On This Day — 27 September

2020

Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: Azerbaijan launches an offensive against the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, inhabited predominantly by ethnic Armenians.

Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

2019

Over two million people participated in worldwide strikes to protest climate change across 2,400 locations worldwide.

September 2019 climate strikes

2014

63 people are killed in an eruption of Mount Ontake in Japan.

2014 Mount Ontake eruption

2012

In Minneapolis, a gunman shoots eight people, killing six and injuring 2 and then kills himself.

Minneapolis firm shooting

2008

CNSA astronaut Zhai Zhigang becomes the first Chinese person to perform a spacewalk.

Zhai Zhigang

2007

NASA launches the Dawn probe to the asteroid belt.

Dawn (spacecraft)

2003

The SMART-1 satellite is launched.

SMART-1

2001

In Switzerland, a gunman shoots 18 citizens, killing 14 and then himself.

Zug massacre

1998

The Google internet search engine retroactively claims this date as its birthday.

Google

1996

The Battle of Kabul ends in a Taliban victory; an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is established.

Battle of Kabul (1992–1996)

1996

Confusion on a tanker ship results in the Julie N oil spill in Portland, Maine.

Julie N oil spill

1993

The Sukhumi massacre takes place in Abkhazia.

Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Sukhumi

1992

Palestinian prisoners went on a 15-day hunger strike.

Palestinians in Israeli custody

1988

The National League for Democracy is formed by Aung San Suu Kyi and others to fight dictatorship in Myanmar.

National League for Democracy

1977

Japan Airlines Flight 715 crashes on approach to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Malaysia, killing 34 of the 79 people on board.

Japan Air Lines Flight 715

1975

The last use of capital punishment in Spain sparks worldwide protests.

Last use of capital punishment in Spain

1973

Texas International Airlines Flight 655 crashes into the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness near Mena, Arkansas, killing all 11 people on board.

Texas International Airlines Flight 655

1964

The British TSR-2 aircraft XR219 makes its maiden flight.

BAC TSR-2

1962

The Yemen Arab Republic is established.

Yemen Arab Republic

1962

Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring is published, inspiring an environmental movement and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Silent Spring

1959

Typhoon Vera kills nearly 5,000 people in Japan.

Typhoon Vera

1956

USAF Captain Milburn G. Apt becomes the first person to exceed Mach 3. Shortly thereafter, the Bell X-2 goes out of control and Captain Apt is killed.

Milburn G. Apt

1949

Zeng Liansong's design is chosen as the flag of the People's Republic of China.

Zeng Liansong

1944

World War II: The Kassel Mission results in the largest loss by a USAAF group on any mission during the war.

Kassel Mission

1942

World War II: Last day of the Matanikau action on Guadalcanal as United States Marines barely escape after being surrounded by Japanese forces.

Actions along the Matanikau

1941

World War II: The Greek National Liberation Front is established with Georgios Siantos as acting leader.

Georgios Siantos

1941

The SS Patrick Henry is launched, becoming the first of more than 2,700 Liberty ships.

SS Patrick Henry

1940

World War II: The Tripartite Pact is signed in Berlin by Germany, Japan and Italy.

World War II

1938

The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth is launched in Glasgow.

RMS Queen Elizabeth

1930

Bobby Jones wins the (pre-Masters) Grand Slam of golf.

Bobby Jones (golfer)

1928

The Republic of China is recognized by the United States.

Republic of China (1912–1949)

1922

King Constantine I of Greece abdicates his throne in favor of his eldest son, George II.

Constantine I of Greece

1916

Iyasu V is proclaimed deposed as ruler of Ethiopia in a palace coup in favor of his aunt Zewditu.

Lij Iyasu

1908

Production of the Model T automobile begins at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit.

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant

1903

"Wreck of the Old 97": an American rail disaster, in which 11 people are killed; it later becomes the subject of a popular ballad.

Wreck of the Old 97

1875

The merchant sailing ship Ellen Southard is wrecked in a storm at Liverpool.

Ellen Southard

1854

The paddle steamer SS Arctic, owned by the Collins Line of New York, sinks off the coast of Newfoundland, following a collision with a smaller vessel, the SS Vesta. Only 88 of over 300 people on board survive. About a dozen of the occupants of the Vesta are killed when their lifeboat is hit by the Arctic.

SS Arctic

1825

The world's first public railway to use steam locomotives, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, is ceremonially opened with the engine Locomotion pulling wagons with coal and passengers from Shildon to Darlington to Stockton.

Stockton and Darlington Railway

1822

Jean-François Champollion officially informs the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres in France that he has deciphered the Rosetta Stone.

Jean-François Champollion

1821

The Army of the Three Guarantees triumphantly enters Mexico City, led by Agustín de Iturbide. The following day Mexico is declared independent.

Army of the Three Guarantees

1791

The National Assembly of France votes to award full citizenship to Jews.

History of the Jews in France

1777

American Revolution: Lancaster, Pennsylvania becomes the capital of the United States for one day after Congress evacuates Philadelphia.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

1669

The Venetians surrender the fortress of Candia to the Ottomans, thus ending the 21-year-long Siege of Candia.

Siege of Candia

1605

The armies of Sweden are defeated by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Battle of Kircholm.

Battle of Kircholm

1540

The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) receives its charter from Pope Paul III.

Jesuits

1529

The Siege of Vienna begins when Suleiman I attacks the city.

Siege of Vienna (1529)

1422

After the brief Gollub War, the Teutonic Knights sign the Treaty of Melno with Poland and Lithuania.

Golub War

1331

The Battle of Płowce is fought, between the Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Order. The Poles are defeated but their leaders escape capture.

Battle of Płowce

1066

William the Conqueror and his army set sail from the mouth of the Somme river, beginning the Norman conquest of England.

William the Conqueror