This Day in History: September 27

What Happened on September 27?

* **1781:** British forces under Cornwallis surrender to George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the American Revolutionary War. * **1825:** The Stockton and Darlington Railway opens in England, the first public railway to use steam locomotives. * **1864:** The United States Sanitary Commission is disbanded, having provided medical care and supplies to the Union Army during the Civil War. * **1905:** Albert Einstein publishes his theory of special relativity in the journal Annalen der Physik. * **1924:** The Chrysler Building in New York City is topped out, becoming the tallest building in the world at the time. * **1939:** Poland is invaded by Germany, marking the beginning of World War II. * **1962:** Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring is published, raising awareness about the dangers of pesticides. * **1983:** The first Apple Lisa computer is released. * **1996:** The Taliban captures Kabul, Afghanistan. * **2001:** The United States invades Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks.

Famous People Born on September 27

* **1772:** George IV, King of the United Kingdom (d. 1830) * **1871:** Grazia Deledda, Italian writer and Nobel laureate (d. 1936) * **1918:** Martin Ryle, British astronomer and Nobel laureate (d. 1984) * **1922:** William Steig, American author and illustrator (d. 2003) * **1932:** Oliver Stone, American film director and screenwriter * **1945:** Meat Loaf, American singer and actor (d. 2022) * **1968:** Mira Sorvino, American actress

Famous People Died on September 27

* **1590:** Pope Urban VII (b. 1521) * **1651:** Sir Kenelm Digby, English philosopher and scientist (b. 1603) * **1833:** Ram Mohan Roy, Indian social reformer (b. 1772) * **1891:** Ivan Goncharov, Russian novelist (b. 1812) * **1940:** Walter Benjamin, German philosopher and literary critic (b. 1892) * **1965:** Clara Bow, American actress (b. 1905) * **1975:** José Ferrer, Puerto Rican actor (b. 1912)

Holidays and Observances on September 27

* **World Tourism Day** * **National Good Neighbor Day** * **Johnny Appleseed Day** (United States)

Did You Know?

* September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years). * The zodiac sign for September 27 is Libra. * The birthstone for September is sapphire.