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On This Day · The 239th day of the year

August 27

A look at August 27 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Kayla Ewell and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♍ZodiacVirgo ◈BirthstonePeridot ❀Birth flowerGladiolus
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2006

    Comair Flight 5191

    Comair Flight 5191 crashes on takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, bound for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Of the passengers and crew, 49 of 50 are confirmed dead in the hours following the crash.

    2006 aviation accident in
  2. 2003

    Mars

    Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing 34,646,418 miles (55,758,005 km) distant.

    Fourth planet from the
  3. 1991

    Moldova

    Moldova declares independence from the USSR.

    Country in Eastern Europe
  4. 1979

    The Troubles

    The Troubles: Eighteen British soldiers are killed at the Warrenpoint ambush by the Provisional Irish Republican Army near Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland, in the deadliest attack on British forces during Operation Banner. An IRA bomb also kills British royal family member Lord Mountbatten and three others on his boat at Mullaghmore, Republic of Ireland.

    1960s–1998 conflict in Northern
  5. 1955

    Guinness World Records

    The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records is published in Great Britain.

    British reference book listing
  6. 1914

    World War I

    World War I: Battle of Étreux: A British rearguard action by the Royal Munster Fusiliers during the Great Retreat.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  7. 1896

    Anglo-Zanzibar War

    Anglo-Zanzibar War: The shortest war in world history (09:02 to 09:40), between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar.

    1896 military conflict in
  8. 1832

    Black Hawk (Sauk leader)

    Black Hawk, leader of the Sauk tribe of Native Americans, surrenders to U.S. authorities, ending the Black Hawk War.

    Sauk leader and warrior
  9. 1810

    Napoleonic Wars

    Napoleonic Wars: The French Navy defeats the British Royal Navy, preventing them from taking the harbour of Grand Port on Île de France.

    1803–1815 series of wars
  10. 410

    Sack of Rome (410)

    The sacking of Rome by the Visigoths ends after three days.

    Siege and sack of
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Famous birthday twins

Born on August 27

Kayla Ewell

b. 1985

American actress

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

b. 1770

German philosopher and academic

Lyndon B. Johnson

b. 1908

American commander and politician, 36th President of the United States

Leah Jamieson

b. 1949

American computer scientist, engineer, and academic

Daphne Koller

b. 1968

Israeli-American computer scientist and academic

Bob Kerrey

b. 1943

American lieutenant and politician, Medal of Honor recipient, 35th Governor of Nebraska

Chandra Wilson

b. 1969

American actress and director

Blake Jenner

b. 1992

American actor and singer

Deaths

  • 2006Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1990Stevie Ray Vaughan, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
  • 1975Haile Selassie, Ethiopian emperor
  • 1965Le Corbusier, Swiss-French architect and urban planner, designed the Philips Pavilion
  • 1950Cesare Pavese, Italian author, poet, and critic
  • 1576Titian, Italian painter and educator

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Baculus of Sorrento
  • —Christian feast day: Caesarius of Arles
  • —Christian feast day: David Lewis
  • —Christian feast day: Decuman
  • —Christian feast day: Gebhard of Constance
  • —Christian feast day: Euthalia
  • —Christian feast day: John of Pavia
  • —Christian feast day: Lycerius (or: Glycerius, Lizier)

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