1153
873 years ago
UK story
Malcolm IV was crowned King of Scotland at the age of twelve.
On this day: 27 May
133 things happened on 27 May, from AD 927 to 2017. UK stories come first, then the rest of the world.
In the UK 4
UK history first: stories from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
1199
827 years ago
1257
769 years ago
UK story
Richard of Cornwall, and his wife, Sanchia of Provence, are crowned King and Queen of the Germans at Aachen Cathedral.
1595
431 years ago
UK story
A Gaelic Irish army successfully ambushes an English force in the battle of Clontibret during the Nine Years' War.
Around the world 35
1644
382 years ago
Manchu regent Dorgon defeated rebel leader Li Zicheng of the Shun dynasty at the Battle of Shanhai Pass, allowing the Manchus to enter and conquer the capital city of Beijing.
1703
323 years ago
Tsar Peter the Great founds the city of Saint Petersburg.
1799
227 years ago
War of the Second Coalition: Austrian forces defeated the French Army of the Danube, capturing the strategically important Swiss town of Winterthur.
1813
213 years ago
War of 1812: In Canada, American forces capture Fort George.
1832
194 years ago
An Egyptian army under Ibrahim Pasha captures Acre from the Ottomans after a five-months siege.
1860
166 years ago
Giuseppe Garibaldi begins the Siege of Palermo, part of the wars of Italian unification.
1863
163 years ago
American Civil War: The first Union infantry assault of the Siege of Port Hudson occurs.
1874
152 years ago
The first group of Dorsland trekkers under the leadership of Gert Alberts leaves Pretoria.
1883
143 years ago
Alexander III is crowned Tsar of Russia.
1905
121 years ago
Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima begins.
1915
111 years ago
HMS Princess Irene promulgated the Pio-Benedictine Code, the first official comprehensive codification of Latin canon law.
1917
109 years ago
Pope Benedict XV promulgates the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the first comprehensive codification of Catholic canon law in the legal history of the Catholic Church.
1919
107 years ago
The NC-4 aircraft arrives in Lisbon after completing the first transatlantic flight.
1923
103 years ago
French drivers André Lagache and René Léonard completed the most laps during the first edition of the sports car race the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
1927
99 years ago
The Ford Motor Company ceases manufacture of the Ford Model T and begins to retool plants to make the Ford Model A.
1930
96 years ago
Standing at 1,047 ft (319 m), New York City's Chrysler Building opened as the world's tallest building before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building 11 months later.
1933
93 years ago
New Deal: The U.S. Federal Securities Act is signed into law requiring the registration of securities with the Federal Trade Commission.
1935
91 years ago
The United States Supreme Court ruled in A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States that the National Industrial Recovery Act, a major component of the New Deal, was unconstitutional.
1937
89 years ago
The Golden Gate Bridge, at the time the world's longest suspension bridge by span, opened between San Francisco and Marin County, California.
1941
85 years ago
World War II: U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims an "unlimited national emergency".
1950
76 years ago
The Linnanmäki amusement park is opened for the first time in Helsinki.
1954
72 years ago
The security clearance of American nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, head of Project Y, was revoked.
1958
68 years ago
The F-4 Phantom II, the principal air superiority jet fighter for both the U.S. Navy and Air Force, made its first flight.
1960
66 years ago
In Turkey, a military coup removes President Celâl Bayar and the rest of the democratic government from office.
1962
64 years ago
A fire at a landfill in Centralia, Pennsylvania, spread to an abandoned coal mine, where it continues burning today.
1963
63 years ago
American singer Bob Dylan (pictured) released The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, his first album to include a significant number of original songs.
1967
59 years ago
Australians voted overwhelmingly to include Indigenous Australians in population counts for constitutional purposes and to allow the federal government to make special laws affecting them in states.
1967
59 years ago
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy is launched by Jacqueline Kennedy and her daughter Caroline.
1984
42 years ago
The Danube–Black Sea Canal is opened, in a ceremony attended by the Ceaușescus. It had been under construction since the 1950s.
1988
38 years ago
Somaliland War of Independence: The Somali National Movement launches a major offensive against Somali government forces in Hargeisa and Burao, then the second- and third-largest cities of Somalia.
1996
30 years ago
First Chechen War: Russian president Boris Yeltsin meets with Chechen rebels for the first time and negotiates a cease-fire.
1999
27 years ago
Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-96, the first shuttle mission to dock with the International Space Station.
2014
12 years ago
The football club Kerala Blasters FC and its first supporters' group Manjappada were formed.
2016
10 years ago
Barack Obama is the first president of the United States to visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and meet Hibakusha.
