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  • July 6 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

    • 371 BC – The Battle of Leuctra shatters Sparta’s reputation of military invincibility.
    • 640 – Battle of Heliopolis: The Muslim Arab army under ‘Amr ibn al-‘As defeat the Byzantine forces near Heliopolis (Egypt).
    • 1253 – Mindaugas is crowned King of Lithuania.
    • 1348 – Pope Clement VI issues a papal bull protecting the Jews accused of having caused the Black Death.
    • 1411 – Ming China’s Admiral Zheng He returns to Nanjing after the third treasure voyage and presents the Sinhalese king, captured during the Ming–Kotte War, to the Yongle Emperor.
    • 1415 – Jan Hus is condemned by the assembly of the council in the cathedral as a heretic and sentenced to be burned at the stake. (See Deaths section.)
    • 1438 – A temporary compromise between the rebellious Transylvanian peasants and the noblemen is signed in Kolozsmonostor Abbey.
    • 1483 – Richard III is crowned King of England.
    • 1484 – Portuguese sea captain Diogo Cão finds the mouth of the Congo River.
    • 1495 – First Italian War: Battle of Fornovo: Charles VIII defeats the Holy League.
    • 1535 – Sir Thomas More is executed for treason against King Henry VIII of England.
    • 1557 – King Philip II of Spain, consort of Queen Mary I of England, sets out from Dover to war with France, which eventually resulted in the loss of the City of Calais, the last English possession on the continent, and Mary I never seeing her husband again.
    • 1560 – The Treaty of Edinburgh is signed by Scotland and England.
    • 1573 – Córdoba, Argentina, is founded by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera.
    • 1573 – French Wars of Religion: Siege of La Rochelle ends.
    • 1614 – Raid on Żejtun: The south east of Malta, and the town of Żejtun, suffer a raid from Ottoman forces. This was the last unsuccessful attempt by the Ottomans to conquer the island of Malta.
    • 1630 – Thirty Years’ War: Four thousand Swedish troops under Gustavus Adolphus land in Pomerania, Germany.
    • 1685 – Battle of Sedgemoor: Last battle of the Monmouth Rebellion. troops of King James II defeat troops of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth.
    • 1751 – Pope Benedict XIV suppresses the Patriarchate of Aquileia and establishes from its territory the Archdiocese of Udine and Gorizia.
    • 1777 – American Revolutionary War: Siege of Fort Ticonderoga: After a bombardment by British artillery under General John Burgoyne, American forces retreat from Fort Ticonderoga, New York.
    • 1779 – Battle of Grenada: The French defeat British naval forces during the American Revolutionary War.
    • 1801 – First Battle of Algeciras: Outnumbered French Navy ships defeat the Royal Navy in the fortified Spanish port of Algeciras.
    • 1809 – The second day of the Battle of Wagram; France defeats the Austrian army in the largest battle to date of the Napoleonic Wars.
    • 1854 – In Jackson, Michigan, the first convention of the United States Republican Party is held.
    • 1885 – Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies on Joseph Meister, a boy who was bitten by a rabid dog.
    • 1887 – David Kalākaua, monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, is forced to sign the Bayonet Constitution, which transfers much of the king’s authority to the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
    • 1892 – Three thousand eight hundred striking steelworkers engage in a day-long battle with Pinkerton agents during the Homestead Strike, leaving ten dead and dozens wounded.
    • 1917 – World War I: Arabian troops led by T. E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”) and Auda ibu Tayi capture Aqaba from the Ottoman Empire during the Arab Revolt.
    • 1918 – The Left SR uprising in Russia starts with the assassination of German ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach by Cheka members.
    • 1919 – The British dirigible R34 lands in New York, completing the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by an airship.
    • 1933 – The first Major League Baseball All-Star Game is played in Chicago’s Comiskey Park. The American League defeated the National League 4–2.
    • 1936 – A major breach of the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal in England sends millions of gallons of water cascading 200 feet (61 m) into the River Irwell.
    • 1937 – Spanish Civil War: Battle of Brunete: The battle begins with Spanish Republican troops going on the offensive against the Nationalists to relieve pressure on Madrid.
    • 1939 – Anti-Jewish legislation in prewar Nazi Germany closes the last remaining Jewish enterprises.
    • 1940 – Story Bridge, a major landmark in Brisbane, as well as Australia’s longest cantilever bridge is formally opened.
    • 1941 – The German army launches its offensive to encircle several Soviet armies near Smolensk.
    • 1942 – Anne Frank and her family go into hiding in the “Secret Annexe” above her father’s office in an Amsterdam warehouse.
    • 1944 – Jackie Robinson refuses to move to the back of a bus, leading to a court-martial.
    • 1944 – The Hartford circus fire, one of America’s worst fire disasters, kills approximately 168 people and injures over 700 in Hartford, Connecticut.
    • 1947 – Referendum held in Sylhet to decide its fate in the Partition of India.
    • 1947 – The AK-47 goes into production in the Soviet Union.
    • 1957 – Althea Gibson wins the Wimbledon championships, becoming the first black athlete to do so.
    • 1957 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time, as teenagers at Woolton Fete, three years before forming the Beatles.
    • 1962 – As a part of Operation Plowshare, the Sedan nuclear test takes place.
    • 1962 – The Late Late Show, the world’s longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster, airs on RTÉ One for the first time.
    • 1964 – Malawi declares its independence from the United Kingdom.
    • 1966 – Malawi becomes a republic, with Hastings Banda as its first President.
    • 1967 – Nigerian Civil War: Nigerian forces invade Biafra, beginning the war.
    • 1975 – The Comoros declares independence from France.
    • 1986 – Davis Phinney becomes the first American cyclist to win a road stage of the Tour de France.
    • 1988 – The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea is destroyed by explosions and fires. One hundred sixty-seven oil workers are killed, making it the world’s worst offshore oil disaster in terms of direct loss of life.
    • 1989 – The Tel Aviv–Jerusalem bus 405 suicide attack: Sixteen bus passengers are killed when a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad took control of the bus and drove it over a cliff.
    • 1990 – The Electronic Frontier Foundation is founded.
    • 1995 – In the Bosnian War, under the command of General Ratko Mladić, Serbia begins its attack on the Bosnian town of Srebrenica.
    • 1997 – The Troubles: In response to the Drumcree dispute, five days of mass protests, riots and gun battles begin in Irish nationalist districts of Northern Ireland.
    • 1998 – Hong Kong International Airport opens in Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong, replacing Kai Tak Airport as the city’s international airport.
    • 2003 – The 70-metre Yevpatoria Planetary Radar sends a METI message (Cosmic Call 2) to five stars: Hip 4872, HD 245409, 55 Cancri (HD 75732), HD 10307 and 47 Ursae Majoris (HD 95128). The messages will arrive to these stars in 2036, 2040, 2044, and 2049, respectively.
    • 2006 – The Nathu La pass between India and China, sealed during the Sino-Indian War, re-opens for trade after 44 years.
    • 2013 – At least 42 people are killed in a shooting at a school in Yobe State, Nigeria.
    • 2013 – A Boeing 777 operating as Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashes at San Francisco International Airport, killing three and injuring 181 of the 307 people on board.
    • 2013 – A 73-car oil train derails in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec and explodes into flames, killing at least 47 people and destroying more than 30 buildings in the town’s central area.

    Births on July 6

    • 1387 – Queen Blanche I of Navarre (d. 1441)
    • 1423 – Antonio Manetti, Italian mathematician and architect (d. 1497)
    • 1580 – Johann Stobäus, German lute player and composer (d. 1646)
    • 1623 – Jacopo Melani, Italian violinist and composer (d. 1676)
    • 1678 – Nicola Francesco Haym, Italian cellist and composer (d. 1729)
    • 1686 – Antoine de Jussieu, French biologist and academic (d. 1758)
    • 1701 – Mary, Countess of Harold, English aristocrat and philanthropist (d. 1785)
    • 1736 – Daniel Morgan, American general and politician (d. 1802)
    • 1747 – John Paul Jones, Scottish-American captain (d. 1792)
    • 1766 – Alexander Wilson, Scottish-American poet, ornithologist, and illustrator (d. 1813)
    • 1781 – Stamford Raffles, English politician, founded Singapore (d. 1826)
    • 1782 – Maria Luisa of Spain (d. 1824)
    • 1785 – William Hooker, English botanist and academic (d. 1865)
    • 1789 – María Isabella of Spain (d. 1846)
    • 1796 – Nicholas I of Russia (d. 1855)
    • 1797 – Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey (d. 1869)
    • 1799 – Louisa Caroline Huggins Tuthill, American author (d. 1879)
    • 1817 – Albert von Kölliker, Swiss anatomist and physiologist (d. 1905)
    • 1818 – Adolf Anderssen, German chess player (d. 1879)
    • 1823 – Sophie Adlersparre, Swedish publisher, writer, and women’s rights activist (d. 1895)
    • 1829 – Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (d. 1880)
    • 1831 – Sylvester Pennoyer, American lawyer and politician, 8th Governor of Oregon (d. 1902)
    • 1832 – Maximilian I of Mexico (d. 1867)
    • 1837 – R. G. Bhandarkar, Indian orientalist and scholar (d. 1925)
    • 1838 – Vatroslav Jagić, Croatian philologist and scholar (d. 1923)
    • 1840 – José María Velasco Gómez, Mexican painter and academic (d. 1912)
    • 1843 – John Downer, Australian politician, 16th Premier of South Australia (d. 1915)
    • 1856 – George Howard Earle, Jr., American lawyer and businessman (d. 1928)
    • 1858 – William Irvine, Irish-Australian politician, 21st Premier of Victoria (d. 1943)
    • 1865 – Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, Swiss composer and educator (d. 1950)
    • 1868 – Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom (d. 1935)
    • 1873 – Dimitrios Maximos, Greek banker and politician, 140th Prime Minister of Greece (d. 1955)
    • 1877 – Arnaud Massy, French golfer (d. 1950)
    • 1878 – Eino Leino, Finnish poet and journalist (d. 1926)
    • 1883 – Godfrey Huggins, Prime Minister of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (d. 1971)
    • 1884 – Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, American businessman and sailor (d. 1970)
    • 1885 – Ernst Busch, German field marshal (d. 1945)
    • 1886 – Marc Bloch, French historian and academic (d. 1944)
    • 1887 – Marc Chagall, Belarusian-French painter and poet (d. 1985)
    • 1887 – Annette Kellerman, Australian swimmer and actress (d. 1975)
    • 1890 – Dhan Gopal Mukerji, Indian-American author and scholar (d. 1936)
    • 1892 – Will James, American author and illustrator (d. 1942)
    • 1897 – Richard Krautheimer, German-American historian and scholar (d. 1994)
    • 1898 – Hanns Eisler, German-Austrian soldier and composer (d. 1962)
    • 1899 – Susannah Mushatt Jones, American supercentarian (d. 2016)
    • 1900 – Frederica Sagor Maas, American author and screenwriter (d. 2012)
    • 1900 – Elfriede Wever, German Olympic runner (d. 1941)
    • 1903 – Hugo Theorell, Swedish biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1982)
    • 1904 – Robert Whitney, American conductor and composer (d. 1986)
    • 1904 – Erik Wickberg, Swedish 9th General of The Salvation Army (d. 1996)
    • 1905 – Juan O’Gorman, Mexican painter and architect (d. 1982)
    • 1907 – Frida Kahlo, Mexican painter and educator (d. 1954)
    • 1907 – George Stanley, Canadian soldier, historian, and author, designed the flag of Canada (d. 2002)
    • 1908 – Anton Muttukumaru, Sri Lankan general and diplomat (d. 2001)
    • 1909 – Eric Reece, Australian politician, 32nd Premier of Tasmania (d. 1999)
    • 1910 – René Le Grèves, French cyclist (d. 1946)
    • 1911 – June Gale, American actress (d. 1996)
    • 1912 – Heinrich Harrer, Austrian geographer and mountaineer (d. 2006)
    • 1912 – Molly Yard, American feminist (d. 2005)
    • 1913 – Vance Trimble, American journalist and author
    • 1914 – Vince McMahon Sr., American wrestling promoter, founded WWE (d. 1984)
    • 1914 – Ernest Kirkendall, American chemist and metallurgist (d. 2005)
    • 1915 – Leonard Birchall, Royal Canadian Air Force pilot (d. 2004)
    • 1916 – Harold Norse, American poet and author (d. 2009)
    • 1916 – Don R. Christensen, American animator, cartoonist, illustrator, writer and inventor (d. 2006)
    • 1917 – Arthur Lydiard, New Zealand runner and coach (d. 2004)
    • 1918 – Sebastian Cabot, English-Canadian actor (d. 1977)
    • 1918 – Herm Fuetsch, American professional basketball player (d. 2010)
    • 1918 – Francisco Moncion, Dominican-American ballet dancer, charter member of the New York City Ballet (d.1995)
    • 1919 – Ernst Haefliger, Swiss tenor and educator (d. 2007)
    • 1919 – Edward Kenna, Australian Second World War recipient of the Victoria Cross (d. 2009)
    • 1919 – Ray Dowker, New Zealand cricketer (d. 2004)
    • 1921 – Allan MacEachen, Canadian economist and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (d. 2017)
    • 1921 – Billy Mauch, American actor (d. 2006)
    • 1921 – Bobby Mauch, American actor (d. 2007)
    • 1921 – Nancy Reagan, American actress and activist, 42nd First Lady of the United States (d. 2016)
    • 1922 – William Schallert, American actor; president (1979–81) of the Screen Actors Guild (d. 2016)
    • 1923 – Wojciech Jaruzelski, Polish general and politician, 1st President of Poland (d. 2014)
    • 1924 – Mahim Bora, Indian writer and educationist, recipients of the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour (d. 2016)
    • 1924 – Louie Bellson, American drummer, composer, and bandleader (d. 2009)
    • 1925 – Merv Griffin, American actor, singer, and producer, created Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! (d. 2007)
    • 1925 – Bill Haley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1981)
    • 1925 – Gazi Yaşargil, Turkish neurosurgeon and academic
    • 1926 – Sulev Vahtre, Estonian historian and academic (d. 2007)
    • 1926 – Armando Silvestre, Mexican-American actor
    • 1927 – Jan Hein Donner, Dutch chess player and journalist (d. 1988)
    • 1927 – Janet Leigh, American actress and author (d. 2004)
    • 1928 – Bernard Malgrange, French mathematician
    • 1929 – Hélène Carrère d’Encausse, French politician historian
    • 1930 – George Armstrong, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
    • 1930 – Ian Burgess, English racing driver (d. 2012)
    • 1931 – Della Reese, American actress and singer (d. 2017)
    • 1931 – László Tábori, Hungarian runner and coach (d. 2018)
    • 1932 – Herman Hertzberger, Dutch architect and academic
    • 1935 – Candy Barr, American model, dancer, and actress (d. 2005)
    • 1935 – Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
    • 1936 – Dave Allen, Irish comedian, actor, and screenwriter (d. 2005)
    • 1937 – Vladimir Ashkenazy, Russian-Icelandic pianist and conductor
    • 1937 – Ned Beatty, American actor
    • 1937 – Gene Chandler, American singer-songwriter and producer
    • 1937 – Bessie Head, Botswanan writer
    • 1937 – Michael Sata, Zambian police officer and politician, 5th President of Zambia (d. 2014)
    • 1939 – Jet Harris, English bass player (d. 2011)
    • 1939 – Mary Peters, English-Irish pentathlete and shot putter
    • 1939 – Bruce Hunter, American swimmer (d. 2018)
    • 1940 – Jeannie Seely, Grammy Award-winning country music singer-songwriter and Grand Ole Opry member
    • 1940 – Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakh politician, 1st President of Kazakhstan
    • 1941 – David Crystal, British linguist, author, and academic
    • 1941 – Reinhard Roder, German footballer and manager
    • 1943 – Tamara Sinyavskaya, Russian soprano
    • 1944 – Gunhild Hoffmeister, German runner
    • 1946 – George W. Bush, American businessman and politician, 43rd President of the United States
    • 1946 – Fred Dryer, American football player and actor
    • 1946 – Peter Singer, Australian philosopher and academic
    • 1946 – Sylvester Stallone, American actor, director, and screenwriter
    • 1947 – Roy Señeres, Filipino diplomat and politician (d. 2016)
    • 1948 – Nathalie Baye, French actress
    • 1948 – Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Canadian academic and politician, 26th Canadian Minister of Veterans Affairs
    • 1948 – Brad Park, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach
    • 1949 – Noli de Castro, Filipino journalist and politician, 14th Vice President of the Philippines
    • 1949 – Phyllis Hyman, American singer-songwriter and actress (d. 1995)
    • 1949 – Michael Shrieve, American composer, drummer, and percussionist
    • 1950 – John Byrne, English-American author and illustrator
    • 1951 – Lorna Golding, Former First Lady of Jamaica
    • 1951 – Geoffrey Rush, Australian actor and producer
    • 1952 – Hilary Mantel, English author and critic
    • 1953 – Nanci Griffith, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1953 – Kaiser Kalambo, Zambian footballer and manager (d. 2014)
    • 1953 – Robert Ménard, French politician and former journalist
    • 1954 – Allyce Beasley, American actress
    • 1954 – Willie Randolph, American baseball player and manager
    • 1958 – Jennifer Saunders, English actress, comedian and screenwriter
    • 1959 – Richard Dacoury, French basketball player
    • 1960 – Maria Wasiak, Polish businesswoman and politician, Polish Minister of Infrastructure and Development
    • 1961 – Robin Antin, American dancer, choreographer, and businesswoman
    • 1962 – Todd Bennett, English runner and coach (d. 2013)
    • 1962 – Peter Hedges, American author, screenwriter, and director
    • 1967 – Heather Nova, Bermudian singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1970 – Inspectah Deck, American rapper and producer
    • 1970 – Martin Smith, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1972 – Daniel Andrews, Australian politician, 48th Premier of Victoria
    • 1972 – Laurent Gaudé, French author and playwright
    • 1972 – Greg Norton, American baseball player and coach
    • 1972 – Zhanna Pintusevich-Block, Ukrainian sprinter
    • 1974 – Zé Roberto, Brazilian footballer
    • 1975 – 50 Cent, American rapper, producer, and actor
    • 1975 – Sebastián Rulli, Argentine-Mexican actor and model
    • 1975 – Amir-Abbas Fakhravar, Iranian journalist and activist
    • 1976 – Rory Delap, English-Irish footballer
    • 1976 – Ioana Dumitriu, Romanian-American mathematician and academic
    • 1977 – Max Mirnyi, Belarusian tennis player
    • 1977 – Makhaya Ntini, South African cricketer
    • 1978 – Adam Busch, American actor, director, and producer
    • 1978 – Tamera Mowry, American actress and producer
    • 1978 – Tia Mowry, American actress and producer
    • 1978 – Kevin Senio, New Zealand rugby player
    • 1979 – Nic Cester, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1979 – Kevin Hart, American comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter
    • 1980 – Joell Ortiz, American rapper
    • 1980 – Eva Green, French actress and model
    • 1981 – Nnamdi Asomugha, American football player
    • 1981 – Roman Shirokov, Russian footballer
    • 1982 – Brandon Jacobs, American football player
    • 1982 – Misty Upham, American actress (d. 2014)
    • 1983 – Gregory Smith, Canadian actor, director, and producer
    • 1984 – Zhang Hao, Chinese figure skater
    • 1985 – Ranveer Singh, Indian film actor
    • 1986 – David Karp, American businessman, founded Tumblr
    • 1987 – Sophie Auster, American singer-songwriter and actress
    • 1987 – Manteo Mitchell, American runner
    • 1987 – Kate Nash, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress
    • 1987 – Caroline Trentini, Brazilian model
    • 1988 – Kevin Fickentscher, Swiss footballer
    • 1990 – Magaye Gueye, French footballer
    • 1992 – Manny Machado, Dominican-American baseball player

