Today in History
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2007 Benazir Bhutto assassinated
While campaigning for the upcoming elections in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan was killed by a shooting and the detonation of a suicide bomb.
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1949 Indonesian Independence
After four years of revolution and struggle, the Southeast Asian country gained independence. Sukarno signed the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence in August 1945, formally accepted and recognized by the Dutch in 1949.
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1918 Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919 begins
After a speech by Polish Prime Minister Ignacy Paderewski, the revolt against the Germans began in Pozna. The uprising resulted in the addition of new territory to Poland in the Treaty of Versailles.
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1845 Anesthesia used for the first time for childbirth
Dr. Crawford W. Long, a physician from the United States, administered ether to his wife during the birth of their second child. The event changed the way anaesthesia was used in medicine and surgery.
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1831 Charles Darwin begins his journey on the HMS Beagle
During this 5-year journey, the English naturalist worked on his Theory of Evolution. In his 1859 book, On the Origin of Species, he published the evidence supporting it.
Births On This Day, December 27
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1980 Antonio Cesaro
Swiss wrestler
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1948 Gérard Depardieu
French actor
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1901 Marlene Dietrich
German/American actress, singer
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1822 Louis Pasteur
French chemist, microbiologist
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1571 Johannes Kepler
German astronomer
Deaths On This Day, December 27
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2007 Benazir Bhutto
Pakistani politician, first female Prime Minister of Pakistan
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1997 Billy Wright
English/Irish commander
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1985 Dian Fossey
American zoologist
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1979 Hafizullah Amin
Afghan politician
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1958 Harry Warner
Polish/American businessman, co-founded Warner Bros.