Last Updated: August 27, 2026
Today in History – August 27 marks a significant date in world and Indian history. From key military encounters in the Second Anglo-Mysore War to the shortest war in human history and landmark space exploration milestones, this calendar date is packed with noteworthy events.
This article covers:
- Major historical events on August 27
- Famous personalities born on August 27
- National and international observances
- Important current affairs and competitive exam facts
Table of Contents
🌟 Top Highlights of August 27
- Battle of Pollilur (1781): A pivotal battle fought between Hyder Ali of Mysore and the British East India Company.
- Anglo-Zanzibar War (1896): The shortest recorded war in history, lasting only 38 minutes.
- Birth of Sir Donald Bradman (1908): Legendary Australian cricketer Donald Bradman was born on this day.
- First Edition of Guinness World Records (1955): The world’s iconic book of records was first published in London.
- Mars Closest Approach (2003): Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, creating a historic astronomical event.
🗓️ Important Historical Events on August 27
1781 – Battle of Pollilur (Second Anglo-Mysore War)
On August 27, 1781, forces of the British East India Company led by General Sir Eyre Coote clashed with Hyder Ali of Mysore at Pollilur (near Kanchipuram). The British forces secured a tactical victory, halting Hyder Ali’s expansion in the Carnatic region.
1859 – World’s First Commercial Oil Well in Pennsylvania
Edwin Drake successfully struck petroleum oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania, at a depth of 69 feet using a modified salt-well drilling rig. This marked the inauguration of the modern commercial oil and petroleum industry worldwide.
1883 – Catastrophic Eruption of Krakatoa
The Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia experienced a series of colossal eruptions. The explosions triggered massive tsunamis and injected high volumes of ash into the atmosphere, causing global weather changes and taking over 36,000 lives.
1896 – Anglo-Zanzibar War (Shortest War in History)
A conflict broke out between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Following bombardment by British naval vessels, Sultan Khalid bin Barghash surrendered after just 38 minutes. It holds the Guinness World Record for the shortest war in history.
1955 – Publication of the First Guinness Book of Records
The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records, bound in London by Norris and Ross McWhirter, was published. It rapidly grew into one of the world’s most popular reference books.
1962 – NASA Launches Mariner 2 to Venus
NASA launched its Mariner 2 interplanetary space probe toward Venus. It became the world’s first successful robotic space probe to execute a planetary flyby.
1991 – Moldova Declares Independence
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union (USSR), the Parliament of Moldova officially declared its independence.
1995 – Launch of ETV Telugu Channel
Ramoji Group officially launched ETV (Eenadu Television), pioneering satellite-based regional entertainment and news broadcasts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It later became one of the most influential Telugu television channels.
2003 – Mars Makes Closest Approach to Earth in 60,000 Years
Mars passed within 55.7 million kilometers (34.6 million miles) of Earth, marking its closest orbital proximity to Earth in roughly 57,617 years.
Other Major Events
- 1928: The Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed in Paris, renouncing war as an instrument of national policy.
- 1939: German Heinkel He 178 became the world’s first aircraft to fly successfully using a turbojet engine.
- 1956: Calder Hall nuclear power station in the UK was connected to the grid, becoming the world’s first commercial nuclear power plant.
- 2003: The first round of the historic Six-Party Talks involving North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States opened in Beijing.
🎂 Famous Birthdays on August 27
| Year | Personality | Domain / Notable Achievement |
| 1859 | Sir Dorabji Tata | Pioneer Indian Industrialist; Second Chairman of Tata Group & Founder of Tata Steel. |
| 1898 | T. N. Rajarathnam Pillai | Renowned Nadaswaram virtuoso and Carnatic musician from Tamil Nadu. |
| 1908 | Sir Donald Bradman | Legendary Australian batsman; widely recognized as the greatest cricketer of all time (Test Batting average: 99.94). |
| 1908 | Lyndon B. Johnson | 36th President of the United States; signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. |
| 1928 | Voleti Venkateswarlu | Acclaimed Carnatic classical vocalist and All India Radio music producer. |
| 1957 | Justice N. V. Ramana | 48th Chief Justice of India (CJI). |
| 1972 | The Great Khali (Dalip Singh Rana) | First Indian-born WWE World Heavyweight Champion (2007) and Indian professional wrestler. |
🕯️ Notable Death Anniversaries on August 27
- 1534 – Ismail Adil Shah: Second Sultan of the Bijapur Sultanate (reigned 1510–1534).
- 1976 – Mukesh (Mukesh Chand Mathur): Legendary Indian playback singer known for timeless classic Hindi songs.
- 1979 – Lord Louis Mountbatten: Last Viceroy of India and first Governor-General of independent India; assassinated by the IRA (Irish Republican Army.
- 2006 – Hrishikesh Mukherjee: Renowned Indian filmmaker and director of classic Hindi films such as Anand and Gol Maal.
📢 National & International Days Observed on August 27
- Moldova Independence Day: Celebrates Moldova’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1991. To commemorate national sovereignty and democratic self-determination.
- National Pots de Crème Day (USA): Celebrated annually in the United States to highlight French culinary arts. Honors the rich and creamy baked French baked custard dessert.
💡Did You Know?
- Unbeatable Bradman: Sir Donald Bradman finished his career with a career Test batting average of 99.94, a statistical record unmatched in international sports history.
- First Modern Oil Well: Edwin Drake’s breakthrough on August 27, 1859, created the world’s first commercially viable oil well in Pennsylvania, sparking the global industrial petroleum era.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: When was the Battle of Pollilur fought, and who were the key commanders?
Ans: The Battle of Pollilur was fought on August 27, 1781, between General Sir Eyre Coote of the British East India Company and Hyder Ali of the Kingdom of Mysore.
Q2: Which conflict holds the record for the shortest war in human history?
Ans: The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought on August 27, 1896. It ended in approximately 38 minutes after British naval forces shelled the Sultan’s palace.
Q3: What was the primary objective of NASA’s Mariner 2 mission launched on August 27, 1962?
Ans: Mariner 2 was launched to perform a flyby of Venus, becoming the first successful planetary flyby spacecraft in space exploration history.
Q4: Who was the 48th Chief Justice of India born on August 27?
Ans: Justice N. V. Ramana, born on August 27, 1957.
Q5: When was the first edition of the Guinness Book of Records published?
Ans: The first edition was published in London on August 27, 1955.
Q6: What is the significance of August 27, 1859, in economic and industrial history?
Ans: On this day, Edwin Drake successfully drilled the world’s first commercial oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania.
Q7: Which South European nation celebrates its Independence Day on August 27?
Ans: Moldova, which declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 27, 1991.
Q8: Who founded Tata Steel?
Ans: Sir Dorabji Tata.
Q9. When did ETV Telugu begin broadcasting?
Ans: 27 August 1995.
Q10. What was the world’s first commercial nuclear power station?
Ans: Calder Hall, United Kingdom.