    Deaths on July 6

    • 371 BC – Cleombrotus I, Spartan king
    • 649 – Goar of Aquitaine, French bishop
    • 887 – Wang Chongrong, Chinese warlord
    • 918 – William I, duke of Aquitaine (b. 875)
    • 1017 – Genshin, Japanese scholar (b. 942)
    • 1070 – Godelieve, Flemish saint (b. 1049)
    • 1189 – Henry II, king of England (b. 1133)
    • 1218 – Odo III, duke of Burgundy (b. 1166)
    • 1249 – Alexander II, king of Scotland (b. 1198)
    • 1415 – Jan Hus, Czech priest, philosopher, and reformer (b. 1369)
    • 1476 – Regiomontanus, German mathematician and astrologer (b. 1436)
    • 1480 – Antonio Squarcialupi, Italian composer (b. 1416)
    • 1533 – Ludovico Ariosto, Italian poet and playwright (b. 1474)
    • 1535 – Thomas More, English lawyer and politician, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (b. 1478)
    • 1553 – Edward VI, king of England and Ireland (b. 1537)
    • 1583 – Edmund Grindal, English archbishop (b. 1519)
    • 1585 – Thomas Aufield, English priest and martyr (b. 1552)
    • 1614 – Man Singh I, Rajput Raja of Amer (b. 1550)
    • 1684 – Peter Gunning, English bishop (b. 1614)
    • 1758 – George Howe, 3rd Viscount Howe, English general and politician (b. 1725)
    • 1768 – Conrad Beissel, German-American religious leader (b. 1690)
    • 1802 – Daniel Morgan, American general and politician (b. 1736)
    • 1809 – Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle, French general (b. 1775)
    • 1813 – Granville Sharp, English activist (b. 1735)
    • 1815 – Samuel Whitbread, English politician (b. 1764)
    • 1835 – John Marshall, American captain and politician, 4th United States Secretary of State (b. 1755)
    • 1854 – Georg Ohm, German physicist and mathematician (b. 1789)
    • 1868 – Harada Sanosuke, Japanese captain (b. 1840)
    • 1893 – Guy de Maupassant, French short story writer, novelist, and poet (b. 1850)
    • 1901 – Chlodwig Carl Viktor, German prince and chancellor (b. 1819)
    • 1902 – Maria Goretti, Italian martyr and saint (b. 1890)
    • 1904 – Abai Qunanbaiuly, Kazakh poet and philosopher (b. 1845)
    • 1907 – August Johann Gottfried Bielenstein, German linguist and theologian (b. 1826)
    • 1916 – Odilon Redon, French painter and illustrator (b. 1840)
    • 1918 – Wilhelm von Mirbach, German diplomat (b. 1871)
    • 1922 – Maria Teresia Ledóchowska, Polish-Austrian nun and missionary (b. 1863)
    • 1932 – Kenneth Grahame, Scottish-English author (b. 1859)
    • 1934 – Nestor Makhno, Ukrainian commander (b. 1888)
    • 1946 – Horace Pippin, American painter (b. 1888)
    • 1947 – Adolfo Müller-Ury, Swiss-American painter (b. 1862)
    • 1952 – Louis-Alexandre Taschereau, Canadian lawyer and politician, 14th Premier of Quebec (b. 1867)
    • 1959 – George Grosz, German painter and illustrator (b. 1893)
    • 1960 – Aneurin Bevan, Welsh-English politician, Secretary of State for Health (b. 1897)
    • 1961 – Scott LaFaro, American bassist (b. 1936)
    • 1961 – Woodall Rodgers, American lawyer and politician, Mayor of Dallas (b. 1890)
    • 1962 – Paul Boffa, Maltese soldier and politician, 5th Prime Minister of Malta (b. 1890)
    • 1962 – William Faulkner, American novelist and short story writer, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1897)
    • 1962 – Joseph August, archduke of Austria (b. 1872)
    • 1963 – George, duke of Mecklenburg (b. 1899)
    • 1964 – Claude V. Ricketts, American admiral (b. 1906)
    • 1966 – Sad Sam Jones, American baseball player and manager (b. 1892)
    • 1967 – Hilda Taba, Estonian architect and educator (b. 1902)
    • 1971 – Louis Armstrong, American singer and trumpet player (b. 1901)
    • 1973 – Otto Klemperer, German-American conductor and composer (b. 1885)
    • 1975 – Reşat Ekrem Koçu, Turkish historian, scholar, and poet (b. 1905)
    • 1976 – Zhu De, Chinese general and politician, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (b. 1886)
    • 1976 – Fritz Lenz, German geneticist and physician (b. 1887)
    • 1977 – Ödön Pártos, Hungarian-Israeli viola player and composer (b. 1907)
    • 1978 – Babe Paley, American socialite and fashion style icon (b. 1915)
    • 1979 – Van McCoy, American singer-songwriter and producer (b. 1940)
    • 1986 – Jagjivan Ram, Indian lawyer and politician, 4th Deputy Prime Minister of India (b. 1908)
    • 1989 – János Kádár, Hungarian mechanic and politician, Hungarian Minister of the Interior (b. 1912)
    • 1991 – Mudashiru Lawal, Nigerian footballer (b. 1954)
    • 1992 – Marsha P. Johnson, American drag queen performer and activist (b. 1945)
    • 1994 – Ahmet Haxhiu, Kosovan activist (b. 1932)
    • 1995 – Aziz Nesin, Turkish author and poet (b. 1915)
    • 1997 – Chetan Anand, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1921)
    • 1998 – Roy Rogers, American cowboy, actor, and singer (b. 1911)
    • 1999 – Joaquín Rodrigo, Spanish pianist and composer (b. 1901)
    • 2000 – Władysław Szpilman, Polish pianist and composer (b. 1911)
    • 2002 – Dhirubhai Ambani, Indian businessman, founded Reliance Industries (b. 1932)
    • 2002 – John Frankenheimer, American director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1930)
    • 2003 – Buddy Ebsen, American actor, singer, and dancer (b. 1908)
    • 2003 – Çelik Gülersoy, Turkish lawyer, historical preservationist, writer and poet (b. 1930)
    • 2004 – Thomas Klestil, Austrian politician, 10th President of Austria (b. 1932)
    • 2004 – Syreeta Wright, American singer-songwriter (b. 1946)
    • 2005 – Ed McBain, American author and screenwriter (b. 1926)
    • 2005 – Claude Simon, Malagasy-French novelist and critic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1913)
    • 2006 – Kasey Rogers, American actress (b. 1925)
    • 2007 – Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, American author (b. 1939)
    • 2009 – Vasily Aksyonov, Russian author and academic (b. 1932)
    • 2009 – Robert McNamara, American businessman and politician, 8th United States Secretary of Defense (b. 1916)
    • 2010 – Harvey Fuqua, American singer-songwriter and producer (b. 1929)
    • 2011 – Carly Hibberd, Australian road racing cyclist (b. 1985)
    • 2012 – Hani al-Hassan, Palestinian engineer and politician (b. 1939)
    • 2013 – Lo Hsing Han, Burmese businessman, co-founded Asia World (b. 1935)
    • 2014 – Alan J. Dixon, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 34th Illinois Secretary of State (b. 1927)
    • 2015 – Jerry Weintraub, American film producer, and talent agent (b. 1937)
    • 2018 – Shoko Asahara, founder of Japanese cult group Aum Shinrikyo (b. 1955)
    • 2019 – João Gilberto, Brazilian singer-songwriter and guitarist, pioneer of bossa nova music style (b. 1931)
    • 2020 – Charlie Daniels, American singer-songwriter, fiddle-player and guitarist (b. 1936)
    • 2020 – Ennio Morricone, Italian composer, orchestrator, conductor, and trumpet player (b. 1928)

    Holidays and observances on July 6

    • The first day of San Fermín, which lasts until July 14. (Pamplona)
    • Christian feast day:
      • Maria Goretti
      • Romulus of Fiesole
      • July 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
    • Constitution Day (Cayman Islands)
    • Day of the Capital (Kazakhstan)
    • Independence Day (Comoros), celebrates the independence of the Comoros from France in 1975.
    • Independence Day (Malawi), celebrates the independence of Malawi from United Kingdom in 1964.
    • International Kissing Day (informally observed)
    • Jan Hus Day (Czech Republic)
    • Kupala Night (Poland, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine)
    • National Fried Chicken Day (United States)
    • Statehood Day (Lithuania)
    • Teachers’ Day (Peru)

