Factsville.com / On This Day / December / 27th of December Facts

1 - 14 of 14 Interesting & Fun 27th of December Facts:

1703 - Portugal and England sign the Methuen Treaty which gives preference to Portuguese imported wines into England.

1831 - Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle, where he will formulate the theory of evolution.

1836 - The worst ever avalanche in England occurs at Lewes, Sussex, killing 8 people.

1845 - Ether anesthetic is used for childbirth for the first time (Dr. Crawford Williamson Long in Jefferson, Georgia).

1904 - James Barrie's play Peter Pan premieres in London.

1918 - The Great Poland Uprising against the Germans begins.

1945 - The World Bank is created with the signing of an agreement by 28 nations.

1947 - Howdy Doody, a children's television program, makes its debut (NBC).

1949 - Indonesian National Revolution: Queen Juliana of the Netherlands grants Indonesia sovereignty.

1978 - Spain becomes a democracy after 40 years of dictatorship.

1979 - The Soviet Union seizes control of Afghanistan and Babrak Karmal replaces overthrown and executed President Hafizullah Amin.

1996 - Taliban forces retake the strategic Bagram air base which solidifies their buffer zone around Kabul.

2001 - The People's Republic of China is granted permanent normal trade relations with the United States.

2002 - Two truck bombs kill 72 and wound 200 at the pro-Moscow headquarters of the Chechen government in Grozny, Chechnya.