1927Battle
Battle event - February 27
Historic battle event recorded on this date in 1927, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — John Steinbeck born (1902) and Elizabeth Taylor born (1932), 30 years apart.
1 / 7 coincidences found today • Auto-spins every 7s
From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Its copper-based blood detects bacteria — and pharma bleeds it.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin CaseHall of Fame◆
- 1939GREAT EVIL IS LAID TO BAD CATHOLICSThe New York Times◆
- 2022Two top Russian billionaires speak out against warThe Guardian◆
- 2015British Airways owner upgrades profits forecast by 20%The Guardian◆
- 1870The current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships.Wikipedia◆
- 1881First Boer War: The Battle of Majuba Hill takes place.Wikipedia◆
- 1870The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships.Wikipedia◆
- 1864American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia.Wikipedia◆
- 1996The multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green.Wikipedia◆
- 1812Argentine War of Independence: Manuel Belgrano raises the Flag of Argentina in the city of Rosario for the first time.Wikipedia◆
- 1812Poet 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.Wikipedia◆
- 2002Violent riots, perceived to have been instigated by a train fire that killed 59 Hindu pilgrims, broke out in the Indian state of Gujarat, killing at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, over three days.Wikipedia◆
- 1962Two dissident Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilots bombed the Independence Palace in Saigon in a failed attempt to assassinate President Ngo Dinh Diem.Wikipedia◆
- 2019Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder downs Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's Mig-21 in an aerial dogfight and captures him after conducting airstrikes in Jammu and Kashmir.Wikipedia◆
- Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin CaseHall of Fame◆
- 1939GREAT EVIL IS LAID TO BAD CATHOLICSThe New York Times◆
- 2022Two top Russian billionaires speak out against warThe Guardian◆
- 2015British Airways owner upgrades profits forecast by 20%The Guardian◆
- 1870The current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships.Wikipedia◆
- 1881First Boer War: The Battle of Majuba Hill takes place.Wikipedia◆
- 1870The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships.Wikipedia◆
- 1864American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia.Wikipedia◆
- 1996The multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green.Wikipedia◆
- 1812Argentine War of Independence: Manuel Belgrano raises the Flag of Argentina in the city of Rosario for the first time.Wikipedia◆
- 1812Poet 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.Wikipedia◆
- 2002Violent riots, perceived to have been instigated by a train fire that killed 59 Hindu pilgrims, broke out in the Indian state of Gujarat, killing at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, over three days.Wikipedia◆
- 1962Two dissident Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilots bombed the Independence Palace in Saigon in a failed attempt to assassinate President Ngo Dinh Diem.Wikipedia◆
- 2019Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder downs Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's Mig-21 in an aerial dogfight and captures him after conducting airstrikes in Jammu and Kashmir.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Josh Groban1981- Elizabeth Taylor1932
- Birth event - February 271927
- John Steinbeck1902
27 February in history
5 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
1927Invention
Invention event - February 27
Historic invention event recorded on this date in 1927, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1927Medical
Medical event - February 27
Historic medical event recorded on this date in 1927, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1927Tragedy
Tragedy event - February 27
Historic tragedy event recorded on this date in 1927, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1940Discovery
Discovery of carbon-14
Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discovered carbon-14 isotope at Berkeley.
Showing 1-5 of 5 events
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — February 27
1870 First everThe current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1881 First everFirst Boer War: The Battle of Majuba Hill takes place.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1870 First ever
The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1864 First everAmerican Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1996 WeirdThe multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2022The GuardianTwo top Russian billionaires speak out against warOleg Deripaska and Ukrainian-born Mikhail Fridman call for peace, as activities come under threat from sanctions
Read on The Guardian →
2015The GuardianBritish Airways owner upgrades profits forecast by 20%IAG puts expected £1.6bn-plus profit down to falling oil price, more fuel-efficient planes and extra capacity
Read on The Guardian →- 1939The New York TimesGREAT EVIL IS LAID TO BAD CATHOLICS
Bad Catholics are at the root of every evil and persecution the church has suffered from the time of Judas Iscariot t…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
OddlyTrue News Stand
From the archives
Classic headlineDrunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Did you guess the year?
Streak 0 days Best 0
When was “The current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
The current flag of Japan was first adopted as a civil ensign for Japanese merchant ships.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1881 First ever
First Boer War: The Battle of Majuba Hill takes place.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1870 First ever
The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 27 February — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
4
1902Birth
John Steinbeck born
John Steinbeck was born. American author.
1927Birth
Birth event - February 27
Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1927, noted in contemporary archives as significant.
1932Birth
Elizabeth Taylor born
Elizabeth Taylor was born. English-American actress.
1981Birth
Josh Groban born
Josh Groban was born. American singer.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1968Death
Martin Luther King Jr. dies
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, died on this day in 1968. Assassinated in Memphis. Remembered as: Prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
Suicide
1994Death
Kurt Cobain dies
Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.
Assassinated
1865Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.
Accident
1997Death
Diana, Princess of Wales dies
Diana, Princess of Wales, member of british royal family, died on this day in 1997. Car crash in Paris. Remembered as: Global humanitarian and celebrated royal figure.
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Famous birthdays
25 this weekToday · 27 February
- Josh GrobanAmerican singer and actor (born 1981)Born 1981 · 45 years ago today
- Elizabeth TaylorBritish-American actress (1932–2011)Born 1932 · 94 years ago today
- BEBirth event - February 27Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1927, noted inBorn 1927 · 99 years ago today
- John SteinbeckAmerican writer and novelist (1902–1968)Born 1902 · 124 years ago today
Coming up this week
Jason AldeanAmerican country singer (born 1977)28 February · born 1977
Ali LarterAmerican actress (born 1976)28 February · born 1976- BEBirth event - February 28Historic birth event recorded on this date in 1928, noted in28 February · born 1928
Linus PaulingAmerican scientist and activist (1901–1994)28 February · born 1901- MFMark FosterBorn 198429 February · born 1984
Ja RuleAmerican rapper (born 1976)29 February · born 1976
Day of Recognition27 February
International Polar Bear Day
Raises awareness of the conservation status of the Arctic's apex predator.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 27 February.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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