June 27th in History

1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik or The Republic of Ragusa is founded

1743 - War of the Austrian Succession: Battle of Dettingen: On the battlefield in Bavaria, George II personally leads troops into battle. The last time that a British monarch would command troops in the field.

1759 - General James Wolfe begins the siege of Quebec.

1806 - British forces take Buenos Aires during the first British invasions of the Río de la Plata.

1844 - Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his brother Hyrum Smith, are murdered by a mob at the Carthage, Illinois jail.

1898 - The first solo circumnavigation of the globe is completed by Joshua Slocum from Briar Island, Nova Scotia.

1941 - Romanian governmental forces, allies of Nazi Germany, launch one of the most violent pogroms in Jewish history in the city of Iaşi, (Romania), resulting in the murder of at least 13,266 Jews.

1950 - The United States decides to send troops to fight in the Korean War.

1954 - The world's first nuclear power station opens in Obninsk, near Moscow.

1973 - The President of Uruguay Juan María Bordaberry dissolves Parliament and establishes a dictatorship.

1977 - France grants independence to Djibouti.

1991 - Slovenia, after declaring independence two days before is invaded by Yugoslav troops, tanks, and aircraft starting the Ten-Day War.

2007 - Tony Blair, British Prime Minister since 2nd May 1997, resigns

2008 - In a highly-scrutizined election President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe is re-elected in a landslide after his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai had withdrawn a week earlier, citing violence against his party's supporters.

Famous Birthdays

1040 - Ladislaus I of Hungary

1350 - Manuel II Palaiologos, Byzantine Emperor

1462 - Louis XII of France

1846 - Charles Stewart Parnell, politician, land reform agitator, founder of the Irish Parliamentary Party

1899 - Juan Trippe, businessman, Pan American World Airways

1942 - Bruce Johnston, singer-songwriter and musician

1951 - Mary McAleese, 8th President of Ireland

1971 - Yancey Arias, actor

1981 - John Driscoll, actor

1986 - Drake Bell, singer-songwriter, musician, and actor

1991 - Madylin Sweeten, actress