1859 ~ Petroleum was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania on the 27th August 1959, leading to the world’s 1st commercially successful oil well.

1890 ~ Man Ray the American modernist artist and photographer was born Emmanuel Radnitzky on the 27th August 1890 (died 1976  aged 86). Man Ray was a significant contributor to the Dada and Surrealist art movements. Man Ray worked in a variety of artistic media but considered himself mainly a painter, although he was well known in the art world for his avant-garde, fashion and portrait photography. and he was a renowned fashion and portrait photographer. He was also known for his work with photograms aka rayographs.

Salvador Dalí & Man Ray in Paris on 16 June 1934 making “wild eyes” for a portrait by photographer Carl Van Vechten (black & white photo source: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Van Vechten Collection)

1896 ~ The Anglo-Zanzibar War between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar started on the on the 27th August 1896, and ended on the same day, becoming the shortest war in world history (09:00 to 09:45).

1908 ~ Sir Donald Bradman the Australian cricketer was born on the 27th August 1908 (died 2001 aged 92). Donald Bradman is also known as The Don, the greatest Test batsman of all time. During his career he had a Test batting average of of 99.94, which is often cited as statistically the greatest achievement by any sportsman in any major sport. YouTube video: Tribute to Sir Donald Bradman, interviews with Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting & Sam Loxton…

1925 ~ Ed Devereaux the Australian actor best known as Matt Hammond in the children’s television series Skippy was born on the 27th August 1925 (died 17 December 2003 aged 78). YouTube videos: Skippy The Bush Kangaroo…

1939 ~ The Heinkel He 178 turbojet-powered aircraft made its first flight on the 27th August 1939, becoming the world’s 1st jet aircraft.

1939 ~ Edward Patten the American singer-songwriter from Gladys Knight & the Pips was born on the 27th August 1939 (died 2005). YouTube video: Empress Gladys & The Pips ~ Midnight Train To Georgia (1973)…

1942 ~ Daryl Dragon the American keyboardist from Captain & Tennille was born on the 27th August 1942. YouTube video: Captain & Tennile ~ Love Will Keep Us Together (1975)…

1947 ~ Barbara Bach the American actress was born on the 27th August 1947. YouTube video: The ride to Atlantis from The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) music & scenes: James Bond (Roger Moore) and Anya (Barbara Bach) ride to Stromberg’s sea headquarters, with his hostess Caroline Munro, & in Q’s underwater car…

1949 ~ Jeff Cook the American singer-songwriter and musician from the band Alabama was born on the 27th August 1949. YouTube video: Alabama ~ There’s No Way (1985)…

1953 ~ Alex Lifeson the Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Rush was born on the 27th August 1953. YouTube video: Rush ~ New World Man (1982)…

1962 ~ The Mariner 2 unmanned space mission was launched to Venus by NASA on the 27th August 1962.

1970 ~ Tony Kanal the English-American bass player from No Doubt was born on the 27th August 1970. YouTube video: No Doubt ~ Don’t Speak (1996). Lead singer Gwen Stefani wrote this song about Tony Kanal shortly after he ended their 7 year relationship together…

1972 ~ Jimmy Pop the American singer-songwriter and guitarist from The Bloodhound Gang was born on the 27th August 1972. YouTube video: Bloodhound Gang ~ The Bad Touch (1999)…

1976 ~ Mark Webber the Australian race car driver was born on the 27th August 1976.

1985 ~ Daniel Küblböck aka Daniel K the German pop singer was born on the 27th August 1985, in Hutthurm, Lower Bavaria. YouTube video (funny nude scenes): Daniel K ~ You drive me crazy (2003)…

1991 ~ Moldova declared independence from the USSR on the 27th August 1991..

1993 ~ The Rainbow Bridge, connecting Tokyo‘s Shibaura and the island of Odaiba was completed on the 27th August 1993.

2003 ~ Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years on the 27th August 2003, passing at a 55,758,005 km (34,646,418 miles) distance.

2013 ~ Bill Peach (AM) the Australian television journalist and host of This Day Tonight died on the 27th August 2013 (born 15th May 1935). YouTube video: ABN2 Sydney TV: Bill Peach Australian Cities – Darwin (1979)…

2013 ~ Essendon Football Club was banned from the 2013 AFL finals series with a $2 million fine on the 27th August 2013, and coach James Hird banned for 12 months. Refer to the Essendon supplements controversy.

Essendon Football Club official website AFL commission announcement by Mike Fitzpatrick video (27th August 2013) ~ www.EssendonFC.com.au (official website)

Today in History for August 27th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…