Saturday, 27th August 1955 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 57 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings drizzly with temperatures between 15°C and 20°C. Tonight's moon is in its last quarter phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Virgo. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Saturday, 27th August in London, GB.
On 27th August 1955, London experienced drizzly conditions typical of late summer in the British capital. The city, situated in south-east England and serving as the nation's political and cultural centre, was the backdrop for a significant publishing milestone that day. The Guinness Book of Records was published for the first time, a reference work that would become a global phenomenon and establish records as an enduring form of popular interest. London's position as a major publishing hub made it the natural location for this inaugural edition, which sought to settle factual disputes with authoritative data. The drizzly weather reflected the transitional nature of the season, as summer gave way to autumn's approach.
The date coincided with the astrological sign of Virgo, known for its association with precision and attention to detail—qualities that would prove essential to the meticulous documentation that the Guinness Book of Records represented. The moon was in its last quarter phase, marking a period of completion and reflection within lunar cycles. These celestial elements provided the atmospheric context for a day that would leave its mark on popular culture through the introduction of a reference work dedicated to verifying and cataloguing human achievement and natural phenomena across the globe.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions, significant historical events, notable births and deaths for any date and location worldwide. The platform enables users to explore how specific places experienced particular days throughout history, creating connections between meteorological data, major occurrences, and biographical milestones.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 27th August 1955
Eight paths converge at the place where patience meets momentum.
Fortune of the Day
27th August in the Stars – Star Sign Virgo
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on August 27th blend razor-sharp analysis with unexpected warmth. The Venus influence in this decan gives them charm and natural aesthetic sensibility alongside typical Virgo precision and practicality.
Strengths & Weaknesses These individuals are brilliantly organized, dependable, and genuinely helpful—yet their critical nature can wound others. They chase perfection relentlessly, risking burnout and chronic dissatisfaction.
Love In relationships, they're devoted and attentive but prioritize mental connection over passion. Venus softens their typical Virgo restraint; sensuality emerges once trust is established and walls come down.
Caree & Finance Professionally, they excel in analytical, detail-focused fields—research, craftsmanship, medicine, administration. The number 8 amplifies their drive for success; financial discipline feels natural to them.
Health Their overthinking tendency invites digestive issues and nervous tension. Regular rest and physical activity help quiet their restless minds and restore natural equilibrium.
That night, the moon was in its last quarter phase.
Chinese year of the Goat (Wood).
Fun Facts About 27th August
Name Days in Your Language: Caesar, Cesar, King, Kingsley, Lyndon, Sheri, Sherri, Sherry, Sheryl
Someone born on this day in 1955 would be 70 years old today — just 25,802 days into life, which is roughly 619,270 hours, 37,156,249 minutes, or 2,229,374,991 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 239. day of the year.
There are 126 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 34 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 27th August
- Sergei Krikalev, Russian engineer and astronaut (1958)
- Tom Lanoye, Belgian author, poet, and playwright (1958)
- Hugh Orde, British police officer (1958)
- Jeff Grubb, American game designer and author (1957)
- Bernhard Langer, German golfer (1957)
- Glen Matlock, English singer-songwriter and bass player (1956)
- Robert Richardson, American cinematographer (1955)
- Diana Scarwid, American actress (1955)
- John Lloyd, English tennis player and sportscaster (1954)
- Rajesh Thakker, English physician and academic (1954)
Lives Remembered on 27th August
- Bob Carr, American politician (born 1943) (2024)
- Juan Izquierdo, Uruguayan footballer (born 1997) (2024)
- Charlotte Kretschmann, German supercentenarian (born 1909) (2024)
- Leonard Riggio, American businessman (born 1941) (2024)
- Cookie, Australian Major Mitchell's cockatoo, oldest recorded parrot (born 1933) (2016)
- Kazi Zafar Ahmed, Bangladeshi politician, 8th Prime Minister of Bangladesh (born 1939) (2015)
- Pascal Chaumeil, French director and screenwriter (born 1961) (2015)
- Darryl Dawkins, American basketball player and coach (born 1957) (2015)
- Jacques Friedel, French physicist and academic (born 1921) (2014)
- Valeri Petrov, Bulgarian poet, playwright, and screenwriter (born 1920) (2014)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 27th August
- Christian feast day: Baculus of Sorrento
- Christian feast day: Caesarius of Arles
- Christian feast day: David Lewis
- Christian feast day: Decuman
- Christian feast day: Gebhard of Constance
- Christian feast day: Euthalia
- Christian feast day: John of Pavia
- Christian feast day: Lycerius (or: Glycerius, Lizier)
- Christian feast day: Máel Ruba (or Rufus) (Scotland)
- Christian feast day: Margaret the Barefooted
- Christian feast day: Monica of Hippo, mother of Augustine of Hippo
- Christian feast day: Narnus
- Christian feast day: Our Lady of La Vang
- Christian feast day: Phanourios of Rhodes
- Christian feast day: Rufus and Carpophorus
- Christian feast day: Syagrius of Autun
- Christian feast day: Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle (Episcopal Church)
- Christian feast day: August 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Independence Day (Republic of Moldova), celebrates the independence of Moldova from the USSR in 1991.
- Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (Texas, United States)
What Happened on 27th August?
- Hurricane Irene strikes the United States east coast, killing 47 and causing an estimated $15.6 billion in damage. (2011)
- Internal conflict in Myanmar: The Burmese military junta and ethnic armies begin three days of violent clashes in the Kokang Special Region. (2009)
- Comair Flight 5191 crashes on takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, bound for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Of the passengers and crew, 49 of 50 are confirmed dead in the hours following the crash. (2006)
- Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, passing 34,646,418 miles (55,758,005 km) distant. (2003)
- The first six-party talks, involving South and North Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, convene to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns of the North Korean nuclear weapons program. (2003)
- Aeroflot Flight 2808 crashes on approach to Ivanovo Yuzhny Airport, killing all 84 aboard. (1992)
- The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (1991)
- Moldova declares independence from the USSR. (1991)
- Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria, is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Major General Ibrahim Babangida. (1985)
- Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-51-I to deploy three communication satellites and repair a fourth malfunctioning one. (1985)