2017
9 years ago
Andrew Scheer takes over after Rona Ambrose as the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Quick quiz
Every answer is somewhere on this page. Have a go, then check!
-
In which year did this happen: “Malcolm IV was crowned King of Scotland at the age of twelve”?
- 1897
- 1975
- 1153
Show the answer
C: 1153. 1153 — that’s 873 years ago. Find it on the page
-
In which year did this happen: “John is crowned King of England”?
- 1971
- 1922
- 1199
Show the answer
C: 1199. 1199 — that’s 827 years ago. Find it on the page
-
Which of these happened first?
- Malcolm IV was crowned King of Scotland at the age of twelve
- John is crowned King of England
- Richard of Cornwall, and his wife, Sanchia of Provence, are crowned King and
Show the answer
A: Malcolm IV was crowned King of Scotland at the age of twelve. 1153: Malcolm IV was crowned King of Scotland at the age of twelve · 1199: John is crowned King of England · 1257: Richard of Cornwall, and his wife, Sanchia of Provence, are crowned King and Find it on the page
-
“Christopher Lee” happened in 1922. How many years ago was that?
- 104 years
- 114 years
- 94 years
Show the answer
A: 104 years. 2026 − 1922 = 104. Find it on the page
Born on this day 40
Famous people whose birthday is 27 May.
- 1332 Ibn Khaldun — Tunisian historian and theologian (died 1406) Read more about Ibn Khaldun on Wikipedia
- 1922 Christopher Lee — English actor (died 2015) UK Read more about Christopher Lee on Wikipedia
- 1923 Henry Kissinger — German-American political scientist and politician, 56th United States Secretary of State, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2023) Read more about Henry Kissinger on Wikipedia
- 1897 John Cockcroft — English physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 1967) UK Read more about John Cockcroft on Wikipedia
- 1907 Rachel Carson — American biologist, environmentalist, and author (died 1964) Read more about Rachel Carson on Wikipedia
- 1971 Paul Bettany — English actor UK Read more about Paul Bettany on Wikipedia
- 1967 Paul Gascoigne — English international footballer, coach, and manager UK Read more about Paul Gascoigne on Wikipedia
- 1867 Arnold Bennett — English author and playwright (died 1931) UK Read more about Arnold Bennett on Wikipedia
- 1894 Louis-Ferdinand Céline — French physician and author (died 1961) Read more about Louis-Ferdinand Céline on Wikipedia
- 1975 Jamie Oliver — English chef and author UK Read more about Jamie Oliver on Wikipedia
- 1970 Joseph Fiennes — English actor UK Read more about Joseph Fiennes on Wikipedia
- 1965 Pat Cash — Australian-English tennis player and sportscaster UK Read more about Pat Cash on Wikipedia
- 1911 Hubert Humphrey — American journalist and politician, 38th Vice President of the United States (died 1978) Read more about Hubert Humphrey on Wikipedia
- 1894 Dashiell Hammett — American detective novelist and screenwriter (died 1961) Read more about Dashiell Hammett on Wikipedia
- 1918 Yasuhiro Nakasone — Japanese commander and politician, 45th Prime Minister of Japan (died 2019) Read more about Yasuhiro Nakasone on Wikipedia
- 1943 Cilla Black — English singer and actress (died 2015) UK Read more about Cilla Black on Wikipedia
- 1970 Tim Farron — English educator and politician UK Read more about Tim Farron on Wikipedia
- 1875 Frederick Cuming — English cricketer (died 1942) UK Read more about Frederick Cuming on Wikipedia
- 1957 Siouxsie Sioux — English singer-songwriter, musician, and producer UK Read more about Siouxsie Sioux on Wikipedia
- 1911 Vincent Price — American actor (died 1993) Read more about Vincent Price on Wikipedia
- 1956 Giuseppe Tornatore — Italian director and screenwriter Read more about Giuseppe Tornatore on Wikipedia
- 1955 Richard Schiff — American actor, director, and producer Read more about Richard Schiff on Wikipedia
- 1942 Piers Courage — English racing driver (died 1970) UK Read more about Piers Courage on Wikipedia
- 1971 Lee Sharpe — English footballer UK Read more about Lee Sharpe on Wikipedia
- 1968 Rebekah Brooks — English journalist UK Read more about Rebekah Brooks on Wikipedia
- 1966 Heston Blumenthal — English chef and author UK Read more about Heston Blumenthal on Wikipedia
- 1994 João Cancelo — Portuguese footballer Read more about João Cancelo on Wikipedia
- 1942 Robin Widdows — English racing driver UK Read more about Robin Widdows on Wikipedia
- 1884 Max Brod — Czech journalist, author, and composer (died 1968) Read more about Max Brod on Wikipedia
- 1999 Lily-Rose Depp — French-American actress and model Read more about Lily-Rose Depp on Wikipedia
- 1987 Gervinho — Ivorian footballer Read more about Gervinho on Wikipedia
- 1928 Thea Musgrave — Scottish-American composer and educator UK Read more about Thea Musgrave on Wikipedia
- 1974 Denise van Outen — English actress, singer, and television host UK Read more about Denise van Outen on Wikipedia
- 1994 Aymeric Laporte — French-Spanish footballer Read more about Aymeric Laporte on Wikipedia
- 1974 Skye Edwards — British singer-songwriter UK Read more about Skye Edwards on Wikipedia
- 1756 Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria Read more about Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria on Wikipedia
- 1990 Jonas Hector — German footballer Read more about Jonas Hector on Wikipedia
- 1990 Chris Colfer — American actor and singer Read more about Chris Colfer on Wikipedia
- 1934 Harlan Ellison — American author and screenwriter (died 2018) Read more about Harlan Ellison on Wikipedia
- 1999 Matheus Cunha — Brazilian footballer Read more about Matheus Cunha on Wikipedia
Remembering 18
Well-known people who died on 27 May.
