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On This Day in History — November 27
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Highlights of November 27
- 2020 — Nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, regarded as the chief of Iran's nuclear program, was assassinated, allegedly by Mossad. Read more
- 2009 — A bomb exploded under, and derailed, a Russian high-speed train travelling between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, killing 28 passengers. Read more
- 2009 — Lady Gaga performed the first concert of The Monster Ball Tour, which became the highest-grossing tour in history for a debut headlining artist. Read more
- 2001 — Astronomers announced the detection of sodium in the atmosphere of the extrasolar planet HD 209458 b (artist's impression pictured), the first exoplanet atmosphere to be measured. Read more
- 1999 — The Labour Party defeated the governing National Party in the New Zealand general election, with Labour's Helen Clark becoming the country's first female prime minister to have won office at an election. Read more
- 1991 — Operations at the Reagan Test Site were disrupted due to the nearby formation of Tropical Storm Zelda. Read more
- 1989 — A bomb placed by the Medellín Cartel in an attempt to kill Colombian presidential candidate César Gaviria destroyed Avianca Flight 203, killing all 107 people on board, excluding Gaviria, who was not on the flight. Read more
- 1963 — President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered the "Let Us Continue" speech, in which he advocated for civil-rights legislation and national cohesion, to a joint session of the U.S. Congress five days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Read more
- 1950 — Korean War: The Chinese People's Volunteer Army launched multiple attacks against United Nations forces, beginning the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Read more
- 1945 — A consortium of twenty-two U.S. charities founded CARE with the mission of delivering food aid to Europe in the aftermath of World War II. Read more
- 1944 — Between 3,500 and 4,000 tonnes of ordnance exploded at the RAF Fauld underground munitions storage depot in the largest non-nuclear explosion in the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Australian forces began the Battle of Wareo by conducting clearing operations between Bonga and North Hill. Read more
- 1895 — Swedish chemist and industrialist Alfred Nobel (pictured) signed his last will and testament, setting aside the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prize after his death. Read more
- 1856 — William III (pictured) unilaterally revised the constitution of Luxembourg, greatly expanding his powers as grand duke. Read more
- 1835 — James Pratt and John Smith became the last people to be executed in England for sodomy. Read more
- 1703 — The great storm of 1703, one of the most severe storms to strike southern Great Britain, destroyed the first Eddystone Lighthouse off Plymouth. Read more
- 1161 — A Song dynasty fleet defeated Jin ships in a naval engagement on the Yangtze river during the Jin–Song Wars. Read more
Events
- 2024 — Syrian rebel groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham launch a ground offensive into Syria. Read more
- 2020 — Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, is assassinated near Tehran. Read more
- 2020 — Days after the announcement of its discovery, the Utah monolith is removed by recreationists. Read more
- 2015 — An active shooter inside a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado, shoots at least four police officers. One officer later dies. Two civilians are also killed, and six injured. The shooter later surrendered. Read more
- 2009 — Nevsky Express bombing: A bomb explodes on the Nevsky Express train between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, derailing it and causing 28 deaths and 96 injuries. Read more
- 2008 — XL Airways Germany Flight 888T: An Airbus A320 performing a flight test crashes near the French commune of Canet-en-Roussillon, killing all seven people on board. Read more
- 2006 — The House of Commons of Canada approves a motion introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper recognizing the Québécois as a nation within Canada. Read more
- 2004 — Pope John Paul II returns the relics of Saint John Chrysostom to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Read more
