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On This Day in History — September 27

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Highlights of September 27

2014 — Mount Ontake in central Japan unexpectedly erupted, killing 63 people in the nation's deadliest eruption in more than 100 years. Read more
1996 — The Taliban drove Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani out of Kabul, tortured and murdered former president Mohammad Najibullah, and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Read more
1988 — Led by pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi (pictured), the political party National League for Democracy was founded in Burma. Read more
1983 — American software developer Richard Stallman announced plans for the Unix-like operating system GNU, the first free software developed by the GNU Project. Read more
1981 — Iran–Iraq War: Iran broke the Iraqi siege of Abadan by Operation Samen-ol-A'emeh. Read more
1975 — Two members of ETA political-military and three members of the Revolutionary Antifascist Patriotic Front, sentenced to death for murder, became the last people to be executed in Spain. Read more
1964 — The British Aircraft Corporation TSR-2, an advanced Cold War tactical strike and reconnaissance aircraft that was later cancelled, made its maiden flight. Read more
1949 — Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference unanimously selected Zeng Liansong's design for the flag of China (pictured). Read more
1941 — SS Patrick Henry, the first of 2,710 Liberty ships built during World War II by the United States, was launched. Read more
1940 — World War II: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and the Empire of Japan signed the Tripartite Pact in Berlin, officially forming a military alliance known as the Axis. Read more
1917 — The Broadhurst Theatre opened in New York City with a performance of Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw. Read more
1916 — Lij Iyasu (pictured), the emperor-designate of Ethiopia, was deposed in favor of his aunt Zewditu. Read more
1908 — The first production Ford Model T, the car credited with initiating the mass use of automobiles in the United States, was completed at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan. Read more
1875 — The merchant ship Ellen Southard was wrecked in a storm at Liverpool, England; the U.S. Congress subsequently awarded 27 Gold Lifesaving Medals to the men who rescued her crew. Read more
1854 — The paddle steamer SS Arctic sank after a collision with SS Vesta 50 miles (80 km) off the coast of Newfoundland, killing approximately 320 people. Read more
1851 — The British East India Company inaugurated the Horsburgh Lighthouse on the rocky outcrop of Pedra Branca, Singapore, which later became the subject of a territorial dispute. Read more
1825 — Locomotion No. 1 hauled the train on the opening day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first public railway in the world to use steam locomotives. Read more
1822 — In a letter to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres in Paris, Jean-François Champollion announced his initial successes in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs on the Rosetta Stone (pictured). Read more
1422 — The Treaty of Melno was signed, establishing the Prussian–Lithuanian border, which afterwards remained unchanged for about 500 years. Read more

