1984 — The Danube–Black Sea Canal is opened, in a ceremony attended by the Ceaușescus. It had been under construction since the 1950s. Read more
• 1980 — The Gwangju Massacre: Airborne and army troops of South Korea retake the city of Gwangju from civil militias, killing at least 207 and possibly many more. Read more
• 1977 — A plane crash at José Martí International Airport in Havana, Cuba, kills 67. Read more
• 1975 — Dibbles Bridge coach crash near Grassington, in North Yorkshire, England, kills 33, the highest ever death toll in a road accident in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1971 — The Dahlerau train disaster, the worst railway accident in West Germany, kills 46 people and injures 25 near Wuppertal. Read more
• 1971 — Pakistani forces massacre over 200 civilians, mostly Bengali Hindus, in the Bagbati massacre. Read more
• 1967 — Australians vote in favor of a constitutional referendum granting the Australian government the power to make laws to benefit Indigenous Australians and to count them in the national census. Read more
• 1967 — The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy is launched by Jacqueline Kennedy and her daughter Caroline. Read more
• 1965 — Vietnam War: American warships begin the first bombardment of National Liberation Front targets within South Vietnam. Read more
• 1962 — The Centralia mine fire is ignited in the town's landfill above a coal mine. Read more
• 1960 — In Turkey, a military coup removes President Celâl Bayar and the rest of the democratic government from office. Read more
• 1958 — First flight of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Read more
• 1950 — The Linnanmäki amusement park is opened for the first time in Helsinki. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: In Operation Anthropoid, Reinhard Heydrich is fatally wounded in Prague; he dies of his injuries eight days later. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims an "unlimited national emergency". Read more
• 1941 — World War II: The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the North Atlantic, killing almost 2,100 men. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: In the Le Paradis massacre, 99 soldiers from a Royal Norfolk Regiment unit are shot after surrendering to German troops; two survive. Read more
• 1937 — In California, the Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic, creating a vital link between San Francisco and Marin County, California. Read more
• 1935 — New Deal: The Supreme Court of the United States declares the National Industrial Recovery Act to be unconstitutional in A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, (295 U.S. 495). Read more
• 1933 — New Deal: The U.S. Federal Securities Act is signed into law requiring the registration of securities with the Federal Trade Commission. Read more
• 1930 — The 1,046 feet (319 m) Chrysler Building in New York City, the tallest man-made structure at the time, opens to the public. Read more
• 1927 — The Ford Motor Company ceases manufacture of the Ford Model T and begins to retool plants to make the Ford Model A. Read more
• 1919 — The NC-4 aircraft arrives in Lisbon after completing the first transatlantic flight. Read more
• 1917 — Pope Benedict XV promulgates the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the first comprehensive codification of Catholic canon law in the legal history of the Catholic Church. Read more
• 1915 — HMS Princess Irene explodes and sinks off Sheerness, Kent, with the loss of 352 lives. Read more
• 1905 — Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima begins. Read more
• 1896 — The F4-strength St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado hits in St. Louis, Missouri, and East St. Louis, Illinois, killing at least 255 people and causing over $10 million in damage. Read more
• 1883 — Alexander III is crowned Tsar of Russia. Read more
• 1874 — The first group of Dorsland trekkers under the leadership of Gert Alberts leaves Pretoria. Read more
• 1863 — American Civil War: The first Union infantry assault of the Siege of Port Hudson occurs. Read more
• 1860 — Giuseppe Garibaldi begins the Siege of Palermo, part of the wars of Italian unification. Read more
• 1832 — An Egyptian army under Ibrahim Pasha captures Acre from the Ottomans after a five-months siege. Read more
• 1813 — War of 1812: In Canada, American forces capture Fort George. Read more
• 1799 — War of the Second Coalition: Austrian forces defeat the French at Winterthur, Switzerland. Read more
• 1798 — The Pitt–Tierney duel takes place on Putney Heath outside London. A bloodless duel between the prime minister of Great Britain William Pitt the Younger and his political opponent George Tierney. Read more
• 1798 — The Battle of Oulart Hill takes place in Wexford, Ireland; Irish rebel leaders defeat and kill a detachment of militia. Read more
• 1703 — Tsar Peter the Great founds the city of Saint Petersburg. Read more
• 1644 — Manchu regent Dorgon defeats rebel leader Li Zicheng of the Shun dynasty at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, allowing the Manchus to enter and conquer the capital city of Beijing. Read more
• 1595 — A Gaelic Irish army successfully ambushes an English force in the battle of Clontibret during the Nine Years' War. Read more
• 1257 — Richard of Cornwall, and his wife, Sanchia of Provence, are crowned King and Queen of the Germans at Aachen Cathedral. Read more
• 1199 — John is crowned King of England. Read more
• 1153 — Malcolm IV becomes King of Scotland. Read more
• 1120 — Richard III of Capua is anointed as Prince two weeks before his untimely death. Read more
• 1096 — Count Emicho enters Mainz, where his followers massacre Jewish citizens. At least 600 Jews are killed. Read more

