April 27

April 27: This Day in History

• 1521— Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines during his circumnavigation of the globe.
• 1805— American Marines stormed the shores of Tripoli during the First Barbary War, inspiring the Marine Hymn.
• 1861— President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War, allowing military detention without trial.
• 1994— South Africa held its first fully democratic elections, ending apartheid and leading to Nelson Mandela's election as president.
• 2011— An outbreak of 211 tornadoes over two days across the American South killed 321 people, one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in history.

Famous Birthdays on April 27

• Ulysses S. Grant (1822) — 18th president of the united states and civil war general
• Herbert Spencer (1820) — british philosopher who coined the phrase 'survival of the fittest'
• Coretta Scott King (1927) — american civil rights activist and wife of martin luther king jr.
• Jack Klugman (1922) — american actor known for the odd couple
• Sheena Easton (1959) — scottish singer known for morning train
• Patrick Stump (1984) — american singer and guitarist of fall out boy

What Happens on April 27?

Did You Know? April 27 Fun Facts

• South Africa's April 27 is a national holiday called Freedom Day, commemorating the first post-apartheid elections.
• Ferdinand Magellan's expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe, though Magellan himself did not survive the voyage.

Count Down to Events on April 27

• How many days until King's Day (Netherlands)?
• How many days until London Marathon?
• How many days until London Marathon?
• How many days until New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival?
• How many days until New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival?
• How many days until Supermoon?