February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 307 days remaining until the end of the year (308 in leap years). [edit] Events - 1560 – The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation of Scotland.
- 1594 – Henry IV is crowned King of France.
- 1617 – Sweden and Russia sign the Treaty of Stolbovo, ending the Ingrian War and shutting Russia out of the Baltic Sea.
- 1626 – Yuan Chonghuan is appointed Governor of Liaodong, after he led the Chinese into a great victory against the Manchurians under Nurhaci.
- 1700 – The island of New Britain is discovered.
- 1797 – The Bank of England issues the first one-pound and two-pound notes.
- 1801 – Pursuant to the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, Washington, D.C. is placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress.
- 1812 – Poet Lord Byron gives his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against Industrialism in his home county of Nottinghamshire.
- 1844 – The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti.
- 1860 – Abraham Lincoln makes a speech at Cooper Union in the city of New York that is largely responsible for his election to the Presidency.
- 1861 – Russian troops fire on a crowd in Warsaw protesting against Russian rule over Poland, killing five protesters.
- 1864 – American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia.
- 1900 – Second Boer War: In South Africa, British military leaders receive an unconditional notice of surrender from Boer General Piet Cronje at the Battle of Paardeberg.
- 1900 – The British Labour Party is founded.
- 1921 – The International Working Union of Socialist Parties is founded in Vienna.
- 1922 – A challenge to the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, allowing women the right to vote, is rebuffed by the Supreme Court of the United States in Leser v. Garnett.
- 1933 – Reichstag fire: Germany's parliament building in Berlin, the Reichstag, is set on fire.
- 1939 – United States labor law: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that sit-down strikes violate property owners' rights and are therefore illegal.
- 1940 – Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14
- 1942 – World War II: During the Battle of the Java Sea, an allied strike force is defeated by a Japanese task force in the Java Sea in the Dutch East Indies
- 1943 – The Smith Mine #3 in Bearcreek, Montana, explodes, killing 74 men.
- 1943 – The Rosenstrasse protest starts in Berlin
- 1945 – Lebanon declares Independence.
- 1951 – The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, is ratified.
- 1961 – The first congress of the Spanish Trade Union Organisation is inaugurated.
- 1963 – The Dominican Republic receives its first democratically elected president, Juan Bosch, since the end of the dictatorship led by Rafael Trujillo.
- 1964 – The government of Italy asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over.
- 1967 – Dominica gains independence from the United Kingdom.
- 1971 – Doctors in the first Dutch abortion clinic (the Mildredhuis in Arnhem) start to perform aborti provocati.
- 1973 – The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
- 1974 – People magazine is published for the first time.
- 1976 – The formerly Spanish territory of Western Sahara, under the auspices of the Polisario Front declares independence as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
- 1986 – The United States Senate allows its debates to be televised on a trial basis.
- 1989 – Venezuela is rocked by the Caracazo riots.
- 1991 – Gulf War: U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that "Kuwait is liberated".
- 1999 – Olusegun Obasanjo becomes Nigeria's first elected president since mid-1983.
- 2002 – Ryanair Flight 296 catches fire at London Stansted Airport. Subsequent investigations criticize Ryanair's handling of the evacuation.
- 2002 – Godhra train burning: a Muslim mob kills 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya;
- 2003 – Rowan Williams is enthroned as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in the Anglican church.
- 2004 – A bombing of a Superferry by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines' worst terrorist attack kills 116.
- 2004 – Former BPMC general secretary Ordrick Samuel launches a new party in Barbuda, Barbudans for a Better Barbuda.
- 2007 – The general strike against Lansana Conté in Guinea ends.
- 2007 – The Chinese Correction: the Shanghai Stock Exchange falls 9%, the largest drop in 10 years.