  • June 5 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

    • 1257 – Kraków, in Poland, receives city rights.
    • 1283 – Battle of the Gulf of Naples: Roger of Lauria, admiral to King Peter III of Aragon, destroys the Neapolitan fleet and captures Charles of Salerno.
    • 1288 – The Battle of Worringen ends the War of the Limburg Succession, with John I, Duke of Brabant, being one of the more important victors.
    • 1610 – The masque Tethys’ Festival is performed at Whitehall Palace to celebrate the investiture of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales.
    • 1644 – The Qing dynasty Manchu forces led by the Shunzhi Emperor take Beijing during the collapse of the Ming dynasty.
    • 1798 – The Battle of New Ross: The attempt to spread the United Irish Rebellion into Munster is defeated.
    • 1817 – The first Great Lakes steamer, the Frontenac, is launched.
    • 1829 – HMS Pickle captures the armed slave ship Voladora off the coast of Cuba.
    • 1832 – The June Rebellion breaks out in Paris in an attempt to overthrow the monarchy of Louis Philippe.
    • 1837 – Houston is incorporated by the Republic of Texas.
    • 1849 – Denmark becomes a constitutional monarchy by the signing of a new constitution.
    • 1851 – Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery serial, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly, starts a ten-month run in the National Era abolitionist newspaper.
    • 1862 – As the Treaty of Saigon is signed, ceding parts of southern Vietnam to France, the guerrilla leader Trương Định decides to defy Emperor Tự Đức of Vietnam and fight on against the Europeans.
    • 1864 – American Civil War: Battle of Piedmont: Union forces under General David Hunter defeat a Confederate army at Piedmont, Virginia, taking nearly 1,000 prisoners.
    • 1873 – Sultan Barghash bin Said of Zanzibar closes the great slave market under the terms of a treaty with Great Britain.
    • 1883 – The first regularly scheduled Orient Express departs Paris.
    • 1888 – The Rio de la Plata earthquake takes place.
    • 1893 – The trial of Lizzie Borden for the murder of her father and step-mother begins in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
    • 1900 – Second Boer War: British soldiers take Pretoria.
    • 1915 – Denmark amends its constitution to allow women’s suffrage.
    • 1916 – Louis Brandeis is sworn in as a Justice of the United States Supreme Court; he is the first American Jew to hold such a position.
    • 1916 – World War I: The Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire breaks out.
    • 1917 – World War I: Conscription begins in the United States as “Army registration day”.
    • 1940 – World War II: After a brief lull in the Battle of France, the Germans renew the offensive against the remaining French divisions south of the River Somme in Operation Fall Rot (“Case Red”).
    • 1941 – World War II: Four thousand Chongqing residents are asphyxiated in a bomb shelter during the Bombing of Chongqing.
    • 1942 – World War II: The United States declares war on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.
    • 1944 – World War II: More than 1,000 British bombers drop 5,000 tons of bombs on German gun batteries on the Normandy coast in preparation for D-Day.
    • 1945 – The Allied Control Council, the military occupation governing body of Germany, formally takes power.
    • 1946 – A fire in the La Salle Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, kills 61 people.
    • 1947 – Cold War: Marshall Plan: In a speech at Harvard University, the United States Secretary of State George Marshall calls for economic aid to war-torn Europe.
    • 1949 – Thailand elects Orapin Chaiyakan, the first female member of Thailand’s Parliament.
    • 1956 – Elvis Presley introduces his new single, “Hound Dog”, on The Milton Berle Show, scandalizing the audience with his suggestive hip movements.
    • 1959 – The first government of Singapore is sworn in.
    • 1963 – The British Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, resigns in a sex scandal known as the “Profumo affair”.
    • 1963 – Movement of 15 Khordad: Protests against the arrest of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini by the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In several cities, masses of angry demonstrators are confronted by tanks and paratroopers.
    • 1964 – DSV Alvin is commissioned.
    • 1967 – The Six-Day War begins: Israel launches surprise strikes against Egyptian air-fields in response to the mobilisation of Egyptian forces on the Israeli border.
    • 1968 – Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan.
    • 1975 – The Suez Canal opens for the first time since the Six-Day War.
    • 1975 – The United Kingdom holds its first country-wide referendum on membership of the European Economic Community (EEC).
    • 1976 – The Teton Dam in Idaho, United States, collapses.
    • 1981 – The “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that five people in Los Angeles, California, have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems, in what turns out to be the first recognized cases of AIDS.
    • 1983 – More than 100 people are killed when the Russian river cruise ship Aleksandr Suvorov collides with a girder of the Ulyanovsk Railway Bridge. The collision caused a freight train to derail, further damaging the vessel yet the ship remained afloat and was eventually restored and returned to service.
    • 1984 – Operation Blue Star: Under orders from India’s prime minister, Indira Gandhi, the Indian Army begins an invasion of the Golden Temple, the holiest site of the Sikh religion.
    • 1989 – The Tank Man halts the progress of a column of advancing tanks for over half an hour after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.
    • 1993 – Portions of the Holbeck Hall Hotel in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK, fall into the sea following a landslide.
    • 1995 – The Bose–Einstein condensate is first created.
    • 1997 – The Second Republic of the Congo Civil War begins.
    • 1998 – A strike begins at the General Motors parts factory in Flint, Michigan, that quickly spreads to five other assembly plants. The strike lasts seven weeks.
    • 2000 – The Six-Day War in Kisangani begins in Kisangani, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, between Ugandan and Rwandan forces. A large part of the city is destroyed.
    • 2001 – Tropical Storm Allison makes landfall on the upper-Texas coastline as a strong tropical storm and dumps large amounts of rain over Houston. The storm causes $5.5 billion in damages, making Allison the second costliest tropical storm in U.S. history.
    • 2003 – A severe heat wave across Pakistan and India reaches its peak, as temperatures exceed 50 °C (122 °F) in the region.
    • 2004 – Noël Mamère, Mayor of Bègles, celebrates marriage for two men for the first time in France.
    • 2006 – Serbia declares independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
    • 2009 – After 65 straight days of civil disobedience, at least 31 people are killed in clashes between security forces and indigenous people near Bagua, Peru.
    • 2013 – A building collapse in Philadelphia kills six and wounds 14 other people.
    • 2015 – An earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.0 struck Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia killing 18 people, including hikers and mountain guides on Mount Kinabalu, after mass landslides that occurred during the earthquake. This is the strongest earthquake to strike Malaysia since 1975.
    • 2017 – Montenegro becomes the 29th member of the NATO.
    • 2017 – Six Arab countries—Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates—cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilising the region.

    Births on June 5

    • 1341 – Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, son of King Edward III of England and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (d. 1402)
    • 1412 – Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, Italian ruler (d. 1478)
    • 1493 – Justus Jonas, German priest and academic (d. 1555)
    • 1523 – Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry (d. 1573)
    • 1554 – Benedetto Giustiniani, Italian clergyman (d. 1621)
    • 1587 – Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick, English colonial administrator and admiral (d. 1658)
    • 1596 – Peter Wtewael, Dutch Golden Age painter (d. 1660)
    • 1640 – Pu Songling, Chinese author (d. 1715)
    • 1646 – Elena Cornaro Piscopia, Italian mathematician and philosopher (d. 1684)
    • 1660 – Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (d. 1744)
    • 1757 – Pierre Jean George Cabanis, French physiologist and philosopher (d. 1808)
    • 1760 – Johan Gadolin, Finnish chemist, physicist, and mineralogist (d. 1852)
    • 1771 – Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover (d. 1851)
    • 1781 – Christian Lobeck, German scholar and academic (d. 1860)
    • 1801 – William Scamp, English architect and engineer (d. 1872)
    • 1819 – John Couch Adams, English mathematician and astronomer (d. 1892)
    • 1830 – Carmine Crocco, Italian soldier (d. 1905)
    • 1850 – Pat Garrett, American sheriff (d. 1908)
    • 1862 – Allvar Gullstrand, Swedish ophthalmologist and optician, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1930)
    • 1868 – James Connolly, Scottish-born Irish rebel leader (d. 1916)
    • 1870 – Bernard de Pourtalès, Swiss captain and sailor (d. 1935)
    • 1876 – Isaac Heinemann, German-Israeli scholar and academic (d. 1957)
    • 1877 – Willard Miller, Canadian-American sailor, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1959)
    • 1878 – Pancho Villa, Mexican general and politician, Governor of Chihuahua (d. 1923)
    • 1879 – Robert Mayer, German-English businessman and philanthropist (d. 1985)
    • 1883 – John Maynard Keynes, English economist, philosopher, and academic (d. 1946)
    • 1884 – Ralph Benatzky, Czech-Swiss composer (d. 1957)
    • 1884 – Ivy Compton-Burnett, English author (d. 1969)
    • 1884 – Frederick Lorz, American runner (d. 1914)
    • 1892 – Jaan Kikkas, Estonian weightlifter (d. 1944)
    • 1894 – Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, Canadian-English publisher and academic (d. 1976)
    • 1895 – William Boyd, American actor and producer (d. 1972)
    • 1895 – William Roberts, English soldier and painter (d. 1980)
    • 1898 – Salvatore Ferragamo, Italian shoe designer, founded Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. (d. 1960)
    • 1898 – Federico García Lorca, Spanish poet, playwright, and director (d. 1936)
    • 1899 – Otis Barton, American diver, engineer, and actor, designed the bathysphere (d. 1992)
    • 1899 – Theippan Maung Wa, Burmese writer (d. 1942)
    • 1900 – Dennis Gabor, Hungarian-English physicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1979)
    • 1902 – Arthur Powell Davies, American minister, author, and activist (d. 1957)
    • 1905 – Wayne Boring, American illustrator (d. 1987)
    • 1912 – Dean Amadon, American ornithologist and author (d. 2003)
    • 1912 – Eric Hollies, English cricketer (d. 1981)
    • 1913 – Conrad Marca-Relli, American-Italian painter and academic (d. 2000)
    • 1914 – Beatrice de Cardi, English archaeologist and academic (d. 2016)
    • 1916 – Sid Barnes, Australian cricketer (d. 1973)
    • 1916 – Eddie Joost, American baseball player and manager (d. 2011)
    • 1919 – Richard Scarry, American-Swiss author and illustrator (d. 1994)
    • 1920 – Marion Motley, American football player and coach (d. 1999)
    • 1920 – Cornelius Ryan, Irish-American journalist and author (d. 1974)
    • 1922 – Paul Couvret, Dutch-Australian soldier, pilot, and politician (d. 2013)
    • 1922 – Sheila Sim, English actress (d. 2016)
    • 1923 – Jorge Daponte, Argentinian racing driver (d. 1963)
    • 1923 – Roger Lebel, Canadian actor (d. 1994)
    • 1923 – Daniel Pinkham, American organist and composer (d. 2006)
    • 1924 – Lou Brissie, American baseball player and scout (d. 2013)
    • 1924 – Art Donovan, American football player and radio host (d. 2013)
    • 1925 – Bill Hayes, American actor and singer
    • 1926 – Paul Soros, Hungarian-American engineer and businessman (d. 2013)
    • 1928 – Robert Lansing, American actor (d. 1994)
    • 1928 – Umberto Maglioli, Italian racing driver (d. 1999)
    • 1928 – Tony Richardson, English-American director and producer (d. 1991)
    • 1930 – Alifa Rifaat, Egyptian author (d. 1996)
    • 1931 – Yves Blais, Canadian businessman and politician (d. 1998)
    • 1931 – Jacques Demy, French actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 1990)
    • 1931 – Jerzy Prokopiuk, Polish anthropologist and philosopher
    • 1932 – Christy Brown, Irish painter and author (d. 1981)
    • 1932 – Dave Gold, American businessman, founded the 99 Cents Only Stores (d. 2013)
    • 1933 – Bata Živojinović, Serbian actor and politician (d. 2016)
    • 1934 – Vilhjálmur Einarsson, Icelandic triple jumper, painter, and educator (d. 2019)
    • 1934 – Bill Moyers, American journalist, 13th White House Press Secretary
    • 1937 – Hélène Cixous, French author, poet, and critic
    • 1938 – Moira Anderson, Scottish singer
    • 1938 – Karin Balzer, German hurdler (d. 2019)
    • 1938 – Roy Higgins, Australian jockey (d. 2014)
    • 1939 – Joe Clark, Canadian journalist and politician, 16th Prime Minister of Canada
    • 1939 – Margaret Drabble, English novelist, biographer, and critic
    • 1941 – Martha Argerich, Argentinian pianist
    • 1941 – Erasmo Carlos, Brazilian singer-songwriter
    • 1941 – Spalding Gray, American writer, actor, and monologist (d. 2004)
    • 1941 – Robert Kraft, American businessman, founded The Kraft Group
    • 1941 – Jeff Rooker, Baron Rooker, English academic and politician, Minister of State for Immigration
    • 1941 – Gudrun Sjödén, Swedish designer
    • 1942 – Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatoguinean lieutenant and politician, 2nd President of Equatorial Guinea
    • 1943 – Abraham Viruthakulangara, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Nagpur, Maharashtra, India (d. 2018)
    • 1944 – Whitfield Diffie, American cryptographer and academic
    • 1945 – John Carlos, American runner and football player
    • 1945 – André Lacroix, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach
    • 1946 – John Du Cann, English guitarist (d. 2001)
    • 1946 – Bob Grant, Australian rugby league player
    • 1946 – Patrick Head, English engineer and businessman, co-founded Williams F1
    • 1946 – Wanderléa, Brazilian singer and television host
    • 1947 – Laurie Anderson, American singer-songwriter and violinist
    • 1947 – Tom Evans, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1983)
    • 1947 – David Hare, English director, playwright, and screenwriter
    • 1947 – Freddie Stone, American singer, guitarist, and pastor
    • 1949 – Ken Follett, Welsh author
    • 1949 – Elizabeth Gloster, English lawyer and judge
    • 1949 – Alexander Scrymgeour, 12th Earl of Dundee, Scottish politician
    • 1950 – Ronnie Dyson, American singer and actor (d. 1990)
    • 1950 – Abraham Sarmiento, Jr., Filipino journalist and activist (d. 1977)
    • 1951 – Suze Orman, American financial adviser, author, and television host
    • 1952 – Pierre Bruneau, Canadian journalist and news anchor
    • 1952 – Carole Fredericks, American singer (d. 2001)
    • 1952 – Nicko McBrain, English drummer and songwriter
    • 1953 – Kathleen Kennedy, American film producer, co-founded Amblin Entertainment
    • 1954 – Alberto Malesani, Italian footballer and manager
    • 1954 – Phil Neale, English cricketer, coach, and manager
    • 1954 – Nancy Stafford, American model and actress
    • 1955 – Edino Nazareth Filho, Brazilian footballer and manager
    • 1956 – Richard Butler, English singer-songwriter
    • 1956 – Kenny G, American saxophonist, songwriter, and producer
    • 1957 – Charles Nolan, American fashion designer (d. 2011)
    • 1958 – Avigdor Lieberman, Moldavian-Israeli soldier and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Israel
    • 1958 – Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, Comorian businessman and politician, President of Comoros
    • 1959 – Mark Ella, Australian rugby player
    • 1959 – Werner Schildhauer, German runner
    • 1960 – Boris Dugan, Estonian footballer and coach
    • 1960 – Claire Fox, English author and academic
    • 1961 – Anke Behmer, German heptathlete
    • 1961 – Mary Kay Bergman, American voice actress (d. 1999)
    • 1961 – Anthony Burger, American singer and pianist (d. 2006)
    • 1961 – Aldo Costa, Italian engineer
    • 1961 – Ramesh Krishnan, Indian tennis player and coach
    • 1962 – Jeff Garlin, American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter
    • 1962 – Tõnis Lukas, Estonian historian and politician, 34th Estonian Minister of Education
    • 1964 – Lisa Cholodenko, American director and screenwriter
    • 1964 – Karl Sanders, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1965 – Michael E. Brown, American astronomer and author
    • 1965 – Sandrine Piau, French soprano
    • 1965 – Alfie Turcotte, American ice hockey player
    • 1967 – Matt Bullard, American basketball player and sportscaster
    • 1967 – Joe DeLoach, American sprinter
    • 1967 – Ray Lankford, American baseball player
    • 1967 – Ron Livingston, American actor
    • 1968 – Ed Vaizey, English lawyer and politician, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries
    • 1969 – Brian McKnight, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor
    • 1970 – Martin Gélinas, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
    • 1971 – Susan Lynch, Northern Irish actress
    • 1971 – Alex Mooney, American politician
    • 1971 – Takaya Tsubobayashi, Japanese racing driver
    • 1971 – Mark Wahlberg, American model, actor, producer, and rapper
    • 1972 – Yogi Adityanath, Indian priest and politician
    • 1972 – Paweł Kotla, Polish conductor and academic
    • 1973 – Lamon Brewster, American boxer
    • 1973 – Gella Vandecaveye, Belgian martial artist
    • 1974 – Mervyn Dillon, Trinidadian cricketer
    • 1974 – Scott Draper, Australian tennis player and golfer
    • 1974 – Russ Ortiz, American baseball player
    • 1975 – Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Lithuanian-American basketball player
    • 1975 – Duncan Patterson, English drummer and keyboard player
    • 1975 – Sandra Stals, Belgian runner
    • 1976 – Giannis Giannoulis, Canadian basketball player
    • 1976 – Torry Holt, American football player and sportscaster
    • 1977 – Liza Weil, American actress
    • 1978 – Fernando Meira, Portuguese footballer
    • 1979 – Stefanos Kotsolis, Greek footballer
    • 1979 – Matthew Scarlett, Australian footballer
    • 1979 – Pete Wentz, American singer-songwriter, bass player, actor, and fashion designer
    • 1979 – Jason White, American race car driver
    • 1980 – Mike Fisher, Canadian ice hockey player
    • 1980 – Antonio García, Spanish racing driver
    • 1981 – Serhat Akın, Turkish footballer
    • 1981 – Sébastien Lefebvre, Canadian singer and guitarist
    • 1982 – Ryan Dallas Cook, American trombonist (d. 2005)
    • 1983 – Marques Colston, American football player
    • 1984 – Robert Barbieri, Canadian-Italian rugby player
    • 1984 – Eric Traoré, Senegalese footballer
    • 1985 – Jeremy Abbott, American figure skater
    • 1985 – Ekaterina Bychkova, Russian tennis player
    • 1986 – Dave Bolland, Canadian ice hockey player
    • 1986 – Vernon Gholston, American football player
    • 1987 – Marcus Thornton, American basketball player
    • 1988 – Alessandro Salvi, Italian footballer
    • 1989 – Cam Atkinson, American ice hockey player
    • 1989 – Megumi Nakajima, Japanese voice actress and singer
    • 1990 – Radko Gudas, Czech ice hockey defenceman
    • 1991 – Sören Bertram, German footballer
    • 1992 – Joazhiño Arroe, Peruvian footballer
    • 1992 – Emily Seebohm, Australian swimmer
    • 1993 – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Samoan-New Zealand rugby league player
    • 1995 – Troye Sivan, South African–born Australian singer-songwriter, actor, and YouTuber
    • 1995 – Ross Wilson, English table tennis player
    • 1997 – Sam Darnold, American football player
    • 1998 – Yulia Lipnitskaya, Russian figure skater