Events

2024 — Hurricane Helene devastates the Carolinas as a tropical storm, killing hundreds and injuring more. Read more
2020 — Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: Azerbaijan launches an offensive against the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, inhabited predominantly by ethnic Armenians. Read more
2019 — Over two million people participated in worldwide strikes to protest climate change across 2,400 locations worldwide. Read more
2014 — 63 people are killed in an eruption of Mount Ontake in Japan. Read more
2012 — In Minneapolis, a gunman shoots eight people, killing six and injuring 2 and then kills himself. Read more
2008 — CNSA astronaut Zhai Zhigang becomes the first Chinese person to perform a spacewalk. Read more
2007 — NASA launches the Dawn probe to the asteroid belt. Read more
2003 — The SMART-1 satellite is launched. Read more
2001 — In Switzerland, a gunman shoots 18 citizens, killing 14 and then himself. Read more
1998 — The Google internet search engine retroactively claims this date as its birthday. Read more
1996 — The Battle of Kabul ends in a Taliban victory; an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is established. Read more
1996 — Confusion on a tanker ship results in the Julie N oil spill in Portland, Maine. Read more
1993 — The Sukhumi massacre takes place in Abkhazia. Read more
1992 — Palestinian prisoners went on a 15-day hunger strike. Read more
1988 — The National League for Democracy is formed by Aung San Suu Kyi and others to fight dictatorship in Myanmar. Read more
1977 — Japan Airlines Flight 715 crashes on approach to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Malaysia, killing 34 of the 79 people on board. Read more
1975 — The last use of capital punishment in Spain sparks worldwide protests. Read more
1973 — Texas International Airlines Flight 655 crashes into the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness near Mena, Arkansas, killing all 11 people on board. Read more
1964 — The British TSR-2 aircraft XR219 makes its maiden flight. Read more
1962 — The Yemen Arab Republic is established. Read more
1962 — Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring is published, inspiring an environmental movement and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Read more
1959 — Typhoon Vera kills nearly 5,000 people in Japan. Read more
1956 — USAF Captain Milburn G. Apt becomes the first person to exceed Mach 3. Shortly thereafter, the Bell X-2 goes out of control and Captain Apt is killed. Read more
1949 — Zeng Liansong's design is chosen as the flag of the People's Republic of China. Read more
1944 — World War II: The Kassel Mission results in the largest loss by a USAAF group on any mission during the war. Read more
1942 — World War II: Last day of the Matanikau action on Guadalcanal as United States Marines barely escape after being surrounded by Japanese forces. Read more
1941 — World War II: The Greek National Liberation Front is established with Georgios Siantos as acting leader. Read more
1941 — The SS Patrick Henry is launched, becoming the first of more than 2,700 Liberty ships. Read more
1940 — World War II: The Tripartite Pact is signed in Berlin by Germany, Japan and Italy. Read more
1938 — The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth is launched in Glasgow. Read more
1930 — Bobby Jones wins the (pre-Masters) Grand Slam of golf. Read more
1928 — The Republic of China is recognized by the United States. Read more
1922 — King Constantine I of Greece abdicates his throne in favor of his eldest son, George II. Read more
1916 — Iyasu V is proclaimed deposed as ruler of Ethiopia in a palace coup in favor of his aunt Zewditu. Read more
1908 — Production of the Model T automobile begins at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit. Read more
1903 — "Wreck of the Old 97": an American rail disaster, in which 11 people are killed; it later becomes the subject of a popular ballad. Read more
1875 — The merchant sailing ship Ellen Southard is wrecked in a storm at Liverpool. Read more
1854 — The paddle steamer SS Arctic, owned by the Collins Line of New York, sinks off the coast of Newfoundland, following a collision with a smaller vessel, the SS Vesta. Only 88 of over 300 people on board survive. About a dozen of the occupants of the Vesta are killed when their lifeboat is hit by the Arctic. Read more
1825 — The world's first public railway to use steam locomotives, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, is ceremonially opened with the engine Locomotion pulling wagons with coal and passengers from Shildon to Darlington to Stockton. Read more
1822 — Jean-François Champollion officially informs the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres in France that he has deciphered the Rosetta Stone. Read more
1821 — The Army of the Three Guarantees triumphantly enters Mexico City, led by Agustín de Iturbide. The following day Mexico is declared independent. Read more
1810 — The French army under André Masséna fails to break British forces under the Arthur Wellesley in the battle of Bussaco. Read more
1791 — The National Assembly of France votes to award full citizenship to Jews. Read more
1777 — American Revolution: Lancaster, Pennsylvania becomes the capital of the United States for one day after Congress evacuates Philadelphia. Read more
1669 — The Venetians surrender the fortress of Candia to the Ottomans, thus ending the 21-year-long Siege of Candia. Crete would remain under Ottoman occupation until 1913. Read more
1605 — The armies of Sweden are defeated by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Battle of Kircholm. Read more
1540 — The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) receives its charter from Pope Paul III. Read more
1529 — The Siege of Vienna begins when Suleiman I attacks the city. Read more
1422 — After the brief Gollub War, the Teutonic Knights sign the Treaty of Melno with Poland and Lithuania. Read more
1331 — The Battle of Płowce is fought, between the Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Order. The Poles are defeated but their leaders escape capture. Read more
1066 — William the Conqueror and his army set sail from the mouth of the Somme river, beginning the Norman conquest of England. Read more

Born on September 27

2002 — Jenna Ortega, American actress Read more
2001 — Caleb Love, American basketball player Read more
2001 — David Malukas, American race car driver Read more
1998 — Ioana Mincă, Romanian tennis player Read more
1997 — Jaiden Animations, American YouTuber and animator Read more
1995 — Kwon Eun-bi, South Korean singer and musical actress Read more
1995 — Christian Wood, American basketball player Read more
1994 — Dylan Walker, Australian rugby league player Read more
1994 — Sayak Chakraborty, Indian television actor Read more
1993 — Lisandro Magallán, Argentinian footballer Read more
1993 — Ryan Murray, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1993 — Monica Puig, Puerto Rican-American tennis player Read more
1993 — Vinnie Sunseri, American football player Read more
1992 — Lachlan Burr, Australian rugby league player Read more
1992 — Sam Lerner, American actor Read more
1992 — Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Irish singer-songwriter and actor Read more
1992 — Granit Xhaka, Swiss footballer Read more
1991 — Ousmane Barry, Guinean footballer Read more
1991 — Simona Halep, Romanian tennis player Read more
1991 — Thomas Mann, American actor Read more
1991 — Anete Paulus, Estonian footballer Read more
1991 — Rio Uchida, Japanese model and actress Read more
1990 — Dion Lewis, American football player Read more
1989 — Park Tae-hwan, South Korean swimmer Read more
1988 — Lisa Ryzih, German pole vaulter Read more
1987 — Ádám Bogdán, Hungarian footballer Read more
1987 — Austin Carlile, American singer-songwriter Read more
1987 — Vanessa James, French figure skater Read more
1987 — Olga Puchkova, Russian tennis player Read more
1986 — Vin Mazzaro, American baseball player Read more
1986 — Ricardo Risatti, Argentinian race car driver Read more
1986 — Matt Shoemaker, American baseball player Read more
1985 — Massimo Bertocchi, Canadian decathlete Read more
1985 — Anthony Morrow, American basketball player Read more
1985 — Daniel Pudil, Czech footballer Read more
1985 — Ibrahim Touré, Ivorian footballer (died 2014) Read more
1984 — Paul Bevan, Australian footballer Read more
1984 — Davide Capello, Italian footballer Read more
1984 — John Lannan, American baseball player Read more
1984 — Avril Lavigne, Canadian singer-songwriter, actress, and fashion designer Read more

