This Day in History - July 27th

1953: Korean War ends

The Korean War armistice is signed at Panmunjom, ending three years of bloody fighting. The Korean War, like the Second World War, was a conflict marked by mass movements of troops. United Nations and South Korean forces suffered some 500,000 killed, wounded or missing in action, while Chinese and North Korean losses were at least three times that number. The armistice, though it has prevented fighting in Korea for 50 years, was but a cease-fire. Korea remains, as it did for most of the war, sharply divided along the heavily fortified 38th parallel. In 2000, North and South Korea met for the first time at a summit, and families divided by the Korean War were allowed to visit their relatives across the 38th parallel for the first time in five decades. South Korean President Kim Dae Jung was awarded the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts at reconciliation with North Korea.

Also On This Day

2003

Legendary American comedian Bob Hope dies aged 100.

2002

During an air show in Ukraine, a fighter jet crashes into a crowd of spectators, killing 85 people and injuring hundreds more.

2000

In Britain, the Labour government publishes a 10 year blueprint for the National Health Service in what many regarded as the most ambitious and radical reform to the service since its inception in 1948.

1996

A bomb goes off during a concert in Atlanta, America where the Olympic Games are being hosted, 2 people are killed.

1982

In South Africa, mercenary leader Colonel Mike Hoare is found guilty of hijacking a plane to escape from an aborted coup attempt in the Seychelles. Hoare is later sentenced to 10 years in prison.

1980

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the former shah of Iran, dies of cancer while in exile in Egypt.

1974

In America, The House of Representatives charges President Richard Nixon with the first of three articles of impeachment for obstruction of justice after he refused to release White House tape recordings that contained crucial information regarding the Watergate scandal.

1965

In Britain, Edward Heath is elected the leader of the Conservative Party.

1940

Bugs Bunny pops out of his rabbit hole to ask Elmer Fudd, “What's up, Doc?” for the first time in the cartoon 'A Wild Hare'.

1921

At the University of Toronto, Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully isolate the hormone insulin.

1880

Second Anglo-Afghan War: The Afghans defeat the British at the Battle of Maiwand in Afghanistan.

1794

Maximilien Robespierre, the architect of the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, is overthrown and arrested by the National Convention.

1694

A Royal Charter is granted for the establishment of the Bank of England.

1689

The Glorious Revolution: The Jacobite Army defeat government troops loyal to William of Orange at the Battle of Killiecrankie in Scotland.

1214

Philip II of France defeats Otto IV of Germany and Count Ferrand of Flanders at the Battle of Bouvines in France.