    Deaths on June 5

    • 301 – Sima Lun, Chinese emperor (b. 249)
    • 535 – Epiphanius, patriarch of Constantinople
    • 567 – Theodosius I, patriarch of Alexandria
    • 708 – Jacob of Edessa, Syrian bishop (b. 640)
    • 754 – Eoban, bishop of Utrecht
    • 754 – Boniface, English missionary and martyr (b. 675)
    • 879 – Ya’qub ibn al-Layth, Persian emir (b. 840)
    • 928 – Louis the Blind, king of Provence
    • 1017 – Sanjō, emperor of Japan (b. 976)
    • 1118 – Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester, Norman nobleman and politician (b. 1049)
    • 1296 – Edmund Crouchback, English politician, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (b. 1245)
    • 1310 – Amalric, prince of Tyre
    • 1316 – Louis X, king of France (b. 1289)
    • 1383 – Dmitry of Suzdal, Russian grand prince (b. 1324)
    • 1400 – Frederick I, duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
    • 1424 – Braccio da Montone, Italian nobleman (b. 1368)
    • 1434 – Yuri IV, Russian grand prince (b. 1374)
    • 1443 – Ferdinand, Portuguese prince (b. 1402)
    • 1445 – Leonel Power, English composer
    • 1530 – Mercurino Gattinara, Italian statesman and jurist (b. 1465)
    • 1568 – Lamoral, Count of Egmont (b. 1522)
    • 1625 – Orlando Gibbons, English organist and composer (b. 1583)
    • 1667 – Francesco Sforza Pallavicino, Italian cardinal and historian (b. 1607)
    • 1716 – Roger Cotes, English mathematician and academic (b. 1682)
    • 1722 – Johann Kuhnau, German organist and composer (b. 1660)
    • 1738 – Isaac de Beausobre, French pastor and theologian (b. 1659)
    • 1740 – Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent, English politician and courtier (b. 1671)
    • 1791 – Frederick Haldimand, Swiss-Canadian general and politician, 22nd Governor of Quebec (b. 1718)
    • 1816 – Giovanni Paisiello, Italian composer and educator (b. 1741)
    • 1825 – Odysseas Androutsos, Greek soldier (b. 1788)
    • 1826 – Carl Maria von Weber, German pianist, composer, and conductor (b. 1786)
    • 1866 – John McDouall Stuart, Scottish explorer and surveyor (b. 1815)
    • 1899 – Antonio Luna, Filipino general (b. 1866)
    • 1900 – Stephen Crane, American poet, novelist, and short story writer (b. 1871)
    • 1906 – Karl Robert Eduard von Hartmann, German philosopher and author (b. 1842)
    • 1910 – O. Henry, American short story writer (b. 1862)
    • 1913 – Chris von der Ahe, German-American businessman (b. 1851)
    • 1916 – Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, Irish-born British field marshal and politician, Secretary of State for War (b. 1850)
    • 1920 – Rhoda Broughton, Welsh-English author (b. 1840)
    • 1921 – Will Crooks, English trade unionist and politician (b. 1852)
    • 1921 – Georges Feydeau, French playwright (b. 1862)
    • 1930 – Eric Lemming, Swedish athlete (b. 1880)
    • 1930 – Pascin, Bulgarian-French painter and illustrator (b. 1885)
    • 1934 – Emily Dobson, Australian philanthropist (b. 1842)
    • 1934 – William Holman, English-Australian politician, 19th Premier of New South Wales (b. 1871)
    • 1947 – Nils Olaf Chrisander, Swedish-American actor and director (b. 1884)
    • 1967 – Arthur Biram, Israeli philologist, philosopher, and academic (b. 1878)
    • 1967 – Harry Brown, Australian public servant (b. 1878)
    • 1993 – Conway Twitty, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1933)
    • 1996 – Acharya Kuber Nath Rai, Indian poet and scholar (b. 1933)
    • 1997 – J. Anthony Lukas, American journalist and author (b. 1933)
    • 1998 – Jeanette Nolan, American actress (b. 1911)
    • 1998 – Sam Yorty, American soldier and politician, 37th Mayor of Los Angeles (b. 1909)
    • 1999 – Mel Tormé, American singer-songwriter (b. 1925)
    • 2000 – Don Liddle, American baseball player (b. 1925)
    • 2002 – Dee Dee Ramone, American singer-songwriter and bass player (b. 1951)
    • 2003 – Jürgen Möllemann, German soldier and politician, 10th Vice-Chancellor of Germany (b. 1945)
    • 2003 – Manuel Rosenthal, French composer and conductor (b. 1904)
    • 2004 – Iona Brown, English violinist and conductor (b. 1941)
    • 2004 – Ronald Reagan, American actor and politician, 40th President of the United States (b. 1911)
    • 2005 – Adolfo Aguilar Zínser, Mexican scholar and politician (b. 1949)
    • 2006 – Frederick Franck, Dutch-American painter, sculptor, and author (b. 1909)
    • 2006 – Edward L. Moyers, American businessman (b. 1928)
    • 2009 – Jeff Hanson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1978)
    • 2012 – Ray Bradbury, American science fiction writer and screenwriter (b. 1920)
    • 2012 – Hal Keller, American baseball player and manager (b. 1928)
    • 2012 – Mihai Pătrașcu, Romanian-American computer scientist (b. 1982)
    • 2012 – Charlie Sutton, Australian footballer and coach (b. 1924)
    • 2013 – Helen McElhone, Scottish politician (b. 1933)
    • 2013 – Stanisław Nagy, Polish cardinal (b. 1921)
    • 2013 – Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, Irish republican activist and politician (b. 1932)
    • 2013 – Michel Ostyn, Belgian physiologist and physician (b. 1924)
    • 2014 – Abu Abdulrahman al-Bilawi, Iraqi commander (b. 1971)
    • 2014 – Don Davis, American songwriter and producer (b. 1938)
    • 2014 – Reiulf Steen, Norwegian journalist and politician, Norwegian Minister of Transport and Communications (b. 1933)
    • 2015 – Tariq Aziz, Iraqi journalist and politician, Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs (b. 1936)
    • 2015 – Alan Bond, English-Australian businessman (b. 1938)
    • 2015 – Richard Johnson, English actor (b. 1927)
    • 2015 – Roger Vergé, French chef and author (b. 1930)
    • 2016 – Jerome Bruner, American psychologist (b. 1915)
    • 2017 – Andy Cunningham, English actor (b. 1950)
    • 2017 – Cheick Tioté, Ivorian footballer (b. 1986)
    • 2018 – Kate Spade, American fashion designer (b. 1962)

    Holidays and observances on June 5

    • Arbor Day (New Zealand)
    • Christian feast day:
      • Boniface (Roman Catholic Church)
      • Dorotheus of Tyre
      • Genesius, Count of Clermont
      • Blessed Meinwerk
      • June 5 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
    • Constitution Day (Denmark)
    • Father’s Day (Denmark)
    • Feast of Núr, the first day of the fifth month of the Bahá’í calendar (Bahá’í Faith) (only if Bahá’í Naw-Rúz falls on March 21)
    • Indian Arrival Day (Suriname)
    • Khordad Movement Anniversary (Iran) (Only if March equinox falls on March 20)
    • Liberation Day (Seychelles)
    • President’s Day (Equatorial Guinea)
    • Reclamation Day (Azerbaijan)
    • World Day Against Speciesism (International)
    • World Environment Day (International)

  • March 21- History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

    In astrology, the day of the equinox is the first full day of the sign of Aries. It is also the traditional first day of the astrological year. In the 21st century, the equinox usually occurs on March 19 or 20; it occurred on March 21 only in 2003 and 2007. The next year in which the equinox occurs on March 21 will be 2102.

    March 21 in History

    • 537 – Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the Vivarium, by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas and Peranius.
    • 630 – Emperor Heraclius returns the True Cross, one of the holiest Christian relics, to Jerusalem.
    • 717 – Battle of Vincy between Charles Martel and Ragenfrid.
    • 1152 – Annulment of the marriage of King Louis VII of France and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.
    • 1188 – Emperor Antoku accedes to the throne of Japan.
    • 1556 – On the day of his execution in Oxford, former Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer deviates from the scripted sermon by renouncing the recantations he has made and adds, “And as for the pope, I refuse him, as Christ’s enemy, and Antichrist with all his false doctrine.”
    • 1788 – A fire in New Orleans leaves most of the town in ruins.
    • 1800 – With the church leadership driven out of Rome during an armed conflict, Pius VII is crowned Pope in Venice with a temporary papal tiara made of papier-mâché.
    • 1801 – The Battle of Alexandria is fought between British and French forces near the ruins of Nicopolis near Alexandria in Egypt.
    • 1804 – Code Napoléon is adopted as French civil law.
    • 1814 – Napoleonic Wars: Austrian forces repel French troops in the Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube.
    • 1844 – The Bahá’í calendar begins. This is the first day of the first year of the Bahá’í calendar. It is annually celebrated by members of the Bahá’í Faith as the Bahá’í New Year or Náw-Rúz.
    • 1861 – Alexander Stephens gives the Cornerstone Speech.
    • 1871 – Otto von Bismarck is appointed as the first Chancellor of the German Empire.
    • 1871 – Journalist Henry Morton Stanley begins his trek to find the missionary and explorer David Livingstone.
    • 1913 – Over 360 are killed and 20,000 homes destroyed in the Great Dayton Flood in Dayton, Ohio.
    • 1918 – World War I: The first phase of the German Spring Offensive, Operation Michael, begins.
    • 1919 – The Hungarian Soviet Republic is established becoming the first Communist government to be formed in Europe after the October Revolution in Russia.
    • 1921 – The New Economic Policy is implemented by the Bolshevik Party in response to the economic failure as a result of war communism.
    • 1925 – The Butler Act prohibits the teaching of human evolution in Tennessee.
    • 1925 – Syngman Rhee is removed from office after being impeached as the President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
    • 1928 – Charles Lindbergh is presented with the Medal of Honor for the first solo trans-Atlantic flight.
    • 1935 – Shah of Iran Reza Shah Pahlavi formally asks the international community to call Persia by its native name, Iran.
    • 1937 – Ponce massacre: Nineteen people in Ponce, Puerto Rico are gunned down by police acting on orders of the US-appointed Governor, Blanton C. Winship.
    • 1943 – Wehrmacht officer Rudolf von Gersdorff plots to assassinate Adolf Hitler by using a suicide bomb, but the plan falls through; von Gersdorff is able to defuse the bomb in time and avoid suspicion.
    • 1945 – World War II: British troops liberate Mandalay, Burma.
    • 1945 – World War II: Operation Carthage: Royal Air Force planes bomb Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. They also accidentally hit a school, killing 125 civilians.
    • 1945 – World War II: Bulgaria and the Soviet Union successfully complete their defense of the north bank of the Drava River as the Battle of the Transdanubian Hills concludes.
    • 1946 – The Los Angeles Rams sign Kenny Washington, making him the first African American player in professional American football since 1933.
    • 1952 – Alan Freed presents the Moondog Coronation Ball, the first rock and roll concert, in Cleveland, Ohio.
    • 1960 – Apartheid: Sharpeville massacre, South Africa: Police open fire on a group of black South African demonstrators, killing 69 and wounding 180.
    • 1963 – Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary (in California) closes.
    • 1965 – Ranger program: NASA launches Ranger 9, the last in a series of unmanned lunar space probes.
    • 1965 – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads 3,200 people on the start of the third and finally successful civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.
    • 1968 – Battle of Karameh in Jordan between the Israel Defense Forces and the combined forces of the Jordanian Armed Forces and PLO.
    • 1970 – The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by Joseph Alioto, Mayor of San Francisco.
    • 1980 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces a United States boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet–Afghan War.
    • 1983 – The first cases of the 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic begin; Israelis and Palestinians accuse each other of poison gas, but the cause is later determined mostly to be psychosomatic.
    • 1986 – Debi Thomas became the first African American to win the World Figure Skating Championships
    • 1990 – Namibia becomes independent after 75 years of South African rule.
    • 1994 – The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change enters into force.
    • 1999 – Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon.
    • 2000 – Pope John Paul II makes his first ever pontifical visit to Israel.
    • 2006 – The social media site Twitter is founded.
    • 2009 – Four police officers are shot and killed and a fifth is wounded in two shootings at Oakland, California.
    • 2019 – The 2019 Xiangshui chemical plant explosion occurs, killing at least 47 people and injuring 640 others.

