January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 338 days remaining until the end of the year (339 in leap years). [edit] Events - 98 – Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva.
- 661 – The Rashidun Caliphate ends with death of Ali.
- 1142 – Execution, believed wrongful, of noted Song Dynasty General Yue Fei.
- 1186 – Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, marries Constance of Sicily.
- 1343 – Pope Clement VI issues the Bull Unigenitus.
- 1593 – Vatican opens seven year trial of scholar Giordano Bruno.
- 1606 – Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, ending with their execution on January 31.
- 1695 – Mustafa II becomes the Ottoman sultan in Istanbul on the death of Ahmed II. Mustafa rules until his abdication in 1703.
- 1785 – The University of Georgia is founded, the first public university in the United States.
- 1825 – The U.S. Congress approves Indian Territory (in what is present-day Oklahoma), clearing the way for forced relocation of the Eastern Indians on the "Trail of Tears".
- 1870 – The first women's fraternity, Kappa Alpha Theta, is formed at DePauw University.
- 1888 – The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C..
- 1909 – The Young Left is founded in Norway.
- 1918 – The first hostilities occur in the Finnish Civil War.
- 1939 – First flight of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning.
- 1944 – World War II: The 900-day Siege of Leningrad is lifted.
- 1945 – World War II: The Red Army liberates the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.
- 1951 – Nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site begins with a one-kiloton bomb dropped on Frenchman Flat.
- 1967 – Apollo program: Apollo 1 – Astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee are killed in a fire during a test of the spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center.
- 1967 – More than sixty nations sign the Outer Space Treaty banning nuclear weapons in space.
- 1973 – Paris Peace Accords officially end the Vietnam War. Colonel William Nolde is killed in action becoming the conflict's last recorded American combat casualty.
- 1974 – The Brisbane River floods causing the largest flood to affect Brisbane City in the 20th Century
- 1980 – Through cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian governments, six American diplomats secretly escape hostilities in Iran in the culmination of the Canadian caper.
- 1983 – Pilot shaft of the Seikan Tunnel, the world's longest sub-aqueous tunnel (53.85 km) between the Japanese islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō, breaks through.
- 1996 – Colonel Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara deposes the first democratically elected president of Niger, Mahamane Ousmane, in a military coup.
- 1996 – Germany first observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
- 2006 – Western Union discontinues its Telegram and Commercial Messaging services.
[edit] Births - 1443 – Albert, Duke of Saxony (d. 1500)
- 1546 – Joachim Friedrich, Elector of Brandenburg (d. 1608)
- 1585 – Hendrick Avercamp, Dutch painter (d. 1634)
- 1603 – Harbottle Grimston, English politician (d. 1685)
- 1621 – Thomas Willis, English physician (d. 1675)
- 1662 – Richard Bentley, English classical scholar (d. 1742)
- 1687 – Balthasar Neumann, German architect (d. 1753)
- 1701 – Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim, German historian (d. 1790)
- 1708 – Anna Petrovna of Russia (d. 1728)
- 1720 – Samuel Foote, English dramatist (d. 1777)
- 1741 – Hester Thrale, Welsh diarist (d. 1821)
- 1756 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer (d. 1791)
- 1774 – Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling, German philosopher (d. 1854)
- 1805 – Samuel Palmer, English artist (d. 1881)
- 1805 – Sophie of Bavaria, Archduchess of Austria (d. 1872)
- 1805 – Maria Anna of Bavaria, Queen consort of Saxony (d. 1877)
- 1806 – Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, Spanish composer (d. 1826)
- 1807 – David Strauss, German theologian and writer (d. 1874)
- 1814 – Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, French architect (d. 1879)
