1776day.year
American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina breaks up a Loyalist militia.
In 1776, Patriot forces defeated a Loyalist militia at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina, undermining British authority early in the American Revolution.
The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge took place on February 27, 1776, near Wilmington, North Carolina.
American colonial Patriots laid an ambush on a Loyalist force attempting to join British troops.
They greased the bridge's planks and removed rails to disrupt the Loyalists' crossing.
When the militia charged onto the bridge, it collapsed under them, leading to a swift Patriot victory.
The battle quashed Royalist sentiment in North Carolina and bolstered revolutionary morale in the South.
1776
American Revolutionary War
Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
North Carolina
Loyalist
1782day.year
American Revolutionary War: The House of Commons of Great Britain votes against further war in America.
In 1782, the British House of Commons voted against continuing war in America, paving the way toward peace negotiations to end the Revolutionary War.
On February 27, 1782, the British House of Commons voted decisively against proposals to continue the war with the American colonies.
The resolution reflected widespread war fatigue and economic strain in Britain after years of overseas conflict.
Prime Minister Lord North's government faced mounting criticism, leading to his resignation soon after.
The vote opened the door to formal peace talks, culminating in the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
It marked a turning point in Britain's imperial policy and acknowledged American independence.
1782
House of Commons of Great Britain
against further war in America
1809day.year
Action of 27 February 1809: Captain Bernard Dubourdieu captures HMS Proserpine.
Captain Bernard Dubourdieu leads a French squadron in a daring nighttime assault to capture the British frigate HMS Proserpine during the Napoleonic Wars.
On 27 February 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars, French naval Captain Bernard Dubourdieu commanded a daring operation against the British frigate HMS Proserpine.
Setting sail from Cadiz with a small squadron, Dubourdieu executed a surprise attack under cover of darkness.
Despite being outnumbered, the French forces skillfully outmaneuvered Proserpine and forced her surrender.
The capture dealt a blow to British naval dominance in the Mediterranean and boosted French morale.
Captain Dubourdieu's leadership in this engagement solidified his reputation as a bold tactician.
The action exemplified the high-stakes naval warfare that characterized the era.
1809
Action of 27 February 1809
Bernard Dubourdieu
HMS Proserpine
1812day.year
Argentine War of Independence: Manuel Belgrano raises the Flag of Argentina in the city of Rosario for the first time.
Manuel Belgrano raises the flag that would become Argentina's national symbol in Rosario during the Argentine War of Independence.
On 27 February 1812, overlooking the Paraná River, General Manuel Belgrano unveiled the Flag of Argentina in Rosario for the first time.
Designed with white and sky-blue bands, the flag symbolized the struggle for independence from Spain.
Belgrano chose the colors drawing inspiration from the sky and the Virgin Mary's mantle.
Though initially lacking official sanction, the new banner quickly became a rallying point for revolutionaries.
This event marked a defining moment in Argentina's fight for sovereignty and national identity.
Today, the flag raised by Belgrano endures as a central emblem of Argentine pride and unity.
1812
Argentine War of Independence
Manuel Belgrano
Flag of Argentina
Rosario
1864day.year
American Civil War: The first Northern prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia.
The first Union prisoners arrive at the Confederate Andersonville prison camp in Georgia, marking the start of its grim operation.
On 27 February 1864, hundreds of Union soldiers became the first prisoners held at the Andersonville Confederate prison camp in Georgia.
Officially known as Camp Sumter, Andersonville would become infamous for its overcrowding, disease, and high death toll.
Prisoners faced meager rations, contaminated water, and exposure to the elements behind crude stockade walls.
The camp's lack of supplies and poor sanitation led to suffering that came to symbolize the brutal realities of Civil War imprisonment.
By war's end, nearly 13,000 of the 45,000 Union soldiers held there had perished, leaving a lasting legacy of tragedy.
Andersonville's history spurred post-war prison reform and remains a somber memorial to wartime suffering.
1864
American Civil War
Northern
Confederate
prison
Andersonville, Georgia
1881day.year
First Boer War: The Battle of Majuba Hill takes place.
During the First Boer War, Boer forces achieve a decisive victory over the British at the Battle of Majuba Hill.
On 27 February 1881, Boer commandos launched a successful assault on British troops occupying Majuba Hill near Pretoria.
The Boers' expert marksmanship and use of natural cover allowed them to outflank and overwhelm the defenders.
The defeat shocked the British Army, resulting in significant casualties and the loss of artillery positions.
Majuba Hill became the war's turning point, leading to peace negotiations and British recognition of Transvaal's self-government.
The battle highlighted the effectiveness of Boer guerrilla tactics against conventional military formations.
Today, Majuba Hill remains a symbol of Boer resistance and military ingenuity in South African history.
1881
First Boer War
Battle of Majuba Hill
1900day.year
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.
During the Second Boer War, Boer General Piet Cronjé surrenders to British forces at the Battle of Paardeberg, marking a key British victory.
On February 27, 1900, British forces under Lord Roberts encircled Boer General Piet Cronjé's troops at Paardeberg on the Modder River.
After a weeklong siege, Cronjé issued an unconditional surrender, handing over over 4,000 men and artillery.