    Births on March 21

    • 927 – Emperor Taizu of Song (d. 976)
    • 1474 – Angela Merici, Italian educator and saint (d. 1540)
    • 1501 – Anne Brooke, Baroness Cobham, English noble (d. 1558)
    • 1521 – Maurice, Elector of Saxony (d. 1553)
    • 1527 – Hermann Finck, German composer and educator (d. 1558)
    • 1555 – John Leveson, English politician (d. 1615)
    • 1557 – Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel, English countess and poet (d. 1630)
    • 1626 – Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, Spanish saint and missionary (d. 1667)
    • 1672 – Stefano Benedetto Pallavicino, Italian poet and translator (d. 1742)
    • 1685 – Johann Sebastian Bach, German Baroque composer and musician (d. 1750)
    • 1713 – Francis Lewis, Welsh-American merchant and politician (d. 1803)
    • 1716 – Josef Seger, Bohemian organist, composer, and educator (d. 1782)
    • 1752 – Mary Dixon Kies, American inventor (d. 1837)
    • 1763 – Jean Paul, German journalist and author (d. 1825)
    • 1768 – Joseph Fourier, French mathematician and physicist (d. 1830)
    • 1806 – Benito Juárez, Mexican lawyer and politician, 25th President of Mexico (d. 1872)
    • 1811 – Nathaniel Woodard, English priest and educator (d. 1891)
    • 1825 – Alexander Mozhaysky, Russian soldier and engineer (d. 1890)
    • 1835 – Thomas Hayward, English cricketer (d. 1876)
    • 1839 – Modest Mussorgsky, Russian pianist and composer (d. 1881)
    • 1854 – Alick Bannerman, Australian cricketer and coach (d. 1924)
    • 1857 – Alice Henry, Australian journalist and activist (d. 1943)
    • 1859 – Daria Pratt, American golfer (d. 1938)
    • 1865 – George Owen Squier, American general (d. 1934)
    • 1866 – Antonia Maury, American astronomer and astrophysicist (d. 1952)
    • 1867 – Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., American director and producer (d. 1932)
    • 1869 – David Robertson, Scottish-English golfer and rugby player (d. 1937)
    • 1874 – Alfred Tysoe, English runner (d. 1901)
    • 1876 – Walter Tewksbury, American runner and hurdler (d. 1968)
    • 1877 – Maurice Farman, French race car driver and pilot (d. 1964)
    • 1878 – Morris H. Whitehouse, American architect (d. 1944)
    • 1880 – Broncho Billy Anderson, American actor, director, and producer (d. 1971)
    • 1880 – Hans Hofmann, German-American painter and academic (d. 1966)
    • 1882 – Aleksander Kesküla, Estonian politician (d. 1963)
    • 1884 – George David Birkhoff, American mathematician (d. 1944)
    • 1885 – Pierre Renoir, French actor and director (d. 1952)
    • 1886 – Walter Dray, American pole vaulter (d. 1973)
    • 1887 – Clarice Beckett, Australian painter (d. 1935)
    • 1887 – Lajos Kassák, Hungarian poet, novelist and painter (d. 1967)
    • 1887 – M. N. Roy, Indian philosopher and politician (d. 1954)
    • 1889 – Jock Sutherland, American football player and coach (d. 1948)
    • 1896 – Friedrich Waismann, Austrian mathematician, physicist, and philosopher from the Vienna Circle (d. 1959)
    • 1897 – Sim Gokkes, Dutch composer and conductor (d. 1943)
    • 1897 – Salvador Lutteroth, Mexican wrestling promoter, founded Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (d. 1987)
    • 1899 – Panagiotis Pipinelis, Greek politician, Prime Minister of Greece (d. 1970)
    • 1901 – Karl Arnold, German businessman and politician, President of the German Bundesrat (d. 1958)
    • 1902 – Son House, American blues singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1988)
    • 1904 – Jehane Benoît, Canadian journalist and author (d. 1987)
    • 1904 – Forrest Mars, Sr., American candy maker, created M&M’s and Mars bar (d. 1999)
    • 1904 – Nikos Skalkottas, Greek violinist and composer (d. 1949)
    • 1905 – Phyllis McGinley, American author and poet (d. 1978)
    • 1906 – John D. Rockefeller III, American philanthropist (d. 1978)
    • 1906 – Jim Thompson, American businessman (d. 1967)
    • 1906 – André Filho, Brazilian musician and songwriter (d. 1974)
    • 1907 – Zoltán Kemény, Hungarian sculptor (d. 1965)
    • 1909 – Harry Lane, English footballer (d. 1977)
    • 1910 – Julio Gallo, American businessman, co-founded E & J Gallo Winery (d. 1993)
    • 1910 – Muhammad Siddiq Khan, Bangladeshi librarian and educator (d. 1978)
    • 1911 – Walter Lincoln Hawkins, African-American scientist and inventor (d. 1992)
    • 1912 – André Laurendeau, Canadian journalist, playwright, and politician (d. 1968)
    • 1913 – George Abecassis, English race car driver and pilot (d. 1991)
    • 1913 – Guillermo Haro, Mexican astronomer (d. 1988)
    • 1914 – Paul Tortelier, French cellist and composer (d. 1990)
    • 1916 – Bismillah Khan, Indian shehnai player (d. 2006)
    • 1916 – Ken Wharton, English race car driver (d. 1957)
    • 1917 – Frank Hardy, Australian journalist, author, and playwright (d. 1994)
    • 1918 – Patrick Lucey, American captain and politician, 38th Governor of Wisconsin (d. 2014)
    • 1918 – Charles Thompson, American pianist and composer (d. 2016)
    • 1919 – Douglas Warren, Australian bishop (d. 2013)
    • 1920 – Manolis Chiotis, Greek singer-songwriter and bouzouki player (d. 1970)
    • 1920 – Éric Rohmer, French director, film critic, journalist, novelist and screenwriter (d. 2010)
    • 1921 – Arthur Grumiaux, Belgian violinist and pianist (d. 1986)
    • 1921 – Antony Hopkins, English pianist, composer, and conductor (d. 2014)
    • 1922 – Russ Meyer, American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2004)
    • 1923 – Louis-Edmond Hamelin, Canadian geographer, author, and academic (d. 2020)
    • 1923 – Nizar Qabbani, Syrian poet, publisher, and diplomat (d. 1998)
    • 1923 – Nirmala Srivastava, Indian religious leader, founded Sahaja Yoga (d. 2011)
    • 1923 – Rezső Nyers, Hungarian politician (d. 2018)
    • 1924 – Philip Abbott, American actor (d. 1998)
    • 1924 – Dov Shilansky, Lithuanian-Israeli lawyer and politician (d. 2010)
    • 1925 – Harold Ashby, American saxophonist (d. 2003)
    • 1925 – Peter Brook, English-French director and producer
    • 1925 – Hugo Koblet, Swiss cyclist (d. 1964)
    • 1926 – André Delvaux, Belgian director and screenwriter (d. 2002)
    • 1927 – Halton Arp, American-German astronomer and critic (d. 2013)
    • 1927 – Hans-Dietrich Genscher, German soldier and politician, Vice-Chancellor of Germany (d. 2016)
    • 1928 – Surya Bahadur Thapa, Nepalese politician, 24th Prime Minister of Nepal (d. 2015)
    • 1929 – Maurice Catarcio, American wrestler (d. 2005)
    • 1930 – James Coco, American actor (d. 1987)
    • 1930 – Otis Spann, American blues pianist, singer and composer (d. 1970)
    • 1931 – Toyonobori, Japanese sumo wrestler (d. 1998)
    • 1931 – Clark L. Brundin, American-English engineer and academic
    • 1931 – Catherine Gibson, Scottish swimmer (d. 2013)
    • 1931 – Al Williamson, American illustrator (d. 2010)
    • 1932 – Walter Gilbert, American physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize laureate
    • 1932 – Joseph Silverstein, American violinist and conductor (d. 2015)
    • 1933 – John Hall, English businessman
    • 1933 – Michael Heseltine, Welsh businessman and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
    • 1934 – Al Freeman, Jr., American actor and director (d. 2012)
    • 1935 – Brian Clough, English footballer and manager (d. 2004)
    • 1936 – Ed Broadbent, Canadian pilot and politician
    • 1936 – Mike Westbrook, English pianist and composer
    • 1937 – Ann Clwyd, Welsh journalist and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
    • 1937 – Tom Flores, American football player and coach
    • 1937 – Pierre-Jean Rémy, French diplomat and author (d. 2010)
    • 1938 – Michael Foreman, English author and illustrator
    • 1938 – Grahame Thomas, Australian cricketer
    • 1939 – Kathleen Widdoes, American actress
    • 1940 – Solomon Burke, American singer-songwriter (d. 2010)
    • 1940 – Andrea Elle, German bicyclist
    • 1942 – Françoise Dorléac, French actress (d. 1967)
    • 1942 – Kostas Politis, Greek basketball player and coach (d. 2018)
    • 1942 – Amina Claudine Myers, African-American singer-songwriter and pianist
    • 1942 – Patcha Ramachandra Rao, India metallurgist, educator and administrator (d. 2010)
    • 1943 – István Gyulai, Hungarian sprinter and sportscaster (d. 2006)
    • 1943 – Hartmut Haenchen, German conductor
    • 1943 – Vivian Stanshall, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter (d. 1995)
    • 1944 – Marie-Christine Barrault, French actress
    • 1944 – Janet Daley, American-English journalist and author
    • 1944 – Hideki Ishima, Japanese guitarist
    • 1944 – Mike Jackson, English general
    • 1944 – David Lindley, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer
    • 1944 – Gaye Adegbalola, African-American singer and guitarist
    • 1945 – Anthony Grabiner, Baron Grabiner, English lawyer
    • 1945 – Charles Greene, American sprinter and coach
    • 1945 – Rose Stone, African-American R&B singer and keyboard player
    • 1946 – Timothy Dalton, Welsh-English actor
    • 1946 – Ray Dorset, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1946 – Joseph Mitsuaki Takami, Japanese cardinal
    • 1947 – George Johnston. Scottish footballer, forward
    • 1948 – Scott Fahlman, American computer scientist and academic
    • 1949 – Alvin Kallicharran, Guyanese cricketer and coach
    • 1949 – Andy Love, Scottish-English politician
    • 1949 – Eddie Money, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2019)
    • 1949 – Slavoj Žižek, Slovenian sociologist, philosopher, and academic
    • 1950 – Roger Hodgson, English singer-songwriter and keyboard player
    • 1950 – Ron Oden, American minister and politician, 19th Mayor of Palm Springs
    • 1950 – Sergey Lavrov, Russian politician and diplomat, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
    • 1951 – Conrad Lozano, American bass player
    • 1951 – Russell Thompkins Jr., American soul singer
    • 1953 – Steve Furber, English computer scientist and academic
    • 1953 – Paul Martin Lester, American photographer, author, and educator
    • 1953 – David Wisniewski, English-American author and illustrator (d. 2002)
    • 1955 – Fadi Abboud, Lebanese economist and politician
    • 1955 – Jair Bolsonaro, Brazilian politician and retired military officer, 38th President of Brazil
    • 1955 – Bob Bennett, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1955 – Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Greek politician
    • 1955 – Bärbel Wöckel, East German sprinter
    • 1956 – Dick Beardsley, American runner
    • 1956 – Guy Chadwick, German-English singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1956 – Richard H. Kirk, English guitarist, keyboard player, composer, and producer
    • 1956 – Ingrid Kristiansen, Norwegian runner
    • 1958 – Marlies Göhr, German sprinter
    • 1958 – Brad Hall, American comedian, director, and screenwriter
    • 1958 – Gary Oldman, English actor, filmmaker, musician and author
    • 1959 – Sarah Jane Morris, English singer-songwriter
    • 1959 – Yuval Rotem, Israeli diplomat
    • 1959 – Nobuo Uematsu, Japanese keyboard player and composer
    • 1960 – Marwan Farhat, Syrian actor and voice actor
    • 1960 – Benito T. de Leon, Filipino general
    • 1960 – Raivo Puusepp, Estonian architect
    • 1960 – Ayrton Senna, Brazilian race car driver (d. 1994)
    • 1960 – Robert Sweet, American drummer and producer
    • 1961 – Lothar Matthäus, German footballer and manager
    • 1961 – Gary O’Reilly, English footballer, defender
    • 1961 – Kassie DePaiva, American actress
    • 1961 – Slim Jim Phantom, American rock drummer
    • 1961 – Kim Turner, American hurdler
    • 1962 – Matthew Broderick, American actor
    • 1962 – Kathy Greenwood, Canadian actress and screenwriter
    • 1962 – Rosie O’Donnell, American actress, producer, and talk show host
    • 1962 – Mark Waid, American author
    • 1963 – Shawon Dunston, American baseball player
    • 1963 – Ronald Koeman, Dutch footballer and manager
    • 1963 – Shawn Lane, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer (d. 2003)
    • 1963 – Share Pedersen, American bass player
    • 1964 – Ieuan Evans, Welsh rugby player
    • 1964 – Jesper Skibby, Danish cyclist
    • 1965 – Xavier Bertrand, French businessman and politician, French Minister of Social Affairs
    • 1965 – Thomas Frank, American author, historian and political analyst
    • 1966 – Benito Archundia, Mexican footballer, referee, lawyer, and economist
    • 1966 – Hauke Fuhlbrügge, German runner
    • 1966 – Matthew Maynard, English cricketer and coach
    • 1966 – Moa Matthis, Swedish author
    • 1967 – Carwyn Jones, Welsh lawyer and politician, First Minister of Wales
    • 1967 – Mirela Rupic, American costume and fashion designer
    • 1968 – Cameron Clyne, Australian businessman
    • 1968 – Andrew Copeland, American singer and guitarist
    • 1968 – Gary Walsh, English football coach and former footballer
    • 1968 – Greg Ellis, English actor, producer, and screenwriter
    • 1968 – Tolunay Kafkas, Turkish footballer and manager
    • 1968 – Scott Williams, American basketball player and sportscaster
    • 1969 – Jonah Goldberg, American journalist and author
    • 1970 – Shiho Niiyama, Japanese voice actress (d. 2000)
    • 1970 – Cenk Uygur, Turkish-American political activist
    • 1971 – Zsolt Kürtösi, Hungarian decathlete
    • 1972 – Chris Candido, American wrestler (d. 2005)
    • 1972 – Balázs Kiss, Hungarian hammer thrower
    • 1972 – Derartu Tulu, Ethiopian runner
    • 1972 – Graeme Welch, English cricketer
    • 1973 – Ananda Lewis, American television host
    • 1973 – Stuart Nethercott, English footballer, defender and manager
    • 1973 – Large Professor, American rapper and producer
    • 1974 – Rhys Darby, New Zealand comedian and actor
    • 1974 – Dejima Takeharu, Japanese sumo wrestler
    • 1974 – Edsel Dope, American singer-songwriter and producer
    • 1974 – Ted Kravitz, British presenter and Formula One pit-lane reporter
    • 1974 – Kevin Leahy, American drummer
    • 1974 – Conor Woodman, Irish journalist and author
    • 1975 – Yacoub Al-Mohana, Kuwaiti director and producer
    • 1975 – Corne Krige, South African rugby player
    • 1975 – Fabricio Oberto, Argentinian-Italian basketball player
    • 1975 – Vitaly Potapenko, Ukrainian basketball player and coach
    • 1975 – Mark Williams, Welsh snooker player
    • 1976 – Rachael MacFarlane, American voice actress and singer
    • 1976 – Bamboo Mañalac, Filipino singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1976 – Tekin Sazlog, German-Turkish footballer
    • 1977 – Bruno Cirillo, Italian footballer
    • 1977 – Jamie Delgado, English tennis player
    • 1978 – Sally Barsosio, Kenyan runner
    • 1978 – Joyce Jimenez, Filipino movie and TV actress
    • 1978 – Charmaine Dragun, Australian journalist (d. 2007)
    • 1978 – Cristian Guzmán, Dominican baseball player
    • 1978 – Mohammad Rezaei, Iranian wrestler
    • 1980 – Ronaldinho, Brazilian footballer
    • 1980 – Marit Bjørgen, Norwegian skier
    • 1980 – Lee Jin, South Korean singer and actress
    • 1980 – Deryck Whibley, Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
    • 1981 – Germano Borovicz Cardoso Schweger, Brazilian footballer
    • 1981 – Sébastien Chavanel, French cyclist
    • 1981 – Glenn Hall, Australian rugby league player
    • 1981 – Jason King, Australian rugby league player
    • 1981 – Todd Polglase, Australian rugby league player
    • 1982 – Maria Elena Camerin, Italian tennis player
    • 1982 – Ejegayehu Dibaba, Ethiopian runner
    • 1982 – Aaron Hill, American baseball player
    • 1982 – Colin Turkington, Northern Irish race car driver
    • 1983 – Lucila Pascua, Spanish basketball player
    • 1983 – Jean Ondoa, Cameroonian footballer
    • 1984 – Tiago dos Santos Roberto, Brazilian footballer
    • 1984 – Guillermo Daniel Rodríguez, Uruguayan footballer
    • 1985 – Ryan Callahan, American ice hockey player
    • 1985 – Adrian Peterson, American football player
    • 1986 – Scott Eastwood, American actor
    • 1986 – Michu, Spanish footballer
    • 1986 – Romanos Alyfantis, Greek swimmer
    • 1986 – Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou, Greek pole vaulter
    • 1987 – Carlos Carrasco, Venezuelan baseball pitcher
    • 1988 – Kateřina Čechová, Czech sprinter
    • 1988 – Erik Johnson, American ice hockey player
    • 1988 – Eric Krüger, German sprinter
    • 1988 – Michael Madl, Austrian footballer, defender
    • 1989 – Jordi Alba, Spanish footballer
    • 1989 – Nicolás Lodeiro, Uruguayan footballer
    • 1990 – Mandy Capristo, German singer-songwriter and dancer
    • 1990 – Ryann Krais, American runner and heptathlete
    • 1990 – Alex Nimo, Liberian-American soccer player
    • 1991 – Luke Chapman, English footballer
    • 1991 – Antoine Griezmann, French footballer
    • 1992 – Lehlogonolo Masalesa, South African footballer
    • 1992 – Karolína Plíšková, Czech tennis player
    • 1993 – Jake Bidwell, English footballer
    • 1993 – Jesse Joronen, Finnish footballer
    • 1994 – Margaret Lu, American fencer
    • 1997 – Martina Stoessel, Argentine actress
    • 2000 – Jace Norman, American actor