[edit] Births - 272 – Constantine I, Roman emperor (d. 337)
- 1691 – Edward Cave, English editor and publisher (d. 1754)
- 1711 – Constantine Mavrocordatos, Prince of Wallachia and Prince of Moldavia (d. 1769)
- 1779 – Thomas Hazlehurst, English soap and alkali manufacturer (d. 1842)
- 1807 – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet (d. 1882)
- 1831 – Hiram Bond Everest, American co-founder of The Vacuum Oil Company (d. 1913)
- 1847 – Ellen Terry, English actress (d.1928)
- 1862 – Anastasios Metaxas, Greek architect and shooter (d. 1937)
- 1877 – Walter Briggs, Sr., American entrepreneur and sports team owner (d. 1952)
- 1878 – Alvan T. Fuller, 50th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1958)
- 1879 – René Lefebvre, martyr of the French Resistance (d. 1944)
- 1886 – Hugo Black, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (d. 1971)
- 1888 – Roberto Assagioli, Italian psychiatrist (d. 1974)
- 1888 – Earl Caddock, American professional wrestler (d. 1950)
- 1888 – Lotte Lehmann, German singer (d. 1976)
- 1890 – Freddie Keppard, American jazz musician (d. 1933)
- 1891 – David Sarnoff, Russian-born broadcast pioneer (d. 1971)
- 1891 – Anne Samson, oldest-ever nun documented (d. 2004)
- 1892 – William Demarest, American actor (d. 1983)
- 1897 – Marian Anderson, American contralto (d. 1993)
- 1899 – Charles Best, Canadian medical scientist (d. 1978)
- 1902 – Gene Sarazen, American golfer (d. 1999)
- 1902 – John Steinbeck, American writer, Nobel laureate (d. 1968)
- 1903 – Grethe Weiser, German actress (d. 1970)
- 1904 – James T. Farrell, American writer (d. 1979)
- 1904 – Yulii Borisovich Khariton, Russian physicist (d. 1996)
- 1904 – André Leducq, French cyclist (d. 1980)
- 1904 – Chick Fullis, American baseball player (d. 1946)
- 1905 – Franchot Tone, American actor (d. 1968)
- 1907 – Mildred Bailey, American singer (d. 1951)
- 1910 – Joan Bennett, American actress (d. 1990)
- 1910 – Peter De Vries, American writer (d. 1993)
- 1910 – Ted Horn, American race car driver (d. 1948)
- 1910 – Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, American aircraft engineer (Lockheed Skunk Works) (d. 1990)
- 1911 – Oscar Heidenstam, British bodybuilding champion (d. 1991)
- 1912 – Lawrence Durrell, British writer (d. 1990)
- 1912 – Kusumagraj, Indian writer (d. 1999)
- 1913 – Irwin Shaw, American writer (d. 1984)
- 1913 – Kazimierz Sabbat, Polish president (d. 1989)
- 1917 – John Connally, American politician (d. 1993)
- 1921 – Theodore Van Kirk, American navigator of the Enola Gay
- 1922 – Hans Rookmaaker, Dutch professor and art historian (d. 1977)
- 1923 – Dexter Gordon, American jazz saxophonist (d. 1990)
- 1925 – Samuel Dash, American Congressional counsel (d. 2004)
- 1926 – David H. Hubel, Canadian neuroscientist, Nobel Prize laureate
- 1927 – Lynn Cartwright, American actress (d. 2004)
- 1927 – Guy Mitchell, American singer (d. 1999)
- 1928 – Ariel Sharon, former Prime Minister of Israel
- 1929 – Djalma Santos, Brazilian footballer
- 1929 – Jack Gibson, Australian rugby league footballer and coach (d. 2008)
- 1930 – Paul von Ragué Schleyer, American chemist
- 1930 – Peter Stone, American writer (d. 2003)
- 1930 – Joanne Woodward, American actress
- 1932 – Elizabeth Taylor, British-American actress
- 1933 – Raymond Berry, American football player
- 1934 – Vincent Fourcade, French interior designer (d. 1992)
- 1934 – N. Scott Momaday, American writer
- 1934 – Ralph Nader, American author, activist and political figure
- 1934 – Van Williams, American actor
- 1935 – Mirella Freni, Italian soprano
- 1936 – Ron Barassi, Australian rules footballer
- 1936 – Roger Mahony, fourth Archbishop of Los Angeles