- 1821 – John Chivington, American officer, (d. 1892)
- 1823 – Edouard Lalo, French composer (d. 1892)
- 1826 – Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, Russian writer (d. 1889)
- 1826 – Richard Taylor, American confederate general (d. 1879)
- 1827 – Nakahama Manjirō, Japanese translator (d. 1898)
- 1832 – Lewis Carroll, English author (d. 1898)
- 1836 – Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Austrian writer (d. 1895)
- 1841 – Arkhip Kuindzhi, Russian painter (d. 1910)
- 1848 – Togo Heihachiro, Japanese admiral (d. 1934)
- 1850 – John Collier, British writer and painter (d. 1934)
- 1850 – Samuel Gompers, American labor leader (d. 1924)
- 1850 – Edward J. Smith, English captain of the RMS Titanic (d. 1912)
- 1859 – Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany (d. 1941)
- 1875 – Elizabeth Israel, World's oldest person
- 1885 – Jerome Kern, American composer (d. 1945)
- 1885 – Eduard Künneke, German composer (d. 1953)
- 1885 – Maeda Seison, Japanese painter (d. 1977)
- 1886 – Radhabinod Pal, Indian jurist (d. 1967)
- 1891 – Ilya Ehrenburg, Russian writer (d. 1967)
- 1893 – Soong Ching-ling, Chinese wife of Sun Yat-sen (d. 1981)
- 1895 – Joseph Rosenstock, Polish conductor (d. 1985)
- 1895 – Harry Ruby, American composer (d. 1974)
- 1900 – Hyman Rickover, American admiral (d. 1986)
- 1901 – Willy Fritsch, German actor (d. 1973)
- 1901 – Art Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers founder and owner (d. 1988)
- 1903 – John Carew Eccles, Australian neuropsychologist, Nobel laureate (d. 1997)
- 1903 – Otto P. Weyland, American military figure (d. 1979)
- 1905 – Howard McNear, American actor (d. 1969)
- 1908 – William Randolph Hearst, Jr., American newspaper magnate (d. 1993)
- 1908 – Oran Page, American musician (d. 1954)
- 1910 – Edvard Kardelj, Yugoslav Communist politician (d. 1979)
- 1912 – Arne Næss, Norwegian philosopher (d. 2009)
- 1912 – Francis Rogallo, American aeronautical engineer (d. 2009)
- 1915 – Jacques Hnizdovsky, Ukrainian-born artist (d. 1985)
- 1918 – Skitch Henderson, English bandleader (d. 2005)
- 1918 – Elmore James, American blues musician (d. 1963)
- 1918 – William Seawell, United States Army Brigadier General (d. 2005)
- 1919 – Ross Bagdasarian, American musician (d. 1972)
- 1920 – John Box, British film production designer and art director (d. 2005)
- 1920 – Helmut Zacharias, German violinist (d. 2002)
- 1921 – Donna Reed, American actress (d. 1986)
- 1924 – Sabu Dastagir, Indian actor (d. 1963)
- 1924 – Rauf Denktaş, Turkish political figure
- 1926 – Fritz Spiegl, Austrian journalist (d. 2003)
- 1926 – Ingrid Thulin, Swedish actress (d. 2004)
- 1928 – Michael Craig, British actor
- 1928 – Hans Modrow, German politician, premier of East Germany
- 1929 – Gastón Suárez, Bolivian novelist (d. 1984)
- 1930 – Bobby Blue Bland, American singer
- 1931 – Mordecai Richler, Canadian author (d. 2001)
- 1932 – Boris Shakhlin, Soviet gymnast
- 1933 – Mohamed Al-Fayed, Egyptian billionaire businessman
- 1934 – George Follmer, American racecar driver
- 1936 – Troy Donahue, American actor (d. 2001)
- 1936 – Samuel C. C. Ting, American physicist, Nobel laureate
- 1937 – John Ogdon, English pianist (d. 1989)
- 1940 – James Cromwell, American actor
- 1940 – Terry Harper, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1940 – Petru Lucinschi, second President of Moldova
- 1941 – Beatrice Tinsley, New Zealand astronomer and cosmologist (d. 1981)
- 1942 – Stewart Raffill, American film director
- 1942 – John Witherspoon, American actor
- 1942 – Kate Wolf, American folk singer and songwriter (d. 1986)
- 1944 – Peter Akinola, Nigerian religious leader
- 1944 – Mairéad Corrigan, Irish activist, Nobel laureate
- 1944 – Nick Mason, English drummer (Pink Floyd)
- 1945 – Harold Cardinal, Cree political leader (d. 2005)
- 1946 – Nedra Talley, American singer (Ronettes)
- 1947 – Björn Afzelius, Swedish singer (d. 1999)
- 1947 – Vyron Polydoras, Greek politician
- 1948 – Mikhail Baryshnikov, Russian-born dancer
- 1948 – Jean-Philippe Collard, French pianist
- 1949 – Ethan Mordden, American author
- 1950 – Derek Acorah, English spirit medium