Died on September 27

2026 — Mighty Sparrow, Grenadian calypso musician (born 1935) Read more
2026 — Pac, English professional wrestler (born 1986) Read more
2025 — Russell M. Nelson, 17th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (born 1924) Read more
2024 — Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanese politician, 3rd Secretary-General of Hezbollah (born 1960) Read more
2024 — Maggie Smith, English actress (born 1934) Read more
2023 — Michael Gambon, Irish-English actor (born 1940) Read more
2021 — Madeleine Tchicaya, Ivorian politician (born 1930) Read more
2018 — Kavita Mahajan, Indian author and translator (born 1967) Read more
2018 — Michael Payton, American football quarterback (born 1970) Read more
2018 — Manoharsinhji Pradyumansinhji, Indian nobleman and politician (born 1935) Read more
2018 — Marty Balin, American singer, co-founder of the band Jefferson Airplane (born 1942) Read more
2017 — Hugh Hefner, American publisher, founder of Playboy Enterprises (born 1926) Read more
2015 — Syed Ahmed, Indian author and politician, 16th Governor of Manipur (born 1945) Read more
2015 — Pietro Ingrao, Italian journalist and politician (born 1915) Read more
2015 — Kallen Pokkudan, Indian activist and author (born 1937) Read more
2015 — Frank Tyson, English-Australian cricketer, coach, and journalist (born 1930) Read more
2014 — Gaby Aghion, French fashion designer, founded Chloé (born 1921) Read more
2014 — Wally Hergesheimer, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1927) Read more
2014 — Abdelmajid Lakhal, Tunisian actor and director (born 1939) Read more
2014 — James Traficant, American lawyer and politician (born 1941) Read more
2013 — Oscar Castro-Neves, Brazilian-American guitarist, composer, and conductor (born 1940) Read more
2013 — Mauricio González-Gordon y Díez, Spanish sherry maker and conservationist (born 1923) Read more
2012 — Eddie Bert, American trombonist (born 1922) Read more
2012 — Herbert Lom, Czech-English actor (born 1917) Read more
2011 — David Croft, English director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1922) Read more
2011 — Imre Makovecz, Hungarian architect (born 1935) Read more
2011 — Johnny "Country" Mathis, American singer-songwriter (born 1933) Read more
2010 — Balaji Sadasivan, Singaporean neurosurgeon and politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Singapore (born 1955) Read more
2009 — Ivan Dykhovichny, Russian director and screenwriter (born 1947) Read more
2008 — Henri Pachard, American director and producer (born 1939) Read more
2007 — Dale Houston, American singer-songwriter (born 1940) Read more
2007 — Kenji Nagai, Japanese photographer and journalist (born 1957) Read more
2006 — Helmut Kallmeyer, German chemist and soldier (born 1910) Read more
2005 — Ronald Golias, Brazilian comedian and actor (born 1929) Read more
2005 — Mary Lee Settle, American novelist, essayist, and memoirist (born 1918) Read more
2004 — John E. Mack, American psychiatrist and author (born 1929) Read more
2003 — Jean Lucas, French racing driver (born 1927) Read more
2003 — Donald O'Connor, American actor, singer, and dancer (born 1925) Read more
1998 — Doak Walker, American football player (born 1927) Read more
1997 — Walter Trampler, American viola player and educator (born 1915) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast days: Adheritus; Christian feast days: Bonfilius; Christian feast days: Caius of Milan; Christian feast days: Hiltrude of Liessies; Christian feast days: Vincent de Paul; Christian feast days: Cosmas and Damian; Christian feast days: September 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Consumación de la Independencia (Mexico); French Community Holiday (French community of Belgium); Independence Day (Turkmenistan), celebrates the independence of Turkmenistan from USSR in 1991.; Meskel (Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Church, following Julian calendar, September 28 on leap years); National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States); Polish Underground State's Day (Poland); World Tourism Day (International)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “September 27”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.