August 27

Wednesday 27, 2003:

Mars makes closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing approximately 34,646,416 miles (55,758,006 kilometers) from Earth.

Sunday 27, 2000:

Ostankino Tower in Moscow catches fire, three people are killed.

Friday 27, 1993:

The Rainbow Bridge, connecting Tokyo's Shibaura and the island of Odaiba, is completed.

Tuesday 27, 1991:

Moldova declares independence from the USSR.

Monday 27, 1990:

The British Broadcasting Corporation launches BBC Radio Five Live at 9am GMT with a mixture of sports, news, and children's programming. The station broadcasts for eighteen hours per day.

Tuesday 27, 1985:

The Nigerian government is peacefully overthrown by Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Monday 27, 1979:

An IRA bomb kills Lord Mountbatten and 3 others on holiday in Sligo, Republic of Ireland. Another near Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland kills 18 British soldiers.

Wednesday 27, 1969:

The first installment of the Otoko wa Tsurai yo (It's Tough Being a Man) movies is released in Japan. Director and screenplay writer Yoji Yamada went on to make 48 installments of the series, which is recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running movie series.

Monday 27, 1962:

Mariner 2 launched

Wednesday 27, 1952:

Reparation negotiations between West Germany and Israel end in Luxembourg; West Germany to pay 3 billion Deutschmarks.

Sunday 27, 1939:

First jet aircraft flight

Friday 27, 1937:

The automobile division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works is spun off into the Toyota Motor Corporation.

Monday 27, 1928:

Kellogg-Briand Pact, outlawing war, signed by sixty nations

Monday 27, 1900:

British defeat Boer commandos at Bergendal

Thursday 27, 1896:

Anglo-Zanzibar War: the shortest war in world history (9:02 to 9:40) between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar.

Monday 27, 1883:

The after effects caused by the Krakatau explosion in Indonesia kills 36,000 people.

Tuesday 27, 1861:

Union forces attack Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Saturday 27, 1859:

Petroleum discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania. World's first successful oil well.

Wednesday 27, 1828:

1828 - The Russians defeat the Turks at Akhaltzikke.

Friday 27, 1813:

Napoleon defeats the Austrians, Russians and Prussians at the Battle of Dresden

Tuesday 27, 1776:

Battle of Long Island, in present day Brooklyn, New York, British forces under General William Howe defeat Americans under General George Washington

Friday 27, 1232:

The Formulary of Adjudications is promulgated by Regent Hojo Yasutoki. (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 1232)

Friday 27, 410:

Visigoth sack of Rome ends after three days.

Saturday 27, -55:

Julius Caesar lands in Britain for the first time.

Monday 27, -479:

Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan commander of the Greek army in the Battle of Plataea. Along the with the Greek victory on the same day in the Battle of Mycale, the Persian invasion of Greece ended.

More on August, 27

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