    Deaths on March 21

    • 543 or 547 – Benedict of Nursia, Italian saint (b. 480)
    • 867 – Ælla, king of Northumbria
    • 867 – Osberht, king of Northumbria
    • 1034 – Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia (b. 955)
    • 1063 – Richeza of Lotharingia (b. 995)
    • 1076 – Robert I, Duke of Burgundy (b. 1011)
    • 1201 – Absalon, Danish archbishop (b. c. 1128)
    • 1306 – Robert II, Duke of Burgundy (b. 1248)
    • 1372 – Rudolf VI, Margrave of Baden
    • 1487 – Nicholas of Flüe, Swiss monk and saint (b. 1417)
    • 1540 – John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford, English peer and courtier (b. c. 1482)
    • 1556 – Thomas Cranmer, English archbishop (b. 1489)
    • 1571 – Odet de Coligny, French cardinal and Protestant (b. 1517)
    • 1617 – Pocahontas, Algonquian Indigenous princess (b. c. 1595)
    • 1653 – Tarhoncu Ahmed Pasha, Albanian politician, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
    • 1656 – James Ussher, Irish archbishop (b. 1581)
    • 1676 – Henri Sauval, French historian and author (b. 1623)
    • 1729 – John Law, Scottish-French economist and politician, Controller-General of Finances (b. 1671)
    • 1729 – Elżbieta Sieniawska, politically influential Polish magnate (b. 1669)
    • 1734 – Robert Wodrow, Scottish historian and author (b. 1679)
    • 1751 – Johann Heinrich Zedler, German publisher (b. 1706)
    • 1752 – Gio Nicola Buhagiar, Maltese painter (b. 1698)
    • 1762 – Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, French priest, astronomer, and academic (b. 1713)
    • 1772 – Jacques-Nicolas Bellin, French geographer and cartographer (b. 1703)
    • 1795 – Giovanni Arduino, Italian miner and geologist (b. 1714)
    • 1801 – Andrea Luchesi, Italian composer and educator (b. 1741)
    • 1804 – Louis Antoine, Duke of Enghien (b. 1772)
    • 1843 – Robert Southey, English poet, historian, and translator (b. 1774)
    • 1843 – Guadalupe Victoria, Mexican general and politician, 1st President of Mexico (b. 1786)
    • 1854 – Pedro María de Anaya, Mexican soldier. President (1847-1848) (b. 1795)
    • 1863 – Edwin Vose Sumner, American general (b. 1797)
    • 1869 – Juan Almonte, son of José María Morelos, was a Mexican soldier and diplomat who served as a regent in the Second Mexican Empire (1863-1864) (b. 1803)
    • 1884 – Ezra Abbot, American scholar and academic (b. 1819)
    • 1891 – Joseph E. Johnston, American general (b. 1807)
    • 1915 – Frederick Winslow Taylor, American golfer, tennis player, and engineer (b. 1856)
    • 1920 – Evelina Haverfield, British suffragette and aid worker (b. 1867)
    • 1932 – Frantz Reichel, French rugby player and hurdler (b. 1871)
    • 1934 – Franz Schreker, Austrian composer and conductor (b. 1878)
    • 1934 – Lilyan Tashman, American actress (b. 1896)
    • 1936 – Alexander Glazunov, Russian composer and conductor (b. 1865)
    • 1939 – Evald Aav, Estonian composer and conductor (b. 1900)
    • 1939 – Ali Hikmet Ayerdem, Turkish general and politician (b. 1877)
    • 1943 – Cornelia Fort, American soldier and pilot (b. 1919)
    • 1945 – Arthur Nebe, German SS officer (b. 1894)
    • 1951 – Willem Mengelberg, Dutch conductor and composer (b. 1871)
    • 1953 – Ed Voss, American basketball player (b. 1922)
    • 1956 – Hatı Çırpan, Turkish politician (b. 1890)
    • 1958 – Cyril M. Kornbluth, American soldier and author (b. 1923)
    • 1970 – Manolis Chiotis, Greek singer-songwriter and bouzouki player (b. 1920)
    • 1975 – Joe Medwick, American baseball player and coach (b. 1911)
    • 1978 – Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, President of Ireland (b. 1911)
    • 1980 – Peter Stoner, American mathematician and astronomer (b. 1888)
    • 1985 – Michael Redgrave, English actor, director, and manager (b. 1908)
    • 1987 – Walter L. Gordon, Canadian accountant, lawyer, and politician, 22nd Canadian Minister of Finance (b. 1906)
    • 1987 – Robert Preston, American captain, actor, and singer (b. 1918)
    • 1991 – Vedat Dalokay, Turkish architect and politician, Mayor of Ankara (b. 1927)
    • 1991 – Leo Fender, American businessman, founded Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (b. 1909)
    • 1992 – John Ireland, Canadian-American actor and director (b. 1914)
    • 1992 – Natalie Sleeth, American pianist and composer (b. 1930)
    • 1994 – Macdonald Carey, American actor (b. 1913)
    • 1994 – Lili Damita, French-American actress and singer (b. 1904)
    • 1994 – Aleksandrs Laime, Latvian-born explorer (b. 1911)
    • 1997 – Wilbert Awdry, English cleric and author, created Thomas the Tank Engine (b. 1911)
    • 1998 – Galina Ulanova, Russian ballerina (b. 1910)
    • 1999 – Jean Guitton, French philosopher and author (b. 1905)
    • 1999 – Ernie Wise, English comedian and actor (b. 1925)
    • 2001 – Chung Ju-yung, South Korean businessman, founded Hyundai (b. 1915)
    • 2001 – Anthony Steel, English actor and singer (b. 1920)
    • 2002 – Herman Talmadge, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician, 70th Governor of Georgia (b. 1913)
    • 2003 – Shivani, Indian author (b. 1923)
    • 2003 – Umar Wirahadikusumah, Indonesian general and politician, 4th Vice President of Indonesia (b. 1924)
    • 2004 – Ludmilla Tchérina, French actress, dancer, and choreographer (b. 1924)
    • 2005 – Barney Martin, American police officer and actor (b. 1923)
    • 2005 – Bobby Short, American singer and pianist (b. 1924)
    • 2007 – Drew Hayes, American author and illustrator (b. 1969)
    • 2007 – Sven O. Høiby, Norwegian hurdler and journalist (b. 1936)
    • 2008 – Denis Cosgrove, English-American geographer and academic (b. 1948)
    • 2008 – Guillermo Jullian de la Fuente, Chilean architect and academic (b. 1931)
    • 2009 – Walt Poddubny, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (b. 1960)
    • 2010 – Wolfgang Wagner, German director and manager (b. 1919)
    • 2011 – Loleatta Holloway, American singer-songwriter (b. 1946)
    • 2011 – Gerd Klier, German footballer (b. 1944)
    • 2011 – Ladislav Novák, Czech footballer and manager (b. 1931)
    • 2011 – Pinetop Perkins, American singer and pianist (b. 1913)
    • 2012 – Albrecht Dietz, German economist and businessman (b. 1926)
    • 2012 – Ron Erhardt, American football player and coach (b. 1931)
    • 2012 – Robert Fuest, English director, screenwriter, and production designer (b. 1927)
    • 2012 – Tonino Guerra, Italian poet and screenwriter (b. 1920)
    • 2012 – Irving Louis Horowitz, American sociologist, author, and academic (b. 1929)
    • 2012 – Yuri Razuvaev, Russian chess player and trainer (b. 1945)
    • 2012 – Marina Salye, Russian geologist and politician (b. 1934)
    • 2013 – Chinua Achebe, Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic (b. 1930)
    • 2013 – Rick Hautala, American author and screenwriter (b. 1949)
    • 2013 – Harlon Hill, American football player and coach (b. 1932)
    • 2013 – Pietro Mennea, Italian sprinter and politician (b. 1952)
    • 2013 – Giancarlo Zagni, Italian director and screenwriter (b. 1926)
    • 2014 – Qoriniasi Bale, Fijian lawyer and politician, 25th Attorney-General of Fiji (b. 1929)
    • 2014 – Bill Boedeker, American football player and soldier (b. 1924)
    • 2014 – Jack Fleck, American golfer (b. 1921)
    • 2014 – Simeon Oduoye, Nigerian police officer and politician (b. 1945)
    • 2014 – James Rebhorn, American actor (b. 1948)
    • 2014 – Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Iraqi patriarch (b. 1933)
    • 2015 – Ishaya Bakut, Nigerian general and politician, Governor of Benue State (b. 1947)
    • 2015 – Chuck Bednarik, American lieutenant and football player (b. 1925)
    • 2015 – James C. Binnicker, American sergeant (b. 1938)
    • 2015 – Hans Erni, Swiss painter, sculptor, and illustrator (b. 1909)
    • 2015 – Jørgen Ingmann, Danish singer and guitarist (Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann) (b. 1925)
    • 2015 – Alberta Watson, Canadian actress (b. 1955)
    • 2017 – Chuck Barris, American game show host and producer (b. 1929)
    • 2017 – Colin Dexter, English author (b. 1930)
    • 2017 – Martin McGuinness, Irish republican and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (2007–2017) (b. 1950)
    • 2017 – Mike Hall, British cyclist (b. 1981)
    • 2019 – Victor Hochhauser CBE, British music promoter (b. 1923)[21]
    • 2019 – Gonzalo Portocarrero, Peruvian sociologist (b. 1949)