This was the first large-scale capitulation by Boer forces and a turning point in the war.
The victory boosted British morale and paved the way for the capture of Bloemfontein and Pretoria.
Cronjé and his men were sent to prisoner camps in Ceylon, while the conflict shifted to guerrilla tactics.
Historians view Paardeberg as a symbol of British tactical success and the high human cost of colonial warfare.
1900
Second Boer War
Boer
Piet Cronjé
Battle of Paardeberg
1902day.year
Second Boer War: Australian soldiers Harry "Breaker" Morant and Peter Handcock are executed in Pretoria after being convicted of war crimes.
Australian lieutenants Harry 'Breaker' Morant and Peter Handcock are executed in Pretoria after conviction for war crimes during the Second Boer War.
On February 27, 1902, lieutenants Harry 'Breaker' Morant and Peter Handcock were executed by firing squad in Pretoria following courts-martial for killing Boer prisoners and civilians.
Their trials, ordered by British command, attracted international controversy and debate over military justice.
Morant, a former bush poet, and Handcock were accused of breaching the rules of war by killing surrendered fighters and local noncombatants.
The executions highlighted tensions within the British Empire over conduct in colonial conflicts and the limits of authority in wartime.
Their story inspired books and films exploring the moral complexities of command and accountability in combat.
1902
Second Boer War
Harry "Breaker" Morant
Peter Handcock
Pretoria
war crimes
1932day.year
The Mäntsälä rebellion begins when members of the far-right Lapua Movement start shooting at the social democrats' event in Mäntsälä, Finland.
Far-right members of Finland's Lapua Movement open fire on social democrats in Mäntsälä, triggering the Mäntsälä rebellion.
On February 27, 1932, armed members of the Lapua Movement attacked a social democratic meeting in the town of Mäntsälä, Finland.
This act of political violence was part of a wider campaign by the far-right group against leftist organizations.
The rebellion saw armed insurrectionists surrounding government buildings and demanding the dismissal of socialist officials.
President Pehr Evind Svinhufvud declared martial law and mobilized loyal forces to contain the uprising.
The revolt collapsed within days when Lapua leaders, facing public disapproval and military pressure, surrendered, preserving Finnish democracy.
1932
Mäntsälä rebellion
Lapua Movement
Mäntsälä, Finland
1942day.year
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.
During World War II’s Battle of the Java Sea, Allied naval forces suffer a decisive defeat against the Japanese navy.
On February 27, 1942, the Battle of the Java Sea became one of the most significant naval engagements of World War II in the Pacific. An Allied fleet composed of American, British, Dutch, and Australian ships sought to oppose a larger Japanese task force advancing through the Dutch East Indies. Despite fierce resistance, the Allied vessels were outmaneuvered and suffered heavy losses, including the sinking of several cruisers and destroyers. The Japanese victory secured control over vital sea lanes and allowed further expansion into Southeast Asia. The battle underscored deficiencies in Allied naval coordination and tactics early in the war. It also highlighted the strategic importance of naval power in the struggle for resource-rich territories. Lessons learned here informed later Allied operations across the Pacific Theater.
1942
World War II
Battle of the Java Sea
Allied
Java Sea
Dutch East Indies
1943day.year
The Holocaust: In Berlin, the Gestapo arrest 1,800 Jewish men with German wives, leading to the Rosenstrasse protest.
In Berlin, the Gestapo round up 1,800 Jewish men married to German women, provoking the Rosenstrasse protest.
In Berlin on February 27, 1943, the Gestapo arrested approximately 1,800 Jewish men married to non-Jewish women, exposing the brutal reach of Nazi racial laws. These husbands were taken to a former Jewish community center on Rosenstrasse, where their wives and relatives mounted daily protests demanding their release. The Rosenstrasse protest became a rare public demonstration against anti-Jewish policies in Nazi Germany. After a week of steadfast demonstration, most of the detainees were released, marking a unique victory over the regime's oppressive measures. The event illustrates how collective action and personal courage could challenge totalitarian authority. It remains an inspiring example of resistance and solidarity amidst the horrors of the Holocaust.
The Holocaust
Berlin
Gestapo
Rosenstrasse protest
1962day.year
Vietnam War: 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.
Two dissident RVNAF pilots bomb Saigon’s Independence Palace in a failed attempt to assassinate President Ngô Đình Diệm.
During the Vietnam War on February 27, 1962, two dissident pilots of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force attempted a dramatic coup by bombing the Independence Palace in Saigon. Pilots Nguyễn Văn Cử and Phạm Phú Quốc sought to assassinate President Ngô Đình Diệm, blaming his regime for corruption and repression. The attack injured no one and failed to breach the palace defenses, after which both pilots were quickly apprehended. Although unsuccessful, the incident exposed deep divisions within South Vietnam's military and foreshadowed further plots against Diệm's government. The event heightened political instability in Saigon and intensified debates over U.S. support for the South Vietnamese leadership. It remains one of the earliest known coup attempts against Diệm during the conflict.
1962
Vietnam War
Republic of Vietnam Air Force
bomb the Independence Palace
Saigon
Ngô Đình Diệm