- 2004 — Blackwater 61 crash: A CASA C-212 Aviocar crashes into the Koh-i-Baba mountain range in Afghanistan, killing six. Read more
- 2001 — A hydrogen atmosphere is discovered on the extrasolar planet Osiris by the Hubble Space Telescope, the first atmosphere detected on an extrasolar planet. Read more
- 1999 — The centre-left Labour Party takes control of the New Zealand government with leader Helen Clark becoming the first elected female prime minister in New Zealand's history. Read more
- 1997 — Twenty-five people are killed in the second Souhane massacre in Algeria. Read more
- 1992 — For the second time in a year, military forces try to overthrow president Carlos Andrés Pérez in Venezuela. Read more
- 1989 — Avianca Flight 203: A Boeing 727 explodes in mid-air over Colombia, killing all 107 people on board and three people on the ground. The Medellín Cartel claimed responsibility for the attack. Read more
- 1985 — Space Shuttle program: Atlantis launches on STS-61-B, with Rodolfo Neri Vela becoming the first Mexican astronaut. Read more
- 1984 — Under the Brussels Agreement signed between the governments of the United Kingdom and Spain, the former agrees to enter into discussions with Spain over Gibraltar, including sovereignty. Read more
- 1983 — Avianca Flight 011: A Boeing 747 crashes near Madrid's Barajas Airport, killing 181. Read more
- 1978 — In San Francisco, city mayor George Moscone and openly gay city supervisor Harvey Milk are assassinated by former supervisor Dan White. Read more
- 1978 — The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is founded in the Turkish village of Fis. Read more
- 1975 — The Provisional IRA assassinates Ross McWhirter, after a press conference in which McWhirter had announced a reward for the capture of those responsible for multiple bombings and shootings across England. Read more
- 1973 — Twenty-fifth Amendment: The United States Senate votes 92–3 to confirm Gerald Ford as Vice President of the United States. (On December 6, the House will confirm him 387–35). Read more
- 1971 — The Soviet space program's Mars 2 orbiter releases a descent module. It malfunctions and crashes, but it is the first man-made object to reach the surface of Mars. Read more
- 1968 — Penny Ann Early becomes the first woman to play in a major professional men's basketball league, for the Kentucky Colonels in an ABA game against the Los Angeles Stars. Read more
- 1965 — Vietnam War: The Pentagon tells U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson that if planned operations are to succeed, the number of American troops in Vietnam has to be increased from 120,000 to 400,000. Read more
- 1954 — Alger Hiss is released from prison after serving 44 months for perjury. Read more
- 1945 — CARE (then the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe) is founded to send CARE Packages of food relief to Europe after World War II. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: RAF Fauld explosion: An explosion at a Royal Air Force ammunition dump in Staffordshire kills seventy people. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: At Toulon, the French navy scuttles its ships and submarines to keep them out of Nazi hands. Read more
- 1940 — In Romania, the ruling Iron Guard fascist party assassinates over 60 of arrested King Carol II of Romania's aides and other political dissidents. Read more
- 1940 — World War II: At the Battle of Cape Spartivento, the Royal Navy engages the Regia Marina in the Mediterranean Sea. Read more
- 1924 — In New York City, the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held. Read more
- 1918 — The Makhnovshchina is established. Read more
- 1917 — P. E. Svinhufvud becomes the chairman of his first senate, technically the first Prime Minister of Finland. Read more
- 1912 — Spain declares a protectorate over the north shore of Morocco. Read more
- 1901 — The U.S. Army War College is established. Read more
- 1896 — Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss is first performed. Read more
- 1895 — At the Swedish–Norwegian Club in Paris, Alfred Nobel signs his last will and testament, setting aside his estate to establish the Nobel Prize after he dies. Read more
- 1879 — War of the Pacific: Battle of Tarapacá: The confrontation between the Chilean Army and the Peruvian Army takes place in Tarapacá, the Peruvian victory is consummated with the death of the 2 generals and the capture the Chilean general in said place of battle, headed by the Peruvian victory of General Juan Buendía y Noregia. Read more
