27th April: Today In History

Today is Thursday, April 27th, the 117th day of 2017. There are 248 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

Events:

1967:  Canada’s Universal and International Exhibition, also known as “Expo 67,” began a six-month run as it was officially opened in Montreal by Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.

1509:  Pope Julius II excommunicated the Republic of Venice for refusing to give up lands claimed by the Papal States. (The pope lifted the interdict in Feb. 1510.)

In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed by natives in the Philippines.

1777:  The only land battle in Connecticut during the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Ridgefield, resulted in a limited British victory.

1822:  The 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant, was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio.

1865:  The steamer Sultana, carrying freed Union prisoners of war, exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee; death toll estimates vary from 1,500 to 2,000.

1925:  The song “Yes, Sir! That’s My Baby” by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn was published by Irving Berlin, Inc. of New York.

1938:  King Zog I of the Albanians married Countess Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi.

1941:  German forces occupied Athens during World War II.

1950:  Britain formally recognized the state of Israel.

1973:  Acting FBI Director L. Patrick Gray resigned after it was revealed that he’d destroyed files removed from the safe of Watergate conspirator E. Howard Hunt.

1982:  Trial of John W. Hinckley Jr., who had shot four people, including President Ronald Reagan, began in Washington. (The trial ended with Hinckley’s acquittal by reason of insanity.)

1992:  The new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was proclaimed in Belgrade by the republic of Serbia and its lone ally, Montenegro. Russia and 12 other former Soviet republics won entry into the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Betty Boothroyd became the first female Speaker of Britain’s House of Commons.

Birthdays:

Actress Anouk Aimee is 85.

Rock musician Jim Keltner is 75.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Cuba Gooding is 73.

Singer Ann Peebles is 70.

Rock singer Kate Pierson (The B-52’s) is 69.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Herbie Murrell (The Stylistics) is 68.

Actor Douglas Sheehan is 68.

Rock musician Ace Frehley is 66. 

Pop singer Sheena Easton is 58.