    Holidays and observances on March 21

    • Arbor Day (Portugal)
    • Birth of Benito Juárez, a Fiestas Patrias (Mexico)
    • Christian feast day:
      • Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello
      • Passing of Saint Benedict (Order of Saint Benedict)
      • Birillus
      • Enda of Aran
      • Nicholas of Flüe
      • Serapion of Thmuis
      • Thomas Cranmer (Anglicanism)
      • March 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
    • Earliest day on which Holy Saturday can fall, while April 24 is the latest; celebrated on the Saturday before Easter (Christianity)
    • Education Freedom Day
    • Harmony Day (Australia)
    • Human Rights Day (South Africa)
    • Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Namibia from South African mandate in 1990
    • International Colour Day (International)
    • International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (International)
    • International Day of Forests (International), by proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly
    • Mother’s Day (most of the Arab world)
    • National Tree Planting Day (Lesotho)
    • Newroz (Iran, Kurdistan, Mesopotamia)
    • Truant’s Day (Poland, Faroe Islands)
    • Vernal equinox related observances (see March 20)
    • World Down Syndrome Day (International)
    • World Poetry Day (International)
    • World Puppetry Day (International)
    • Youth Day (Tunisia)
  • |

    February 27 – History, Events, Births, Deaths, Holidays and Observances On This Day

    • 380 – Edict of Thessalonica: Emperor Theodosius I and his co-emperors Gratian and Valentinian II declare their wish that all Roman citizens convert to Nicene Christianity.
    • 425 – The University of Constantinople is founded by Emperor Theodosius II at the urging of his wife Aelia Eudocia.
    • 907 – Abaoji, a Khitan chieftain, is enthroned as Emperor Taizu, establishing the Liao dynasty in northern China.
    • 1560 – The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Lords of the Congregation of Scotland.
    • 1594 – Henry IV is crowned King of France.
    • 1617 – Sweden and Russia sign the Treaty of Stolbovo, ending the Ingrian War and shutting Russia out of the Baltic Sea.
    • 1626 – Yuan Chonghuan is appointed Governor of Liaodong, after leading the Chinese into a great victory against the Manchurians under Nurhaci.
    • 1700 – The island of New Britain is discovered by Europeans.
    • 1776 – American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge in North Carolina breaks up a Loyalist militia.
    • 1782 – American Revolutionary War: The House of Commons of Great Britain votes against further war in America.
    • 1801 – Pursuant to the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801, Washington, D.C. is placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress.
    • 1809 – Action of 27 February 1809: Captain Bernard Dubourdieu captures HMS Proserpine.
    • 1812 – Argentine War of Independence: Manuel Belgrano raises the Flag of Argentina in the city of Rosario for the first time.
    • 1812 – Poet Lord Byron gives his first address as a member of the House of Lords, in defense of Luddite violence against Industrialism in his home county of Nottinghamshire.
    • 1844 – The Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti.
    • 1860 – Abraham Lincoln makes a speech at Cooper Union in the city of New York that is largely responsible for his election to the Presidency.
    • 1864 – American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia.
    • 1870 – The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships.
    • 1881 – First Boer War: The Battle of Majuba Hill takes place.
    • 1898 – King George I of Greece survives an assassination attempt.
    • 1900 – Second Boer War: In South Africa, British military leaders receive an unconditional notice of surrender from Boer General Piet Cronjé at the Battle of Paardeberg.
    • 1900 – The British Labour Party is founded.
    • 1900 – Fußball-Club Bayern München is founded.
    • 1902 – Second Boer War: Australian soldiers Harry “Breaker” Morant and Peter Handcock are executed in Pretoria after being convicted of war crimes.
    • 1916 – Ocean liner SS Maloja strikes a mine near Dover and sinks with the loss of 155 lives.
    • 1921 – The International Working Union of Socialist Parties is founded in Vienna.
    • 1922 – A challenge to the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, allowing women the right to vote, is rebuffed by the Supreme Court of the United States in Leser v. Garnett.
    • 1933 – Reichstag fire: Germany’s parliament building in Berlin, the Reichstag, is set on fire; Marinus van der Lubbe, a young Dutch Communist claims responsibility.
    • 1939 – United States labor law: The U.S. Supreme Court rules in NLRB v. Fansteel Metallurgical Corp. that the National Labor Relations Board has no authority to force an employer to rehire workers who engage in sit-down strikes.
    • 1940 – Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14.
    • 1942 – World War II: During the Battle of the Java Sea, an Allied strike force is defeated by a Japanese task force in the Java Sea in the Dutch East Indies.
    • 1943 – The Smith Mine #3 in Bearcreek, Montana, explodes, killing 74 men.
    • 1943 – In Berlin, the Gestapo arrest 1,800 Jewish men with German wives, leading to the Rosenstrasse protest.
    • 1951 – The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, is ratified.
    • 1961 – The first congress of the Spanish Trade Union Organisation is inaugurated.
    • 1962 – Two dissident Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilots bomb the Independence Palace in Saigon in a failed attempt to assassinate South Vietnam President Ngô Đình Diệm.
    • 1963 – The Dominican Republic receives its first democratically elected president, Juan Bosch, since the end of the dictatorship led by Rafael Trujillo.
    • 1964 – The Government of Italy asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over.
    • 1971 – Doctors in the first Dutch abortion clinic (the Mildredhuis in Arnhem) start performing artificially-induced abortions.
    • 1973 – The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee in protest of the federal government.
    • 1976 – The formerly Spanish territory of Western Sahara, under the auspices of the Polisario Front declares independence as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
    • 1988 – Sumgait pogrom: The Armenian community in Sumgait, Azerbaijan is targeted in a violent pogrom.
    • 1991 – Gulf War: U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that “Kuwait is liberated”.
    • 2002 – Ryanair Flight 296 catches fire at London Stansted Airport. Subsequent investigations criticize Ryanair’s handling of the evacuation.
    • 2002 – Godhra train burning: A Muslim mob torches a train returning from Ayodhya, killing 59 Hindu pilgrims.
    • 2004 – A bombing of a Superferry by Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines’ worst terrorist attack kills 116.
    • 2004 – Shoko Asahara, the leader of the Japanese doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, is sentenced to death for masterminding the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack.
    • 2007 – The Chinese Correction: The Shanghai Stock Exchange falls 9%, the largest drop in ten years.
    • 2010 – An earthquake measuring 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale strikes central parts of Chile leaving over 500 victims, and thousands injured. The quake triggers a tsunami which strikes Hawaii shortly after.
    • 2013 – A shooting takes place at a factory in Menznau, Switzerland, in which five people (including the perpetrator) are killed and five others injured.
    • 2015 – Russian politician Boris Nemtsov is assassinated.

    Births on February 27

    • 272 – Constantine the Great, Roman emperor (d. 337)
    • 1343 – Alberto d’Este, Marquis of Ferrara (d. 1393)
    • 1427 – Ruprecht, Archbishop of Cologne (d. 1480)
    • 1500 – João de Castro, Portuguese nobleman and fourth viceroy of Portuguese India (d. 1548)
    • 1535 – Min Phalaung, Burmese monarch (d. 1593)
    • 1567 – William Alabaster, English poet (d. 1640)
    • 1572 – Francis II, Duke of Lorraine (d. 1632)
    • 1575 – John Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (d. 1616)
    • 1622 – Carel Fabritius, Dutch painter (d. 1654)
    • 1630 – Roche Braziliano, Dutch pirate (d. 1671)
    • 1659 – William Sherard, English botanist (d. 1728)
    • 1667 – Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł, Prussian-Lithuanian wife of Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine (d. 1695)
    • 1689 – Pietro Gnocchi, Italian composer, director, historian, and geographer (d. 1775)
    • 1703 – Lord Sidney Beauclerk, English politician (d. 1744)
    • 1711 – Constantine Mavrocordatos, Ottoman ruler (d. 1769)
    • 1724 – Frederick Michael, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (d. 1767)
    • 1732 – Jean de Dieu-Raymond de Cucé de Boisgelin, French cardinal (d. 1804)
    • 1746 – Louis-Jérôme Gohier, French politician, French Minister of Justice (d. 1830)
    • 1748 – Anders Sparrman, Swedish physician and activist (d. 1820)
    • 1767 – Jacques-Charles Dupont de l’Eure, French lawyer and politician, 24th Prime Minister of France (d. 1855)
    • 1779 – Thomas Hazlehurst, English businessman, founded Hazlehurst & Sons (d. 1842)
    • 1789 – Manuel Rodríguez Erdoíza, Chilean lawyer and politician, Chilean Minister of National Defense (d. 1818)
    • 1795 – José Antonio Navarro, American merchant and politician (d. 1871)
    • 1799 – Edward Belcher, British naval officer, hydrographer, and explorer (d. 1877)
    • 1799 – Frederick Catherwood, British artist, architect and explorer (d. 1854)
    • 1807 – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet and educator (d. 1882)
    • 1809 – Jean-Charles Cornay, French missionary and saint (d. 1837)
    • 1816 – William Nicholson, English-Australian politician, 3rd Premier of Victoria (d. 1865)
    • 1847 – Ellen Terry, English actress (d. 1928)
    • 1848 – Hubert Parry, English composer and historian (d. 1918)
    • 1859 – Bertha Pappenheim, Austrian-German activist and author (d. 1936)
    • 1863 – Joaquín Sorolla, Spanish painter (d. 1923)
    • 1863 – George Herbert Mead, American sociologist and philosopher (d. 1930)
    • 1864 – Eemil Nestor Setälä, Finnish linguist and politician, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs (d. 1935)
    • 1867 – Irving Fisher, American economist and statistician (d. 1947)
    • 1867 – Wilhelm Peterson-Berger, Swedish composer and critic (d. 1942)
    • 1869 – Alice Hamilton, American physician and academic (d. 1970)
    • 1872 – Alexandru Vaida-Voevod, Romanian politician, Prime Minister of Romania (d. 1950)
    • 1875 – Vladimir Filatov, Russian-Ukrainian ophthalmologist and surgeon (d. 1956)
    • 1877 – Adela Verne, English pianist and composer (d. 1952)
    • 1877 – Joseph Grinnell, American zoologist and biologist (d. 1939)
    • 1878 – Alvan T. Fuller, American businessman and politician, 50th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1958)
    • 1880 – Xenophon Kasdaglis, Greek-Egyptian tennis player (d. 1943)
    • 1881 – Sveinn Björnsson, Danish-Icelandic lawyer and politician, 1st President of Iceland (d. 1952)
    • 1881 – L. E. J. Brouwer, Dutch mathematician, philosopher, and academic (d. 1966)
    • 1886 – Hugo Black, American captain, jurist, and politician (d. 1971)
    • 1887 – Pyotr Nesterov, Russian captain, pilot, and engineer (d. 1914)
    • 1888 – Roberto Assagioli, Italian psychiatrist and psychologist (d. 1974)
    • 1888 – Lotte Lehmann, German-American soprano and actress (d. 1976)
    • 1890 – Mabel Keaton Staupers, American nurse and advocate (d. 1989)
    • 1891 – David Sarnoff, American businessman, founded RCA (d. 1971)
    • 1892 – William Demarest, American actor (d. 1983)
    • 1895 – Miyagiyama Fukumatsu, Japanese sumo wrestler (d. 1943)
    • 1897 – Marian Anderson, American singer (d. 1993)
    • 1899 – Charles Herbert Best, American-Canadian physiologist and biochemist, co-discovered Insulin (d. 1978)
    • 1901 – Marino Marini, Italian sculptor and academic (d. 1980)
    • 1901 – Kotama Okada, Japanese religious leader (d. 1974)
    • 1902 – Lúcio Costa, French-Brazilian architect and engineer, designed Gustavo Capanema Palace (d. 1998)
    • 1902 – Gene Sarazen, American golfer and sportscaster (d. 1999)
    • 1902 – John Steinbeck, American journalist and author, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1968)
    • 1903 – Reginald Gardiner, English-American actor and singer (d. 1980)
    • 1903 – Hans Rohrbach, German mathematician (d. 1993)
    • 1903 – Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Belorussian-American rabbi and philosopher (d. 1993)
    • 1904 – James T. Farrell, American author and poet (d. 1979)
    • 1904 – André Leducq, French cyclist (d. 1980)
    • 1904 – Yulii Borisovich Khariton, Russian physicist and academic (d. 1996)
    • 1905 – Franchot Tone, American actor, singer, and producer (d. 1968)
    • 1907 – Mildred Bailey, American singer (d. 1951)
    • 1907 – Momčilo Đujić, Serbian-American priest and commander (d. 1999)
    • 1910 – Joan Bennett, American actress (d. 1990)
    • 1910 – Peter De Vries, American journalist and author (d. 1993)
    • 1910 – Genrikh Kasparyan, Armenian chess player and composer (d. 1995)
    • 1910 – Kelly Johnson, American engineer, co-founded Skunk Works (d. 1990)
    • 1911 – Oscar Heidenstam, English bodybuilder (d. 1991)
    • 1912 – Kusumagraj, Indian author, poet, and playwright (d. 1999)
    • 1912 – Lawrence Durrell, Indian-French author, poet, and playwright (d. 1990)
    • 1913 – Paul Ricœur, French philosopher and academic (d. 2005)
    • 1913 – Kazimierz Sabbat, Polish soldier and politician, President of Poland (d. 1989)
    • 1913 – Irwin Shaw, American author and screenwriter (d. 1984)
    • 1915 – Denis Whitaker, Canadian general, football player, and businessman (d. 2001)
    • 1917 – John Connally, American lieutenant and politician, 61st United States Secretary of Treasury (d. 1993)
    • 1920 – Reg Simpson, English cricketer (d. 2013)
    • 1921 – Theodore Van Kirk, American soldier, pilot, and navigator (d. 2014)
    • 1922 – Hans Rookmaaker, Dutch historian, author, and scholar (d. 1977)
    • 1923 – Dexter Gordon, American saxophonist, composer, and actor (d. 1990)
    • 1925 – Pia Sebastiani, Argentine pianist and composer (d. 2015)
    • 1925 – Kenneth Koch, American poet, playwright and professor (d. 2002)
    • 1926 – David H. Hubel, Canadian-American neurophysiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2013)
    • 1927 – Peter Whittle, English-New Zealand mathematician and theorist
    • 1928 – René Clemencic, Austrian composer, recorder player, harpsichordist, conductor and clavichord player
    • 1929 – Jack Gibson, Australian rugby league player, coach, and sportscaster (d. 2008)
    • 1929 – Djalma Santos, Brazilian footballer (d. 2013)
    • 1929 – Patricia Ward Hales, British tennis player (d. 1985)
    • 1930 – Jovan Krkobabić, Serbian politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia (d. 2014)
    • 1930 – Peter Stone, American screenwriter and producer (d. 2003)
    • 1930 – Paul von Ragué Schleyer, American chemist and academic (d. 2014)
    • 1930 – Joanne Woodward, American actress
    • 1932 – Dame Elizabeth Taylor, English-American actress and humanitarian (d. 2011)
    • 1932 – David Young, Baron Young of Graffham, English businessman and politician, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
    • 1933 – Raymond Berry, American football player and coach
    • 1933 – Malcolm Wallop, American politician (d. 2011)
    • 1934 – Vincent Fourcade, French interior designer (d. 1992)
    • 1934 – Ralph Nader, American lawyer, politician, and activist
    • 1935 – Mirella Freni, Italian soprano and actress (d. 2020)
    • 1935 – Uri Shulevitz, American author and illustrator
    • 1936 – Sonia Johnson, American feminist activist and author
    • 1936 – Ron Barassi, Australian footballer and coach
    • 1936 – Roger Mahony, American cardinal
    • 1937 – Barbara Babcock, American actress
    • 1938 – Jake Thackray, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and journalist (d. 2002)
    • 1939 – Don McKinnon, English-New Zealand farmer and politician, 12th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
    • 1939 – Peter Revson, American race car driver (d. 1974)
    • 1940 – Pierre Duchesne, Canadian lawyer and politician, 28th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
    • 1940 – Howard Hesseman, American actor
    • 1940 – Bill Hunter, Australian actor (d. 2011)
    • 1941 – Paddy Ashdown, British captain and politician (d. 2018)
    • 1942 – Jimmy Burns, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1942 – Robert H. Grubbs, American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
    • 1942 – Charlayne Hunter-Gault, American journalist
    • 1942 – Klaus-Dieter Sieloff, German footballer (d. 2011)
    • 1943 – Mary Frann, American actress (d. 1998)
    • 1943 – Morten Lauridsen, American composer and conductor
    • 1943 – Carlos Alberto Parreira, Brazilian footballer and manager
    • 1944 – Ken Grimwood, American author (d. 2003)
    • 1944 – Graeme Pollock, South African cricketer and coach
    • 1944 – Sir Roger Scruton, English philosopher and writer (d. 2020)
    • 1947 – Alan Guth, American physicist and cosmologist
    • 1947 – Gidon Kremer, Latvian violinist and conductor
    • 1950 – Annabel Goldie, Scottish lawyer and politician
    • 1950 – Julia Neuberger, Baroness Neuberger, English rabbi and politician
    • 1951 – Carl A. Anderson, 13th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus
    • 1951 – Lee Atwater, American journalist, activist and political strategist (d. 1991)
    • 1951 – Walter de Silva, Italian car designer
    • 1951 – Steve Harley, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
    • 1953 – Gavin Esler, Scottish journalist and author
    • 1953 – Ian Khama, English-Botswanan lieutenant and politician, 4th President of Botswana
    • 1953 – Stelios Kouloglou, Greek journalist, author, director and politician
    • 1954 – Neal Schon, American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter
    • 1956 – Belus Prajoux, Chilean tennis player
    • 1957 – Danny Antonucci, Canadian animator, producer, and screenwriter
    • 1957 – Kevin Curran, American screenwriter and television producer (d. 2016)
    • 1957 – Robert de Castella, Australian runner
    • 1957 – Adrian Smith, English guitarist and songwriter
    • 1957 – Timothy Spall, English actor
    • 1958 – Naas Botha, South African rugby player and sportscaster
    • 1958 – Maggie Hassan, American politician, 81st Governor and United States Senator of New Hampshire
    • 1960 – Andrés Gómez, Ecuadorian tennis player
    • 1960 – Johnny Van Zant, American singer-songwriter
    • 1961 – James Worthy, American basketball player and sportscaster
    • 1962 – Adam Baldwin, American actor
    • 1963 – Nasty Suicide, Finnish musician and pharmacist
    • 1964 – Jeffrey Pasley, American educator and academic
    • 1965 – Noah Emmerich, American actor
    • 1965 – Pedro Chaves, Portuguese race car driver
    • 1966 – Donal Logue, Canadian actor and director
    • 1966 – Oliver Reck, German footballer and manager
    • 1966 – Baltasar Kormákur, Icelandic actor, director, and producer
    • 1967 – Dănuț Lupu, Romanian footballer
    • 1967 – Jony Ive, English industrial designer, former chief design officer (CDO) of Apple
    • 1968 – Matt Stairs, Canadian baseball player and sportscaster
    • 1969 – Gareth Llewellyn, Welsh rugby union player
    • 1969 – Juan E. Gilbert, American computer scientist, inventor, and academic
    • 1970 – Kent Desormeaux, American jockey
    • 1970 – Patricia Petibon, French soprano and actress
    • 1971 – Sara Blakely, American businesswoman, founded Spanx
    • 1971 – Derren Brown, English magician and painter
    • 1971 – David Rikl, Czech-English tennis player
    • 1971 – Roman Giertych, Polish lawyer and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland
    • 1971 – Rozonda Thomas, American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress (TLC)
    • 1973 – Peter Andre, English-Australian singer-songwriter and actor
    • 1973 – Mark Taylor, Welsh rugby player and manager
    • 1974 – Carte Goodwin, American lawyer and politician
    • 1975 – Aitor González, Spanish racing driver
    • 1975 – Prodromos Korkizoglou, Greek decathlete
    • 1976 – Sergei Semak, Ukrainian-Russian footballer and manager
    • 1976 – Ludovic Capelle, Belgian cyclist
    • 1978 – James Beattie, English footballer and manager
    • 1978 – Kakha Kaladze, Georgian footballer and politician
    • 1978 – Emelie Öhrstig, Swedish skier and cyclist
    • 1978 – Simone Di Pasquale, Italian ballet dancer
    • 1980 – Chelsea Clinton, American journalist and academic
    • 1980 – Scott Prince, Australian rugby league player
    • 1981 – Josh Groban, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor
    • 1981 – Natalie Grandin, English-South African tennis player
    • 1981 – Élodie Ouédraogo, Belgian sprinter
    • 1982 – Ali Bastian, English actress
    • 1982 – Pat Richards, Australian rugby league player
    • 1982 – Bruno Soares, Brazilian tennis player
    • 1983 – Devin Harris, American basketball player
    • 1983 – Kate Mara, American actress
    • 1984 – Aníbal Sánchez, American baseball player
    • 1984 – Lotta Schelin, Swedish footballer
    • 1984 – Akseli Kokkonen, Norwegian ski jumper
    • 1985 – Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Russian footballer
    • 1985 – Braydon Coburn, Canadian ice hockey player
    • 1985 – Vladislav Kulik, Ukrainian-Russian footballer
    • 1985 – Asami Abe, Japanese singer and actress
    • 1985 – Thiago Neves, Brazilian footballer
    • 1985 – Brett Stewart, Australian rugby league player
    • 1986 – Yovani Gallardo, American baseball player
    • 1986 – Jonathan Moreira, Brazilian footballer
    • 1986 – Sandeep Singh, Indian field hockey player
    • 1987 – Scott Davies, English footballer
    • 1987 – Bridie Kean, Australian wheelchair basketball player
    • 1987 – Florence Kiplagat, Kenyan runner
    • 1987 – Sandy Paillot, French footballer
    • 1987 – Valeriy Andriytsev, Ukrainian wrestler
    • 1987 – Maximiliano Moralez, Argentinian footballer
    • 1988 – Iain Ramsay, Australian footballer
    • 1988 – Dustin Jeffrey, Canadian ice hockey player
    • 1989 – David Button, English footballer, goalkeeper
    • 1989 – Lloyd Rigby, English footballer
    • 1990 – Elijah Taylor, New Zealand rugby league player
    • 1991 – Azeem Rafiq, Pakistani cricketer
    • 1992 – Ty Dillon, American race car driver
    • 1992 – Meyers Leonard, American basketball player
    • 1992 – Filip Krajinović, Serbian tennis player
    • 1992 – Ioannis Potouridis, Greek footballer
    • 1992 – Jonjo Shelvey, English footballer
    • 1995 – Laura Gulbe, Latvian tennis player
    • 1998 – Todd Cantwell, English footballer