Born on May 27

• 2003 — Franco Colapinto, Argentine racing driver Read more
• 2002 — Jérémy Doku, Belgian footballer Read more
• 2002 — Gabri Veiga, Spanish footballer Read more
• 2000 — Abner Vinícius, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1999 — Matheus Cunha, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1999 — Lily-Rose Depp, French-American actress and model Read more
• 1998 — Josep Martínez, Spanish footballer Read more
• 1997 — Anna Bondar, Hungarian tennis player Read more
• 1997 — Daniel Jones, American football player Read more
• 1997 — Konrad Laimer, Austrian footballer Read more
• 1996 — Kim Jae-hwan, South Korean singer Read more
• 1995 — Yoán Moncada, Cuban baseball player Read more
• 1994 — Maximilian Arnold, German footballer Read more
• 1994 — João Cancelo, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1994 — Aymeric Laporte, French-Spanish footballer Read more
• 1994 — Aleksandra Uznańska-Wiśniewska, Polish–Thai politician, political scientist, and humanitarian Read more
• 1992 — Aaron Brown, Canadian sprinter Read more
• 1992 — Jeison Murillo, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1992 — Laurence Vincent-Lapointe, Canadian canoer Read more
• 1991 — Sebastien Dewaest, Belgian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Tim Lafai, Samoan rugby league player Read more
• 1991 — Ksenia Pervak, Russian tennis player Read more
• 1991 — Mário Rui, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1991 — Armando Sadiku, Albanian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Eneli Vals, Estonian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Yenew Alamirew, Ethiopian runner Read more
• 1990 — Chris Colfer, American actor and singer Read more
• 1990 — Jonas Hector, German footballer Read more
• 1990 — Marcus Kruger, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
• 1989 — Igor Morozov, Estonian footballer Read more
• 1989 — Peakboy, South Korean rapper, record producer, and singer-songwriter Read more
• 1988 — Celso Borges, Costa Rican footballer Read more
• 1988 — Vontae Davis, American football player (died 2024) Read more
• 1988 — Irina Davydova, Russian hurdler Read more
• 1988 — Garrett Richards, American baseball pitcher Read more
• 1988 — Tyler Sash, American football player (died 2015) Read more
• 1987 — Gervinho, Ivorian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Bella Heathcote, Australian actress Read more
• 1987 — Bora Paçun, Turkish basketball player Read more
• 1987 — Matt Prior, Australian rugby league player Read more

Died on May 27

• 2025 — Freddie Aguilar, Filipino musician and singer-songwriter (born 1953) Read more
• 2024 — Elizabeth MacRae, American actress (born 1936) Read more
• 2024 — Bill Walton, American basketball player and sportscaster (born 1952) Read more
• 2021 — Poul Schlüter, former Prime Minister of Denmark (born 1929) Read more
• 2020 — Larry Kramer, American playwright, public health advocate and LGBT rights activist (born 1935) Read more
• 2018 — Gardner Dozois, American science fiction author and editor (born 1947) Read more
• 2017 — Gregg Allman, American musician, singer and songwriter (born 1947) Read more
• 2015 — Erik Carlsson, Swedish rally driver (born 1929) Read more
• 2015 — Nils Christie, Norwegian sociologist, criminologist, and author (born 1928) Read more
• 2015 — Andy King, English footballer and manager (born 1956) Read more
• 2015 — Michael Martin, American philosopher and academic (born 1932) Read more
• 2014 — Robert Genn, Canadian painter and author (born 1936) Read more
• 2014 — Helma Sanders-Brahms, German director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1940) Read more
• 2014 — Roberto Vargas, Puerto Rican-American baseball player, coach, and manager (born 1929) Read more
• 2014 — Massimo Vignelli, Italian-American graphic designer (born 1931) Read more
• 2013 — Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri, Indian politician (born 1917) Read more
• 2013 — Bill Pertwee, English actor (born 1926) Read more
• 2013 — Abdoulaye Sékou Sow, Malian politician, Prime Minister of Mali (born 1931) Read more
• 2012 — Simeon Daniel, Nevisian educator and politician, 1st Premier of Nevis (born 1934) Read more
• 2012 — Friedrich Hirzebruch, German mathematician and academic (born 1927) Read more
• 2012 — Anahit Perikhanian, Russian-born Armenian Iranologist (born 1928) Read more
• 2012 — David Rimoin, Canadian-American geneticist and academic (born 1936) Read more
• 2011 — Jeff Conaway, American actor and singer (born 1950) Read more
• 2011 — Margo Dydek, Polish-American basketball player (born 1974) Read more
• 2011 — Gil Scott-Heron, American singer-songwriter and poet (born 1949) Read more
• 2010 — Payut Ngaokrachang, Thai animator and director (born 1929) Read more
• 2009 — Thomas M. Franck, American lawyer and academic (born 1931) Read more
• 2009 — Clive Granger, Welsh-American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1934) Read more
• 2009 — Mona Grey, British nursing administrator; Northern Ireland's first Chief Nursing Officer (born 1910) Read more
• 2009 — Abram Hoffer, Canadian biochemist, physician, and psychiatrist (born 1917) Read more
• 2009 — Gérard Jean-Juste, Haitian-American priest and theologian (born 1946) Read more
• 2009 — Carol Anne O'Marie, American nun and author (born 1933) Read more
• 2009 — William Refshauge, Australian soldier and physician (born 1913) Read more
• 2009 — Paul Sharratt, English-American television host (born 1933) Read more
• 2008 — Franz Künstler, Hungarian soldier (born 1900) Read more
• 2007 — Izumi Sakai, Japanese singer-songwriter (born 1967) Read more
• 2007 — Gretchen Wyler, American actress and dancer (born 1932) Read more
• 2007 — Ed Yost, American inventor, created the modern hot air balloon (born 1919) Read more
• 2006 — Rob Borsellino, American journalist (born 1949) Read more
• 2006 — Paul Gleason, American actor (born 1939) Read more

Holidays & observances

Armed Forces Day (Nicaragua); Children's Day (Nigeria); Christian feast day: Augustine of Canterbury; Christian feast day: Blessed Lojze Grozde; Christian feast day: Bruno of Würzburg; Christian feast day: Eutropius of Orange; Christian feast day: Hildebert; Christian feast day: Julius the Veteran; Christian feast day: May 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Mother's Day (Bolivia); Navy Day (Japan); Slavery Abolition Day (Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin); Start of National Reconciliation Week (Australia)

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