- 1868 — American Indian Wars: Battle of Washita River: United States Army Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer leads an attack on Cheyenne living on reservation land. Read more
- 1863 — American Civil War: Confederate cavalry leader John Hunt Morgan and several of his men escape the Ohio Penitentiary and return safely to the South. Read more
- 1863 — American Civil War: Battle of Mine Run: Union forces under General George Meade take up positions against troops led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Read more
- 1856 — The Coup of 1856 leads to Luxembourg's unilateral adoption of a new, reactionary constitution. Read more
- 1839 — In Boston, Massachusetts, the American Statistical Association is founded. Read more
- 1835 — James Pratt and John Smith are hanged in London; they are the last two to be executed for sodomy in England. Read more
- 1830 — Saint Catherine Labouré experiences a Marian apparition. Read more
- 1815 — Adoption of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland. Read more
- 1809 — The Berners Street hoax is perpetrated by Theodore Hook in the City of Westminster, London. Read more
- 1755 — An earthquake in northern Morocco devastates the cities of Fes and Meknes. Read more
- 1727 — The foundation stone to the Jerusalem Church in Berlin is laid. Read more
- 1542 — Palace plot of Renyin year: A group of Ming dynasty palace women fail to murder the Jiajing Emperor, and are executed by slow-slicing. Read more
- 1382 — Al-Salih Hajji, the last Qalawunid sultan, is deposed by Barquq, ending the long Turkic Bahri Mamluk period in general and particularly the Qalawunid dynasty, and beginning the reign of the Circassian Burji Mamluk. Read more
- 1095 — Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont. Read more
- 602 — Byzantine Emperor Maurice is forced to watch as the usurper Phocas executes his five sons before Maurice is beheaded himself. Read more
- 511 — King Clovis I dies at Lutetia and is buried in the Abbey of St Genevieve. Read more
- 395 — Rufinus, praetorian prefect of the East, is murdered by Gothic mercenaries under Gainas. Read more
- 176 — Emperor Marcus Aurelius grants his son Commodus the rank of "Imperator" and makes him Supreme Commander of the Roman legions. Read more
- 25 — Luoyang is declared capital of the Eastern Han dynasty by Emperor Guangwu of Han. Read more
Born on November 27
- 2003 — Adéla Jergová, Slovak singer-songwriter Read more
- 2001 — Zoe Colletti, American actress Read more
- 1996 — Mike Williams, Dutch DJ and record producer Read more
- 1995 — Suliasi Vunivalu, Fijian rugby league player Read more
- 1993 — Aubrey Peeples, American actress and singer Read more
- 1992 — Ala Boratyn, Polish singer-songwriter Read more
- 1992 — Chanyeol, South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and model Read more
- 1992 — Bradley Zimmer, American baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Josh Dubovie, English singer Read more
- 1989 — Michael Floyd, American football player Read more
- 1989 — Freddie Sears, English footballer Read more
- 1987 — Luigi Datome, Italian basketball player Read more
- 1987 — Lashana Lynch, English actress Read more
- 1986 — Suresh Kumar Raina, Indian cricketer Read more
- 1986 — Steven Silva, American-Filipino footballer Read more
- 1986 — Xavi Torres, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1986 — Oritsé Williams, English singer-songwriter, producer, and dancer Read more
- 1985 — Park Soo-jin, South Korean singer Read more
- 1985 — Alison Pill, Canadian actress Read more
- 1985 — Thilo Versick, German footballer Read more
- 1984 — Leslie Dewan, American entrepreneur Read more
- 1984 — Izumi Kitta, Japanese voice actress and singer Read more
- 1984 — Domata Peko, American football player Read more
- 1983 — Professor Green, English rapper Read more
- 1983 — Henrik Karlsson, Swedish-Kazakhstani ice hockey player Read more
- 1983 — Donta Smith, American-Venezuelan basketball player Read more
- 1982 — David Bellion, French footballer Read more
- 1982 — Aleksandr Kerzhakov, Russian footballer Read more
- 1982 — Tommy Robinson, English activist, co-founded the English Defence League Read more
- 1981 — Bruno Alves, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1981 — Ryan Jimmo, Canadian mixed martial artist (died 2016) Read more
- 1981 — Matthew Taylor, English footballer Read more
