1876
Activism
Opening of the first Royal Sailors' Rest in Devonport
Agnes Weston opened her first Sailors' Rest in Devonport, providing sailors an alcohol-free home offering food, lodging, and fellowship.
View detailsThis Day
27January
27 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1891
Science
Safety elevator patent granted
Tracy received U.S. patent no. 446,653 for an 'Elevator-Shaft Door-Operating Mechanism,' laying groundwork for her Gravity Safety Elevator.
View details1898
Science
Birth in Richland, Kansas
Georgia Neese Clark Gray was born in Richland, Kansas, later becoming an actress, banker, and the first woman U.S. Treasurer.
View details1922
1927
Arts
Release from Jail After Serving Sentence
Mae West is released from jail after serving her sentence for Sex.
View details1938
Aviation
World’s first female chief aeronautical engineer
MacGill became the world’s first female chief aeronautical engineer and led major aircraft-design work at Canadian Car and Foundry.
View details1938
Aviation
Design of the Maple Leaf Trainer II
MacGill designed the Maple Leaf Trainer II, long described as the first aircraft entirely designed by a woman.
View details1941
1944
Literature
National Institute of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Fiction
Cather awarded Gold Medal for her literary contributions.
View details1944
Activism
Birth of Mairead Maguire
Mairead Maguire was born on January 27, 1944, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
View details1946
Aviation
First woman technical advisor for ICAO
MacGill became the first woman to serve as a technical advisor for ICAO, helping shape postwar aviation standards.
View details1947
Politics
First woman to chair a UN committee
MacGill became the first woman to chair a UN committee, leading the UN Stress Analysis Committee.
View details1952
Activism
First woman president of Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP
Daisy Bates becomes the first woman elected president of the Arkansas State Conference of NAACP Branches.
View details1954
Arts
Records hit version of "Lullaby of Birdland"
Recording "Lullaby of Birdland," Vaughan secures a major hit.
View details1959
Aviation
Birth in Big Spring, Texas
Lori Jean Robinson was born in Big Spring, Texas, later becoming the highest-ranking woman in U.S. military history.
View details1969
Arts
Grant of U.S. Patent 3,418,089
Received U.S. Patent for liquid dispensing container design.
View details1972
Arts
First solo show for an African American woman at an American art museum
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston opened Jones's retrospective, considered the first solo exhibition for an African American female artist at a U.S. museum.
View details1972
Arts
Death in Evergreen Park, Illinois
Mahalia Jackson died in Evergreen Park, Illinois, from complications related to diabetes.
View details1990
Science
First Indigenous Australian to win gold at an international sporting event
Aged 16, Freeman won 4x100m relay gold at the Auckland Commonwealth Games, the first Indigenous Australian to win international gold.
View details1993
Science
Sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the UN after nomination by President Bill Clinton, her first diplomatic posting.
View details1993
Politics
Appointed member of Senate Finance Committee
First woman to serve on Senate Finance Committee.
View details1995
Sports
Australian Open final in comeback Grand Slam
In her comeback, Seles reached the Australian Open final, finishing runner-up.
View details1996
Sports
Wins 1996 Australian Open singles title (ninth Grand Slam)
Seles won her ninth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January 1996.
View details2008
Science
Death of Irene Ann Stegun
Irene Ann Stegun passed away at the age of 88 in Danbury, Connecticut.
View details2010
Literature
Named recipient of National Medal of Arts
Lee is named a National Medal of Arts recipient on January 27, 2010.
View details2015
Literature
Death of Suzette Haden Elgin
Suzette Haden Elgin passed away on January 27, 2015.
View details2018
Sports
Induction into the SCCA Hall of Fame
Guthrie was inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame.
View details