2026

Birthdays & Historical Events – August 27

← National Days on August 27

Birthdays & Historical Events – August 27

Historical Events on August 27

Events that occurred on August 27 throughout history

1232

The Goseibai Shikimoku becomes the first legal code governing samurai class (people).

Shikken Hojo Yasutoki, of the Kamakura shogunate, puts into law the Goseibai Shikimoku. The laws were the first Japanese legal code governing the samurai class (people).

1832

The Black Hawk War between the Sauk tribe and the U.S. ends.

The Black Hawk War between the Sauk tribe and the U.S. ends after tribal leader Black Hawk surrenders. The battle lasted five months and was the result of disputed lands from the 1804 Treaty of St. Louis.

1859

The first successful oil well is drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania.

The first successful oil well is drilled at Titusville, Pennsylvania. The Seneca Oil Company crew struck oil at a shallow depth of about 69.5 feet along Oil Creek.

1896

The shortest war conflict in world history is fought.

The Anglo-Zanzibar War between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar is fought, lasting from 09:02 to 09:40. The war is considered to be the shortest conflict recorded in history, producing roughly 500 casualties

1918

The Spanish Flu arrives in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Spanish Flu arrives in Boston, Massachusetts, when two sailors report flu-like symptoms. The disease caused roughly 4,000–5,000 deaths in the city.

1927

Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology opens in St. Louis, Missouri.

Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology opens in St. Louis, Missouri. The college trained thousands of pilots and mechanics for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

1933

The first Afrikaans Bible is introduced.

The first Afrikaans Bible is introduced during a Bible Festival in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The Bible helped standardize Afrikaans as an official written and spoken language.

1942

The first day of the Sarny Massacre takes place.

The first day of the Sarny Massacre takes place in Sarny (present-day Rivne Oblast, Ukraine). An estimated 14,000 to 18,000, mostly Jewish and Roma, were executed by Germans and Ukrainians under German order within two days.

1955

The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records is published.

The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records is published in Great Britain after Sir Hugh Beaver (of Guinness Brewery) argued about the fastest game bird in Europe during a 1951 hunting trip. Unable to find information about the bird record, Beaver and a few others created the Guinness Book of Records to be filled with facts and records to be used to settle pub arguments.

1955

Emmett Till is lynched in Mississippi for whistling at a white woman

Black teenager Emmett Till is lynched in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman. His body was found a few days later in the Tallahatchie River with evidence of being severely beaten and tortured.

1991

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are recognized as independent Baltic states.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are recognized as independent Baltic states after arguing their statehood was illegally occupied under Soviet rule from 1940-1991 and German occupation from 1941–1945. Russia argued the countries joined the Soviet Union on their own accord.

2003

Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years.

Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing 34,646,418 miles away.

Born on August 27

People born on August 27

1774
EA

Elizabeth Ann Seton

1774–1821 · would be 253

The founder of the country's parochial school system, which included religion, math, science, and other academic subjects.

1809
HH

Hannibal Hamlin

1809–1891 · would be 218

The 15th Vice President of the U.S., serving under President Abraham Lincoln from 1861-1865.

1845
�L

Ödön Lechner

1845–1914 · would be 182

Hungarian architect who designed the Museum of Applied Arts and the Church of St Elisabeth. He is remembered for his extraordinary use of the Zsolnay tile pattern.

1859
M"

Matilda "Lida" Howell

1859–1938 · would be 168

The first female gold medalist in archery in the U.S.

1865
JH

James Henry Breasted

1865–1935 · would be 162

Archaeologist and historian who was the first American to obtain a doctorate in Egyptology (study of Egypt).

1865
CD

Charles Dawes

1865–1951 · would be 162

The 30th Vice President of the U.S., serving under President Calvin Coolidge from 1925 to 1929.

1877
CR

Charles Rolls

1877–1910 · would be 150

English engineer who co-founded Rolls-Royce Limited.

1908
LB

Lyndon B. Johnson

1908–1973 · would be 119

The 36th President of the U.S., serving from 1963 to 1969. He was serving as Vice President under President John F. Kennedy until his assassination in 1963.

1913
JD

Jack Dreyfus

1913–2009 · would be 114

Founder of the investment company known as the Dreyfus Corporation.

1916
GB

Gordon Bashford

1916–1991 · would be 111

English engineer who co-designed the Range Rover.

1925
CS

Carter Stanley

1925–1966 · would be 102

Lead singer and guitarist for the bluegrass band the Stanley Brothers.

1927
WJ

William J. Rutter

1927–2025 · would be 100

Biochemist and co-founder of the biotechnology firm Chiron Corporation.

1929
IL

Ira Levin

1929–2007 · would be 98

Critically acclaimed author who wrote Rosemary's Baby, Boys From Brazil, and This Perfect Day.

1949
JC

Jeff Cook

1949–2022 · would be 78

Country music guitarist, singer and fiddler for the iconic country band Alabama.

1952
PR

Paul Reubens

1952–2023 · would be 75

Actor and comedian also known as Pee-wee Herman.

1969
CM

Cesar Millan

Born 1969 · turns 58 in 2027

Well-known Mexican-American dog trainer, television personality, and author.

1992
CM

Carissa Moore

Born 1992 · turns 35 in 2027

World surfing champion (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2019).

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