What Happened On This Day – December 27
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2007 Benazir Bhutto assassinated
The former Prime Minister of Pakistan was killed after a shooting and the detonation of a suicide bomb while campaigning for the upcoming elections in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
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1949 Indonesia gains independence from the Dutch
The Southeast Asian country's independence came after 4 years of revolution and struggle. In August 1945, Sukarno signed the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, which was formally accepted and recognized by the Dutch in 1949.
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1918 Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919 begins
The revolt against the Germans began in Poznań after a speech by the Polish Prime Minster, Ignacy Paderewski. The uprising led to newer territory being added to Poland in the Treaty of Versailles.
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1845 Anesthesia used for the first time for childbirth
Dr. Crawford W. Long, an American physician, gave ether to his wife during the birth of their second child. The event revolutionalized the use of anesthesia in medicine and surgery.
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1831 Charles Darwin begins his journey on the HMS Beagle
It was during this 5-year long voyage that the English naturalist worked on his Theory of Evolution. He published the evidence supporting it in his 1859 book, On the Origin of Species.
Births On This Day,
December 27
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1980 Antonio Cesaro
Swiss wrestler
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1948 Gérard Depardieu
French actor
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1901 Marlene Dietrich
German/American actress, singer
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1822 Louis Pasteur
French chemist, microbiologist
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1571 Johannes Kepler
German astronomer
Deaths On This Day,
December 27
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2007 Benazir Bhutto
Pakistani politician, first female Prime Minister of Pakistan
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1997 Billy Wright
English/Irish commander
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1985 Dian Fossey
American zoologist
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1979 Hafizullah Amin
Afghan politician
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1958 Harry Warner
Polish/American businessman, co-founded Warner Bros.