What Happened On This Day – May 27
2006 A massive earthquake devastates parts of Java, Indonesia
With 5 million people living within 50 km of the quake's epicenter, about 6000 died, and 1.5 million were left homeless.
1942 Czech resistance fighters kill Reinhard Heydrich
The high-ranking German Nazi official was one of the main architects of the Holocaust. In retaliation, the Nazis murdered all male inhabitants over 15 years of age in the Czech village of Lidice and deported most of the remaining people to concentration camps.
1937 The Golden Gate Bridge is opened
The suspension bridge connecting San Francisco peninsula with Marin County is one of the most recognized works of United States architecture.
1933 Walt Disney's cartoon Three Little Pigs is released
The animated short film is one of the best-known cartoons of all time. In 1934, it was awarded the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
1851 The world's first chess tournament is held in London
Adolf Anderssen, a maths teacher from Wrocław, won the tournament, which was held parallel to the 1851 Great Exhibition.
Births On This Day – May 27
1975 Jamie Oliver
English chef, author
1934 Harlan Ellison
American author, screenwriter
1923 Henry Kissinger
German/American politician, 56th United States Secretary of State, Nobel Prize laureate
1922 Christopher Lee
English and singer
1907 Rachel Carson
American biologist, author
Deaths On This Day – May 27
2011 Gil Scott-Heron
American singer-songwriter, author
1964 Jawaharlal Nehru
Indian politician, 1st Prime Minister of India
1840 Niccolò Paganini
Italian violinist, composer
1564 John Calvin
French theologian, pastor
927 Simeon I of Bulgaria