December 27
1831
Darwin began his voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.
1900
Prohibitionist Carry Nation smashed her first saloon.
1932
Radio City Music Hall in New York City opened.
1945
The World Bank was created with an agreement signed by 28 nations.
1949
The Netherlands transferred sovereignty to Indonesia after more than 300 years of Dutch rule.
1979
The Soviet Union took control of Afghanistan, installing Afghan politician Babrak Karmal as president.
1996
Rwanda’s first genocide trial opened for the 1994 slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis.
2001
The U.S. announced plans to hold Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Birthdays
Louis Pasteur
1822–1895, French Chemist
Johannes Kepler
astronomer (1571)
Sir George Cayley
scientist and aerial navigator (1773)
Sydney Greenstreet
actor (1879)
Marlene Dietrich
actress (1901)
Gerard Depardieu
actor (1948)