✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 86th day of the year

March 27

A look at March 27 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Claude Bourgelat and Quentin Tarantino, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♈ZodiacAries ◈BirthstoneAquamarine ❀Birth flowerDaffodil
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2009

    Situ Gintung

    The dam forming Situ Gintung, an artificial lake in Indonesia, fails, killing at least 99 people.

    Indonesian artificial lake in
  2. 1998

    Food and Drug Administration

    The Food and Drug Administration approves Viagra for use as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, the first pill to be approved for this condition in the United States.

    Federal agency of the
  3. 1993

    Jiang Zemin

    Jiang Zemin is appointed President of China.

    Leader of China from
  4. 1981

    Solidarity (Polish trade union)

    The Solidarity movement in Poland stages a warning strike, in which at least 12 million Poles walk off their jobs for four hours.

    Polish trade union formed
  5. 1976

    Washington Metro

    The first section of the Washington Metro opens to the public.

    Rapid transit system in
  6. 1958

    Nikita Khrushchev

    Nikita Khrushchev becomes Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union.

    Leader of the Soviet
  7. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: Yugoslav Air Force officers topple the pro-Axis government in a bloodless coup.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  8. 1901

    Philippine–American War

    Philippine–American War: Emilio Aguinaldo, leader of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by the Americans.

    Armed Philippine-American conflict (1899–1902)
  9. 1638

    1638 Calabrian earthquakes

    The first of four destructive Calabrian earthquakes strikes southern Italy. Measuring magnitude 6.8 and assigned a Mercalli intensity of XI, it kills 10,000–30,000 people.

    Series of four earthquakes
  10. 1625

    Charles I of England

    Charles I becomes King of England, Scotland and Ireland as well as claiming the title King of France.

    King of England, Scotland
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Famous birthday twins

Born on March 27

Claude Bourgelat

b. 1712

French surgeon and author

Quentin Tarantino

b. 1963

American director, producer, screenwriter and actor

James Callaghan

b. 1912

English lieutenant and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Annemarie Moser-Pröll

b. 1952

Austrian skier

Mariano Rajoy

b. 1955

Spanish lawyer and politician, Prime Minister of Spain

Carl Barks

b. 1901

American illustrator and screenwriter

Jessie J

b. 1988

English singer-songwriter

Vasily Koshechkin

b. 1983

Russian ice hockey player

Deaths

  • 2006Stanisław Lem, Ukrainian-Polish author
  • 2002Billy Wilder, Austrian-born American director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1998David McClelland, American psychologist and academic
  • 1968Yuri Gagarin, Russian colonel, pilot, and astronaut
  • 1938William Stern (psychologist), German-American psychologist and philosopher
  • 710Rupert of Salzburg, Austrian bishop and saint

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Easter (Palmarian Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Alexander, a Pannonian soldier, martyred in 3rd century.
  • —Christian feast day: Amador of Portugal
  • —Christian feast day: Augusta of Treviso
  • —Christian feast day: Charles Henry Brent (Episcopal Church (USA))
  • —Christian feast day: Gelasius, Archbishop of Armagh
  • —Christian feast day: John of Egypt
  • —Christian feast day: Panacea De' Muzzi

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