- 1964 Jawaharlal Nehru — Indian lawyer and politician, 1st Prime Minister of India (born 1889) Read more about Jawaharlal Nehru on Wikipedia
- 1564 John Calvin — French pastor and theologian (born 1509) Read more about John Calvin on Wikipedia
- 1910 Robert Koch — German physician and microbiologist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1843) Read more about Robert Koch on Wikipedia
- 1840 Niccolò Paganini — Italian violinist and composer (born 1782) Read more about Niccolò Paganini on Wikipedia
- 2009 Clive Granger — Welsh-American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1934) UK Read more about Clive Granger on Wikipedia
- 1988 Ernst Ruska — German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1906) Read more about Ernst Ruska on Wikipedia
- 1610 François Ravaillac — French assassin of Henry IV of France (born 1578) UK Read more about François Ravaillac on Wikipedia
- 1987 John Howard Northrop — American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1891) Read more about John Howard Northrop on Wikipedia
- 1541 Margaret Pole — Countess of Salisbury (born 1473) UK Read more about Margaret Pole on Wikipedia
- 1939 Joseph Roth — Austrian-French journalist and author (born 1894) Read more about Joseph Roth on Wikipedia
- 1444 John Beaufort — 1st Duke of Somerset, English commander (born 1404) UK Read more about John Beaufort on Wikipedia
- AD 927 Simeon I of Bulgaria Read more about Simeon I of Bulgaria on Wikipedia
- 1525 Thomas Müntzer — German mystic and theologian (born 1488) Read more about Thomas Müntzer on Wikipedia
- 1661 Archibald Campbell — 1st Marquess of Argyll, Scottish general and politician (born 1607) UK Read more about Archibald Campbell on Wikipedia
- 1797 François-Noël Babeuf — French journalist (born 1760) Read more about François-Noël Babeuf on Wikipedia
- 2000 Murray MacLehose — Baron MacLehose of Beoch, Scottish politician and diplomat, 25th Governor of Hong Kong (born 1917) UK Read more about Murray MacLehose on Wikipedia
- 1508 Ludovico Sforza — Duke of Milan (born 1452) Read more about Ludovico Sforza on Wikipedia
- 2003 Luciano Berio — Italian composer and educator (born 1925) Read more about Luciano Berio on Wikipedia
Special days 12
Festivals, holidays and saints’ days celebrated on 27 May somewhere in the world.
- Slavery Abolition Day (Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin) Read more about Saint Barthélemy on Wikipedia
- Mother's Day (Bolivia) Read more about Mother's Day on Wikipedia
- Navy Day (Japan) Read more about Navy Day on Wikipedia
- Children's Day (Nigeria) Read more about Public holidays in Nigeria on Wikipedia
- Armed Forces Day (Nicaragua) Read more about Public holidays in Nicaragua on Wikipedia
- Start of National Reconciliation Week (Australia) Read more about National Reconciliation Week on Wikipedia
- Christian saints’ and feast days: Blessed Lojze Grozde, Bruno of Würzburg, Eutropius of Orange, Julius the Veteran, Hildebert, May 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics).
For older readers 24 Show stories about war, disasters, crime and other difficult history
Content note: these entries mention things like war, violence, deaths, disasters or crime. They are part of history, but they can be upsetting. Grown-ups and teachers: you may want to read them first. They come straight from Wikipedia and have not been rewritten for children.
