This Day In History : January 27

1998 United States

Roland Clarkson Discovers 37th Known Mersenne Prime

On January 27, 1998, Roland Clarkson discovered 23021377−12^{3021377} - 1, marking it as the 37th known Mersenne prime. This mathematical achievement contributed significantly to the exploration and discovery of prime numbers, advancing mathematical understanding and computation.

Also on This Day in History January 27

Discover what happened on January 27 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, January 27
  • 1936 Samuel C.C. Ting

    Samuel Chao Chung Ting is an American physicist who shared (with Burton Richter) the 1976 Nobel Prize for Physics in 1976 for his discovery of a new subatomic particle, the J/psi particle.

  • 1861 Ralph Modjeski

    Polish-American bridge designer and bridge builder who was outstanding for the number, variety, and innovative character of his projects.

  • 1829 Isaac Roberts

    Welsh astronomer who was a pioneer in photography of nebulae. In 1885 he had built an observatory with a 20 inch reflector.

  • 1621 Thomas Willis

    English physician who made important contributions to anatomy, particularly of the brain and nervous system.

  • 1701 Charles-Marie de La Condamine

    French naturalist and mathematician who became particularly interested in geodesy (earth measurement).

Deaths on This Day, January 27
  • 1989 Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith

    English aircraft designer and aircraft manufacturer whose pioneering firm was famous for British WWI military aircraft.

  • 1967 Edward H. White II

    First U.S. astronaut to walk in space. With James A. McDivitt he manned the four-day orbital flight of Gemini 4, launched on 3 Jun 1965.

  • 1970 Marietta Blau

    Austrian nuclear physicist who began as a strong student in mathematics and physics at school, and studied physics at university, where she wrote her thesis on the absorption of gamma rays (1919).

  • 2015 Charles Townes

    He worked on the theory and application of the maser, for which he obtained the fundamental patent, and other work in quantum electronics associated with both maser and laser devices.

  • 1910 Thomas Crapper

    who owned a flourishing plumbing supply business and held several patents.

1967

U.S., U.K., and Soviet Union Sign Outer Space Treaty

On January 27, 1967, the United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union signed the Outer Space Treaty, aiming to regulate space exploration and ensure the peaceful use of outer space. This landmark agreement established principles for international cooperation and responsible conduct of activities in space.
1967

Apollo 1 Fire Tragedy

On January 27, 1967, tragedy struck the Apollo program when astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger B. Chaffee lost their lives in a cabin fire during a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission. This incident prompted significant safety improvements in space exploration procedures and equipment.
1785

University of Georgia Founded

On January 27, 1785, the University of Georgia was founded, becoming the first public university established in the United States. This institution played a pivotal role in advancing education and knowledge dissemination, shaping the future of higher learning in the country.
1888

National Geographic Society Founded in Washington, D.C.

The National Geographic Society was founded in Washington, D.C., on January 27, 1888. This institution has since become renowned for its exploration, research, and conservation efforts worldwide, promoting a greater understanding of the natural world and cultural diversity.
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