- 1950 – Amos Grunebaum, Israeli-born physician
- 1951 – Brian Downey, Irish musician (Thin Lizzy)
- 1952 – "White Shoes" Johnson, American football player
- 1954 – Ed Schultz, American radio talk show host
- 1954 – Peter Laird, American comic book artist
- 1954 – Jōkō Ninomiya, Japanese martial artist
- 1955 – Brian Engblom, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1955 – John G. Roberts, 17th Chief Justice of the United States
- 1955 – Alexander Stuart, British author
- 1955 – Koji Ushikubo, Japanese racing driver
- 1956 – Mimi Rogers, American actress
- 1957 – Janick Gers, British guitarist (Iron Maiden)
- 1957 – Frank Miller, American comic book author and film director
- 1957 – Frank Skinner, English writer and comedian
- 1958 – James Grippando, American novelist
- 1958 – Kadri Mälk, Estonian artist and jewelry designer
- 1958 – Susanna Thompson, American actress
- 1959 – Keith Olbermann, American news presenter
- 1959 – Göran Hägglund, Swedish politician
- 1959 – Cris Collinsworth, American football player
- 1961 – Dina Bonnevie, Filipino actress
- 1961 – Gillian Gilbert, British musician (New Order)
- 1961 – Narciso Rodriguez, American fashion designer
- 1961 – Margo Timmins, Canadian singer (Cowboy Junkies)
- 1961 – Karen Velez, American model
- 1962 – Roberto Paci Dalò, Italian director and composer
- 1964 – Bridget Fonda, American actress
- 1964 – Jack Haley, American basketball player
- 1965 – Alan Cumming, Scottish actor
- 1965 – Mike Newell, English football manager
- 1967 – Bobby Deol, Indian actor
- 1967 – Byron Mann, Hong Kong actor
- 1967 – Dave Manson, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1968 – Patrick Blondeau, French footballer
- 1968 – Mike Patton, American singer (Faith No More)
- 1968 – Tricky, English rapper
- 1969 – Cornelius, Japanese musician and producer (Flipper's Guitar)
- 1969 – Marc Forster, German-Swiss filmmaker
- 1969 – Michael Kulas, Canadian singer (James)
- 1969 – Patton Oswalt, American actor and writer
- 1970 – Emmanuel Pahud, Swiss-born flautist
- 1971 – Patrice Brisebois, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1971 – Lil Jon, American rapper and producer
- 1971 – Fann Wong, Singapore actor
- 1972 – Guillermo, Mexican-born TV personality
- 1972 – Janine Ilitch, Australian netballer
- 1972 – Mark Owen, English pop singer
- 1972 – Josh Randall, American actor
- 1972 – Keith Wood, Irish rugby player
- 1974 – Ole Einar Bjørndalen, Nordic biathlete
- 1974 – Andrei Pavel, Romanian tennis player
- 1974 – Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lankan cricketer
- 1976 – Ahn Jung-Hwan, Korean football player
- 1976 – Clint Ford, American voice actor
- 1976 – Ruby Lin, Taiwanese actress and singer
- 1976 – Todd MacCulloch, American basketball player
- 1976 – Zoriah Miller, American photojournalist
- 1976 – Fred Taylor, American football player
- 1978 – Pete Laforest, Canadian baseball player
- 1979 – Mario Fatafehi, American-born Canadian Football League player
- 1979 – Rosamund Pike, British actress
- 1979 – Liesbet Van Breedam, Belgian beach volleyball player
- 1979 – Daniel Vettori, New Zealand cricketer
- 1980 – Chanda Gunn, American ice hockey player
- 1980 – Marat Safin, Russian tennis player
- 1981 – Alicia Molik, Australian tennis player
- 1981 – Tony Woodcock, New Zealand rugby union player
- 1983 – Carlo Colaiacovo, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1983 – Gavin Floyd, American baseball player
- 1983 – Mike Zagurski, American baseball player
- 1984 – Davetta Sherwood, American actress
- 1987 – Lily Donaldson, British model
- 1987 – Katy Rose, American pop singer
- 1987 – Zuleidy Spanish porn star
- 1988 – Kerlon Moura Souza, Brazilian footballer
- 1997 – Shaheen Jafargholi, Britain’s Got Talent Finalist
[edit] Deaths - 98 – Nerva, Roman Emperor (b. 35)
- 661 – Ali, the final Sunni Rashidun and first Shia Imam
- 1490 – Ashikaga Yoshimasa, Japanese shogun (b. 1435)
- 1540 – Saint Angela Merici, Italian religious leader and saint (b. 1474)
- 1595 – Sir Francis Drake, European explorer (b. c.1540)
- 1629 – Hieronymus Praetorius, German composer (b. 1560)
- 1638 – Gonzalo de Céspedes y Meneses, Spanish novelist (b. 1585?)
