On 27 February in poetry and history
Poets born or who died on this date, plus historical events that happened on this day across history.
610 poets with calendar dates · 6,535 events with calendar dates in the catalogue
2 birthdays · 1 death anniversary · 3 world events on 27 February
Birthdays
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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
27 February 1807 – 24 March 1882 (~75)
Born 27 February 1807 — would have been 219 in 2026
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A. Mary F. Robinson
27 February 1857 – 9 February 1944 (~87)
Born 27 February 1857 — would have been 169 in 2026
Death anniversaries
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Edward Rowland Sill
29 April 1841 – 27 February 1887 (~46)
Died 27 February 1887 — 139 years ago on this date
World events on this day
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Discovery of Infrared Radiation by William Herschel
In 1800, William Herschel made a significant scientific discovery by identifying infrared radiation, a form of electromagnetic radiation that lies beyond the visible spectrum. This groundbreaking work expanded the understanding of light and heat, demonstrating that there were forms of energy that were not visible to the human eye. Herschel's discovery laid the foundation for future research in thermography and spectroscopy, influencing various fields such as astronomy and physics.
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Byron Delivers His Maiden Speech in the House of Lords
On 27 February 1812, Lord Byron delivered his maiden speech in the House of Lords in London, speaking in opposition to the Frame Work Bill, which proposed the death penalty for Luddite machine-breakers.
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Reichstag Fire
The Reichstag Fire occurred on February 27, 1933, when the German parliament building was set ablaze under mysterious circumstances. This event led to the Nazi government declaring a state of emergency and enacting the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties and allowed for the arrest of political opponents. The fire is often viewed as a pivotal moment that facilitated Adolf Hitler's consolidation of power and the establishment of a totalitarian regime.