    Deaths on February 27

    • 640 – Pepin of Landen, Frankish lord (b. 580)
    • 906 – Conrad the Elder, Frankish nobleman
    • 956 – Theophylact, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (b. 917)
    • 1167 – Robert of Melun, English theologian and bishop
    • 1416 – Eleanor of Castile, queen consort of Navarre (b. c. 1363)
    • 1425 – Prince Vasily I of Moscow (b. 1371)
    • 1483 – William VIII of Montferrat (b. 1420)
    • 1558 – Johann Faber of Heilbronn, controversial Catholic preacher (b. 1504)
    • 1558 – Kunigunde of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, German Noblewoman (b. 1524)
    • 1659 – Henry Dunster, English-American clergyman and academic (b. 1609)
    • 1699 – Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton, English politician, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire (b. 1625)
    • 1706 – John Evelyn, English gardener and author (b. 1620)
    • 1712 – Sir William Villiers, 3rd Baronet, English politician (b. 1645)
    • 1720 – Samuel Parris, English-American minister (b. 1653)
    • 1735 – John Arbuthnot, Scottish physician and polymath (b. 1667)
    • 1784 – Count of St. Germain, European adventurer (b. 1710)
    • 1795 – Tanikaze Kajinosuke, Japanese sumo wrestler (b. 1750)
    • 1844 – Nicholas Biddle, American banker and politician (b. 1786)
    • 1887 – Alexander Borodin, Russian composer and chemist (b. 1833)
    • 1892 – Louis Vuitton, French fashion designer and businessman, founded Louis Vuitton (b. 1821)
    • 1902 – Harry “Breaker” Morant, English-Australian lieutenant (b. 1864)
    • 1921 – Schofield Haigh, English cricketer and umpire (b. 1871)
    • 1931 – Chandra Shekhar Azad, Indian revolutionary (b. 1906)
    • 1936 – Joshua W. Alexander, American judge and politician, 2nd United States Secretary of Commerce (b. 1852)
    • 1936 – Ivan Pavlov, Russian physiologist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1849)
    • 1937 – Hosteen Klah, Navajo artist, medicine man, and weaver (b. 1867)
    • 1937 – Emily Malbone Morgan, American saint, foundress of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross (b. 1862)
    • 1943 – Kostis Palamas, Greek poet and playwright (b. 1859)
    • 1956 – Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, Indian lawyer and politician, 1st Speaker of the Lok Sabha (b. 1888)
    • 1964 – Orry-Kelly, Australian-American costume designer (b. 1897)
    • 1968 – Frankie Lymon, American singer-songwriter (b. 1942)
    • 1969 – Marius Barbeau, Canadian ethnographer and academic (b. 1883)
    • 1973 – Bill Everett, American author and illustrator (b. 1917)
    • 1977 – John Dickson Carr, American author and playwright (b. 1905)
    • 1980 – George Tobias, American actor (b. 1901)
    • 1985 – Ray Ellington, English singer and drummer (b. 1916)
    • 1985 – Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., American politician and diplomat, 3rd United States Ambassador to the United Nations (b. 1902)
    • 1985 – J. Pat O’Malley, English-American actor and singer (b. 1904)
    • 1986 – Jacques Plante, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (b. 1929)
    • 1987 – Bill Holman, American cartoonist (b. 1903)
    • 1987 – Joan Greenwood, English actress (b. 1921)
    • 1989 – Konrad Lorenz, Austrian zoologist, ethologist, and ornithologist, Nobel laureate (b. 1903)
    • 1992 – S. I. Hayakawa, Canadian-American linguist and politician (b. 1906)
    • 1993 – Lillian Gish, American actress (b. 1893)
    • 1998 – George H. Hitchings, American pharmacologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1905)
    • 1998 – J. T. Walsh, American actor (b. 1943)
    • 1999 – Horace Tapscott, American pianist and composer (b. 1934)
    • 2002 – Spike Milligan, Irish soldier, actor, comedian, and author (b. 1918)
    • 2003 – John Lanchbery, English-Australian composer and conductor (b. 1923)
    • 2003 – Fred Rogers, American minister and television host (b. 1928)
    • 2004 – Yoshihiko Amino, Japanese historian and academic (b. 1928)
    • 2004 – Paul Sweezy, American economist and journalist (b. 1910)
    • 2006 – Otis Chandler, American publisher (b. 1927)
    • 2006 – Robert Lee Scott, Jr., American general and author (b. 1908)
    • 2006 – Linda Smith, English comedian and author (b. 1958)
    • 2007 – Bernd Freytag von Loringhoven, German general (b. 1914)
    • 2008 – William F. Buckley, Jr., American author and journalist, founded the National Review (b. 1925)
    • 2008 – Myron Cope, American journalist and sportscaster (b. 1929)
    • 2008 – Ivan Rebroff, German vocalist of Russian descent with four and a half octave range (b. 1931)
    • 2010 – Nanaji Deshmukh, Indian educator and activist (b. 1916)
    • 2011 – Frank Buckles, American soldier (b. 1901)
    • 2011 – Necmettin Erbakan, Turkish engineer and politician, 32nd Prime Minister of Turkey (b. 1926)
    • 2011 – Duke Snider, American baseball player, manager, and sportscaster (b. 1926)
    • 2011 – Gary Winick, American director and producer (b. 1961)
    • 2012 – Ma Jiyuan, Chinese general (b. 1921)
    • 2012 – Tina Strobos, Dutch physician and psychiatrist (b. 1920)
    • 2012 – Helga Vlahović, Croatian journalist and producer (b. 1945)
    • 2013 – Van Cliburn, American pianist (b. 1934)
    • 2013 – Ramon Dekkers, Dutch mixed martial artist and kick-boxer (b. 1969)
    • 2013 – Dale Robertson, American actor (b. 1923)
    • 2013 – Adolfo Zaldívar, Chilean lawyer and politician (b. 1943)
    • 2014 – Aaron Allston, American game designer and author (b. 1960)
    • 2014 – Terry Rand, American basketball player (b. 1934)
    • 2015 – Boris Nemtsov, Russian academic and politician, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia (b. 1959)
    • 2015 – Leonard Nimoy, American actor (b. 1931)
    • 2015 – Julio César Strassera, Argentinian lawyer and jurist (b. 1933)
    • 2016 – Yi Cheol-seung, South Korean lawyer and politician (b. 1922)
    • 2016 – James Z. Davis, American lawyer and judge (b. 1943)
    • 2018 – Steve Folkes, Australian rugby league player and coach (b. 1959)
    • 2019 – France-Albert René, Seychellois politician, 2nd President of Seychelles (b. 1935)

    Holidays and observances on February 27

    • Christian feast day:
      • Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
      • George Herbert (Anglicanism)
      • Honorina
      • Leander
      • February 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
    • The second day of Ayyám-i-Há (Bahá’í Faith) (Note: this observance is only on this date in the Gregorian calendar if Bahá’í Naw-Rúz takes place on March 21, which it does not in all years)
    • Doctors’ Day (Vietnam)
    • Independence Day (Dominican Republic), celebrates the first independence of Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1844.
    • Majuba Day (some Afrikaners in South Africa)
    • Marathi Language Day (Maharashtra, India)
    • World NGO Day
    • International Polar Bear Day