- 1689 – Robert Aske, merchant whose charitable foundation operates Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School and Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls (b. 1619)
- 1731 – Bartolomeo Cristofori, Italian musical instrument maker (b. 1655)
- 1740 – Louis Henri, Duc de Bourbon, Prime Minister of France (b. 1692)
- 1814 – Johann Gottlieb Fichte, German philosopher (b. 1762)
- 1816 – Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood, British admiral (b. 1724)
- 1837 – Alexandr Pushkin, Russian poet (b. 1799)
- 1851 – John James Audubon, French-born naturalist and ornithologist (b. 1789)
- 1857 – Dorothea Lieven, Russian noblewoman (b. 1785)
- 1860 – János Bolyai, Hungarian mathematician (b. 1802)
- 1880 – Edward Middleton Barry, English architect (b. 1830)
- 1901 – Giuseppe Verdi, Italian composer (b. 1813)
- 1910 – Thomas Crapper, English inventor (b. 1836)
- 1919 – Endre Ady, Hungarian poet (b. 1877)
- 1921 – Maurice Vincent Buckley, Australian soldier (b. 1891)
- 1922 – Nellie Bly, American journalist and writer (b. 1864)
- 1927 – Georgios Grivas, Cyprus-born general in the Greek Army (b. 1898)
- 1927 – Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis-Matulevičius (Matulewicz), Lithuanian bishop (b. 1871)
- 1940 – Isaac Babel, Ukrainian writer (b. 1894)
- 1942 – Kaarel Eenpalu, Estonian Prime Minister (b. 1888)
- 1956 – Erich Kleiber, Austrian conductor (b. 1890)
- 1967 – Roger Chaffee – Crew of Apollo 1 (b. 1935)
- 1967 – Virgil "Gus" Grissom – Crew of Apollo 1 (b. 1926)
- 1967 – Edward White – Crew of Apollo 1 (b. 1930)
- 1967 – Alphonse Juin, Marshal of France (b. 1888)
- 1970 – Rita Angus, New Zealand painter (b. 1908)
- 1971 – Jacobo Arbenz, President of Guatemala (b. 1913)
- 1972 – Mahalia Jackson, American singer (b. 1911)
- 1972 – Richard Courant, German-American mathematician (b. 1888)
- 1973 – William Nolde, last American combat casualty of Vietnam War (b. 1929)
- 1975 – Bill Walsh, American producer and writer (b. 1913)
- 1979 – Qalander Ba Ba Auliya, Sufi master (b. 1898)
- 1983 – Louis de Funès, French actor (b. 1914)
- 1986 – Lilli Palmer, German-born actress (b. 1914)
- 1988 – Massa Makan Diabaté, Malian author (b. 1938)
- 1989 – Thomas Sopwith, British aviation pioneer (b. 1888)
- 1989 – Bayani Casimiro, Filipino dancer and actor (b. 1918)
- 1992 – Clara Solovera, Chilean folk musician (b. 1909)
- 1993 – André the Giant, French professional wrestler and actor (b. 1946)
- 1994 – Claude Akins, American actor (b. 1918)
- 1996 – Ralph Yarborough, American politician (b. 1903)
- 1997 – Gerald Marks, American songwriter (All of Me) (b. 1900)
- 2000 – Friedrich Gulda, Austrian pianist (b. 1930)
- 2001 – Stavros Damianides, Greek musician (b. 1941)
- 2003 – Henryk Jabłoński, President of Poland (b. 1909)
- 2003 – Louis Archambault, Quebec sculptor (b. 1915)
- 2004 – Jack Paar, American television show host (b. 1918)
- 2004 – Salvador Laurel, Vice President of the Philippines (b. 1928)
- 2006 – Johannes Rau, 8th President of Germany (b. 1931)
- 2006 – Gene McFadden, American singer and songwriter (b. 1948).
- 2006 – Jean-Christophe Lafaille, French mountaineer (disappeared) (b. 1965)
- 2007 – Tige Andrews, American actor (b. 1920)
- 2007 – Yang Chuan-kwang, Taiwanese athlete (b. 1933)
- 2007 – Alberta Davis, American supercentenerian
- 2008 – Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (b. 1910)
- 2008 – Suharto, President of Indonesia (b. 1921)
- 2008 – Louie Welch, mayor of Houston (b. 1918)
- 2009 – John Updike, American Novelist (b. 1932)
- 2009 – R. Venkataraman, 8th President of India (b. 1910)
[edit] Holidays and observances [edit] External links
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