- 1937 – David Ackles, American singer songwriter (d. 1999)
- 1937 – Barbara Babcock, American actress
- 1938 – Jake Thackray, Engish singer-songwriter (d. 2002)
- 1939 – Peter Revson, American racecar driver (d. 1974)
- 1940 – Howard Hesseman, American actor
- 1940 – Bill Hunter, Australian actor
- 1941 – Paddy Ashdown, British politician
- 1942 – Robert H. Grubbs, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate
- 1942 – Charlayne Hunter-Gault, American journalist
- 1942 – Michel Forget, French Canadian actor
- 1943 – Mary Frann, American actress (d. 1998)
- 1943 – Morten Lauridsen, American composer
- 1944 – Ken Grimwood, American writer (d. 2003)
- 1944 – Roger Scruton, British philosopher
- 1944 – Graeme Pollock, South African cricketer
- 1945 – Carl Anderson, American singer and actor (d. 2004)
- 1947 – Gidon Kremer, Latvian violinist
- 1951 – Lee Atwater, American political figure (d. 1991)
- 1951 – Steve Harley, British rock musician (Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel)
- 1952 – Stathis Psaltis, Greek actor
- 1953 – Gabriela Svobodová, Czech cross country skier
- 1954 – Neal Schon, American musician (Journey)
- 1955 – Peter Christopherson, English musician and video director
- 1957 – Viktor Markin, Russian athlete
- 1957 – Timothy Spall, English actor
- 1957 – Danny Antonucci, Canadian animator
- 1957 – Adrian Smith, English musician (Iron Maiden)
- 1958 – Naas Botha, South African rugby union footballer
- 1958 – Nancy Spungen, American murder victim (d. 1978)
- 1959 – Johnny Van Zant, American singer (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- 1960 – Andrés Gómez, Ecuadorian tennis player
- 1961 – James Worthy, American basketball player
- 1962 – Adam Baldwin, American actor
- 1962 – Grant Show, American actor
- 1963 – Pär Nuder, Swedish politician
- 1964 – Todd Bodine, American race car driver
- 1965 – Noah Emmerich, American actor
- 1965 – Frank Peter Zimmermann, German violinist
- 1965 – Joakim Sundström, Swedish sound editor and sound designer
- 1966 – Donal Logue, Canadian actor
- 1968 – Matt Stairs, Canadian baseball player
- 1969 – Brad Vander Ark, American musician
- 1970 – Michael A. Burstein, American writer
- 1970 – Kent Desormeaux, American jockey
- 1970 – Matthias Lechner, German art director
- 1970 – Patricia Petibon, French opera singer
- 1971 – Paul Hudson, BBC Look North Weatherman.
- 1971 – Derren Brown, British psychological illusionist
- 1971 – "Chilli" Thomas, American singer (TLC)
- 1973 – Ali Tabatabaee, American Iranian rapper (Zebrahead)
- 1973 – Mark Taylor, Welsh rugby union footballer
- 1973 – Peter André, Australian singer – ex-husband to Katie Price, Glamour model
- 1974 – Colin Edwards, American motorcycle racer
- 1975 – Prodromos Korkizoglou, Greek decathlete
- 1975 – Shelby Walker, American mixed martial artist (d. 2006)
- 1976 – Tony Gonzalez, American football player
- 1977 – Lance Hoyt, American professional wrestler
- 1977 – Ji Sung, South Korean actor
- 1977 – James Wan, Australian film director
- 1978 – James Beattie, English footballer
- 1980 – Bobby Valentino, American singer
- 1980 – Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton
- 1981 – Cameron Ling, Australian Rules footballer
- 1981 – Josh Groban, American singer
- 1981 – Elodie Ouédraogo, Belgian athlete
- 1981 – Evi Goffin, Belgian singer
- 1983 – Kate Mara, American actress
- 1983 – Hayley Angel Wardle, English actress
- 1983 – Devin Harris, American basketball player
- 1984 – David Noel, American basketball player
- 1984 – Antti Tuisku, Finnish singer
- 1984 – Lotta Schelin, Swedish female footballer
- 1985 – Juliana Imai, Brazilian model
- 1985 – Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Russian Footballer
