Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
October 27 Tuesday, October 27, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 27 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
7
Holidays
1524
War 502 years ago
French troops lay siege to Pavia.
French troops begin a siege of Pavia, a pivotal engagement in the Italian Wars that would culminate in a decisive Imperial victory.
History
What happened on October 27
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 312Religion
Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross.
Constantine the Great reportedly sees a cross in the sky with the inscription "In this sign, conquer," prompting his conversion and adoption of Christian symbols in battle.
- 1275European history
Traditional founding of the city of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is traditionally considered to have been founded when merchants from ombergen and other nearby towns established a cooperative trading post on the Amstel River.
- 1524War
French troops lay siege to Pavia.
French troops begin a siege of Pavia, a pivotal engagement in the Italian Wars that would culminate in a decisive Imperial victory.
- 1553Religion
Condemned as a heretic, Michael Servetus is burned at the stake just outside Geneva.
Michael Servetus, condemned as a heretic, is burned at the stake just outside Geneva.
- 1644War
Second Battle of Newbury in the English Civil War.
Parliamentarian forces fought Royalist troops under King Charles I to an inconclusive draw at the Second Battle of Newbury, allowing the King to escape encirclement.
- 1682US history
Philadelphia is founded in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
William Penn founds Philadelphia as part of his new colony.
- 1726Music
J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56, one of few works he called a cantata.
Johann Sebastian Bach conducts the premiere of his cantata "Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen,"BWV 56.
- 1775UK history
King George III expands on his Proclamation of Rebellion in the Thirteen Colonies in his speech from the throne at the opening of Parliament.
King George III declares the American colonies in a state of rebellion during his speech to Parliament.
- 1810US history
United States annexes the former Spanish colony of West Florida.
The United States annexes the former Spanish colony of West Florida, expanding its territory along the Gulf Coast.
- 1863US history
American Civil War: Union forces led by General William F. Smith defeat Confederate forces in the Battle of Brown's Ferry, opening up a supply line to the besieged city of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Union forces led by General William F. Smith defeat Confederates at Brown's Ferry, securing a vital supply route to Chattanooga.
- 1981Cold War
Cold War: The Soviet submarine S-363 runs aground on the east coast of Sweden.
A Soviet submarine, S-363, runs aground off the Swedish coast, sparking international concern during the Cold War.
- 2019War
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi kills himself and three children by detonating a suicide vest during the U.S. military Barisha raid in northwestern Syria.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dies by suicide explosion during a U.S. military operation in Syria.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 27
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 40
David Warner
Australian cricketer
David Warner, Australian left-handed opening batter and former international cricketer who captained Sydney Thunder and Karachi Kings, turns 39 today.
Born
1986
Turns 40
today
Mary Sidney
English writer, patroness and translator
1561 – 1621
Saitō Makoto
Japanese admiral and politician, 30th Prime Minister of Japan
1858 – 1936
Teresa Wright
American actress and singer
1918 – 2005
Paul Fox
English broadcaster
1925 – 2024
Floyd Cramer
American singer and pianist
1933 – 1997
Dave Costa
American football player
1941 – 2013
Music
The number one songs on October 27
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 27, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport October 27, 2018
Leicester City F.C. owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha dies in a helicopter crash along with four others after a Premier League match against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, owner of Leicester City F.C., dies in a helicopter crash with four others after a Premier League match.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 27, 1994
Gliese 229B is the first Substellar Mass Object to be unquestionably identified.
Gliese 229B is discovered as the first substellar mass object unequivocally identified.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Černová Tragedy Day (Slovakia)
International
The Černová massacre was a shooting that took place in Csernova, Kingdom of Hungary on 27 October 1907 in which 15 people were killed and many were wounded after gendarmes fired into a crowd of people
Flag Day (Greece)
International
According to Greek law every Sunday of the year is a public holiday
Independence Day (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), celebrates the independence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from United Kingdom in 1979.
International
(2016 dates)January 1: New Year's Day March 14: National Heroes Day, honors Chief Joseph Chatoyer on the anniversary of his death in 1795
International Religious Freedom Day (United States)
International
The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 was passed to promote religious freedom as a foreign policy of the United States, to promote greater religious freedom in countries which engage in or t
National Black Cat Day (United Kingdom)
International
Navy Day (United States) (unofficial, official date is October 13)
International
Several nations observe or have observed a Navy Day to recognize their navy