- 1980 — Jackie Greene, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1980 — Veronika Portsmuth, Estonian singer and conductor Read more
- 1980 — Michael Yardy, English cricketer Read more
- 1979 — Ricky Carmichael, American motocross racer Read more
- 1979 — Hilary Hahn, American violinist Read more
- 1979 — Brendan Haywood, American basketball player Read more
- 1979 — Teemu Tainio, Finnish footballer Read more
- 1978 — Eszter Molnár, Hungarian tennis player Read more
Died on November 27
- 2024 — Mary McGee, American motorcycle racer (born 1936) Read more
- 2021 — Apetor, Norwegian YouTuber (born 1964) Read more
- 2020 — Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iranian nuclear scientist (born 1958) Read more
- 2016 — Ioannis Grivas, Greek statesman (born 1923) Read more
- 2015 — Mark Behr, Tanzanian-South African author and academic (born 1963) Read more
- 2015 — Maurice Strong, Canadian businessman and diplomat (born 1929) Read more
- 2015 — Garrett Swasey, American figure skater and coach (born 1971) Read more
- 2015 — Philippe Washer, Belgian tennis player and golfer (born 1924) Read more
- 2014 — Wanda Błeńska, Polish physician and missionary (born 1911) Read more
- 2014 — Phillip Hughes, Australian cricketer (born 1988) Read more
- 2014 — P. D. James, English author (born 1920) Read more
- 2014 — Jack Kyle, Irish rugby player and humanitarian (born 1926) Read more
- 2014 — Fernance B. Perry, Portuguese-American businessman and philanthropist (born 1922) Read more
- 2013 — Lewis Collins, English-American actor (born 1946) Read more
- 2013 — Herbert F. DeSimone, American lawyer and politician, Attorney General of Rhode Island (born 1929) Read more
- 2013 — Volker Roemheld, German physiologist and biologist (born 1941) Read more
- 2013 — Nílton Santos, Brazilian footballer (born 1925) Read more
- 2013 — Manuel F. Segura, Filipino colonel (born 1919) Read more
- 2012 — Mickey Baker, American guitarist (born 1925) Read more
- 2012 — Ab Fafié, Dutch footballer and manager (born 1941) Read more
- 2012 — Érik Izraelewicz, French journalist and author (born 1954) Read more
- 2012 — Marvin Miller, American businessman and union leader (born 1917) Read more
- 2012 — Jack Wishna, American photographer and businessman, co-founded Rockcityclub (born 1958) Read more
- 2011 — Len Fulford, English photographer and director (born 1928) Read more
- 2011 — Ken Russell, English actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1927) Read more
- 2011 — Gary Speed, Welsh footballer and manager (born 1969) Read more
- 2010 — Irvin Kershner, American actor, director, and producer (born 1923) Read more
- 2009 — Al Alberts, American singer-songwriter (born 1922) Read more
- 2008 — V. P. Singh, Indian lawyer and politician, 7th Prime Minister of India (born 1931) Read more
- 2007 — Bernie Banton, Australian activist (born 1946) Read more
- 2007 — Robert Cade, American physician and academic, co-invented Gatorade (born 1927) Read more
- 2007 — Sean Taylor, American football player (born 1983) Read more
- 2007 — Bill Willis, American football player and coach (born 1921) Read more
- 2006 — Don Butterfield, American tuba player (born 1923) Read more
- 2006 — Bebe Moore Campbell, American author and educator (born 1950) Read more
- 2006 — Casey Coleman, American sportscaster (born 1951) Read more
- 2005 — Jocelyn Brando, American actress (born 1919) Read more
- 2005 — Joe Jones, American singer-songwriter (born 1926) Read more
- 2002 — Billie Bird, American actress (born 1908) Read more
- 2002 — Shivmangal Singh Suman, Indian poet and academic (born 1915) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Acarius of Tournai; Christian feast day:
Barlaam and Josaphat; Christian feast day:
Bilihildis of Altmünster; Christian feast day:
Congar of Congresbury; Christian feast day:
Facundus and Primitivus; Christian feast day:
Humilis of Bisignano; Christian feast day:
James Intercisus; Christian feast day:
Leonard of Port Maurice; Christian feast day:
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Roman Catholic); Christian feast day:
Secundinus; Christian feast day:
Siffredus of Carpentras; Christian feast day:
Vergilius of Salzburg; Christian feast day:
Clovis I; Christian feast day:
November 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Lancashire Day (United Kingdom); Maaveerar Day (Tamil Eelam, Sri Lanka); Naval Infantry Day (Russia); Teacher's Day (Spain)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “November 27”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.