- 1985 – Braydon Coburn, Canadian Hockey Player
- 1986 – Yovani Gallardo, American Baseball Player
- 1988 – Dustin Jeffrey, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1991 – Azeem Rafiq, Pakistani cricketer
- 1991 – Muhammad Hasan, Aitchisonian
- 1992 – Jonjo Shelvey, English footballer
- 1994 – Hou Yifan, Chinese chess player
[edit] Deaths - 1659 – Henry Dunster, first President of Harvard College (b. 1609)
- 1699 – Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton, English politician (b. c.1625)
- 1706 – John Evelyn, English diarist (b. 1620)
- 1720 – Samuel Parris, English-born Puritan minister (b. 1653)
- 1735 – John Arbuthnot, English physician and writer (b. 1667)
- 1844 – Nicholas Biddle, President of the Second Bank of the United States (b. 1786)
- 1887 – Alexander Borodin, Russian composer and chemist (b. 1833)
- 1892 – Louis Vuitton, French luggage maker (b. 1821)
- 1902 – Harry 'Breaker' Morant, Anglo-Australian Soldier executed in the Second Boer War under controversial circumstances (b. 1864)
- 1902 – Peter Handcock, Australian Soldier executed in the Second Boer War under controversial circumstances (b. 1869)
- 1921 – Schofield Haigh, English cricketer (b. 1871)
- 1932 – William Southam, Canadian newspaper publisher (b. 1843)
- 1936 – Ivan Pavlov, Russian physiologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1849)
- 1936 – Joshua W. Alexander, U.S. Secretary of Commerce under Woodrow Wilson (b. 1852)
- 1941 – William D. Byron, U.S. Congressman (b. 1895)
- 1943 – Kostis Palamas, Greek poet, twice nominated for the Nobel prize (b. 1859)
- 1964 – Orry-Kelly, Australian costume designer (b. 1897)
- 1968 – Frankie Lymon, American singer (b. 1942)
- 1969 – Marius Barbeau, French Canadian folklorist (b. 1883)
- 1970 – Marie Dionne, one of the French Canadian Dionne quintuplets (b. 1934)
- 1972 – Pat Brady, American actor and singer (b. 1914)
- 1977 – John Dickson Carr, American author (b. 1905)
- 1978 – Vadim Salmanov, Russian composer (b. 1912)
- 1980 – George Tobias, American actor (b. 1901)
- 1981 – Jacob H. Gilbert, American politician (b. 1920)
- 1985 – Henry Cabot Lodge, American politician (b. 1902)
- 1986 – Jacques Plante, Canadian ice hockey player (b. 1929)
- 1987 – Joan Greenwood, English actress and director (b. 1921)
- 1989 – Paul Oswald Ahnert, German astronomer (b. 1897)
- 1989 – Konrad Lorenz, Austrian zoologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1903)
- 1990 – Nahum Norbert Glatzer, Jewish-American scholar (b. 1903)
- 1992 – S. I. Hayakawa, Canadian-American linguist and politician (b. 1906)
- 1993 – Lillian Gish, American actress (b. 1893)
- 1998 – George H. Hitchings, American scientist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1905)
- 1998 – J. T. Walsh, American actor (b. 1943)
- 2002 – Spike Milligan, Irish comedian (b. 1918)
- 2003 – John Lanchbery, English composer (b. 1923)
- 2003 – Fred Rogers, American children's television actor (b. 1928)
- 2004 – Paul Sweezy, American economist and editor (b. 1910)
- 2004 – Yoshihiko Amino, Japanese historians (b. 1928)
- 2005 – Jessica Lunsford, murder victim (b. 1995)
- 2006 – Otis Chandler, American newspaper publisher (b. 1927)
- 2006 – Robert Lee Scott, Jr., U.S. General, Flying Tiger, and author (b. 1908)
- 2006 – Linda Smith, British comedian (b. 1958)
- 2007 – Bobby Rosengarden, American jazz drummer (b. 1924)
- 2007 – Bernd von Freytag-Loringhoven, German soldier (b. 1914)
- 2008 – Myron Cope, American sports broadcaster (b. 1929)
- 2008 – William F. Buckley, Jr., American conservative author and commentator (b. 1925)
- 2008 – Boyd Coddington, American automobile designer (b. 1944)
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