- 1975 The deadliest road accident in England took place when the brakes on a coach failed and it crashed in North Yorkshire, killing 32 people. Read more about Bus on Wikipedia
- 1941 World War II: The German battleship Bismarck was sunk by gun and torpedo fire by the British battleships HMS Rodney and HMS King George V and supporting cruisers. Read more about German battleship Bismarck on Wikipedia
- 1940 World War II: Ninety-seven soldiers of the British Royal Norfolk Regiment were killed after surrendering to German forces. Read more about Royal Norfolk Regiment on Wikipedia
- 1798 The Pitt–Tierney duel takes place on Putney Heath outside London. A bloodless duel between the prime minister of Great Britain William Pitt the Younger and his political opponent George Tierney. Read more about Pitt–Tierney duel on Wikipedia
- 1120 Richard III of Capua is anointed as Prince two weeks before his untimely death. Read more about Richard III of Capua on Wikipedia
- 1995 Bosnian War: Forces of the Army of Republika Srpska captured a United Nations post at Vrbanja Bridge in Sarajevo; six soldiers of both sides were killed when French forces retook the post later in the day. Read more about Bosnian War on Wikipedia
- 1995 American actor Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse, leaving him quadriplegic; he later became an activist on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries. Read more about Christopher Reeve on Wikipedia
- 1965 Vietnam War: American warships begin the first bombardment of National Liberation Front targets within South Vietnam. Read more about Vietnam War on Wikipedia
- 1998 Oklahoma City bombing: Michael Fortier is sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined $200,000 for failing to warn authorities about the terrorist plot. Read more about Terrorism on Wikipedia
- 1096 The largest of the Rhineland massacres (depicted) took place in Mainz, where at least 1,100 Jews were killed by the People's Crusade. Read more about Rhineland massacres on Wikipedia
- 2006 An earthquake registering 6.4 Mw struck near the city of Yogyakarta on the southern side of the Indonesian island of Java, killing more than 5,700 people. Read more about 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake on Wikipedia
- 1997 A destructive F5-rated tornado tracked through a subdivision of homes northwest of Jarrell, Texas, killing 27 people. Read more about Jarrell tornado on Wikipedia
- 1896 One of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in U.S. history struck St. Louis, Missouri, and East St. Louis, Illinois, killing more than 255 people and injuring at least 1,000 others. Read more about 1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado on Wikipedia
- 1983 An explosion at an illegal fireworks factory near Benton, Tennessee, killed eleven people. Read more about Benton fireworks disaster on Wikipedia
- 1983 An explosion at an illegal fireworks factory near Benton, Tennessee, killed eleven people. Read more about Benton fireworks disaster on Wikipedia
- 2001 Twenty tourists were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf militants in Palawan, Philippines, triggering a hostage crisis that lasted for more than a year. Read more about Dos Palmas kidnappings on Wikipedia
- 1980 The Gwangju Massacre: Airborne and army troops of South Korea retake the city of Gwangju from civil militias, killing at least 207 and possibly many more. Read more about Gwangju Uprising on Wikipedia
- 1971 Pakistani forces massacre over 200 civilians, mostly Bengali Hindus, in the Bagbati massacre. Read more about Bengali Hindus on Wikipedia
- 1942 World War II: In Operation Anthropoid, Reinhard Heydrich is fatally wounded in Prague; he dies of his injuries eight days later. Read more about Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich on Wikipedia
- 1977 A plane crash at José Martí International Airport in Havana, Cuba, kills 67. Read more about Aeroflot Flight 331 on Wikipedia
- 1971 The Dahlerau train disaster, the worst railway accident in West Germany, kills 46 people and injures 25 near Wuppertal. Read more about Dahlerau train disaster on Wikipedia
- 1798 The Battle of Oulart Hill takes place in Wexford, Ireland; Irish rebel leaders defeat and kill a detachment of militia. Read more about Battle of Oulart Hill on Wikipedia
- 2018 Maryland Flood Event: A flood occurs throughout the Patapsco Valley, causing one death, destroying the entire first floors of buildings on Main Street in Ellicott City, and causing cars to overturn. Read more about 2018 Central Maryland flood on Wikipedia
- — Christian feast day: Augustine of Canterbury Read more about Augustine of Canterbury on Wikipedia
Where these facts come from
Stories with a heading have been written for young readers by A Day in the Past, using the linked articles as sources. Other entries show text from Wikipedia’s “May 27” page and its “On this day” feed, written by Wikipedia contributors and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. Each “Read more” link goes to the article an entry is based on. Photos are credited under each picture. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us.