Gary Gygax Day – Dungeons & Dragons Day – Dungeons and Dragons Day
Gary Gygax Day, also known as Dungeons & Dragons Day or Dungeons and Dragons Day, is celebrated on July 27th. This day honors the legacy of Gary Gygax, the co-creator of the iconic tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Gygax is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern role-playing games and had a profound impact on gaming culture.
Bagpipe Appreciation Day
Bagpipe Appreciation Day is celebrated on July 27th, a day dedicated to honoring the rich history and unique sound of the bagpipes. The bagpipe is a traditional musical instrument associated with Scottish and Celtic culture, but variations of the instrument can be found in many cultures around the world.
July 27th has seen many significant historical events across various fields.
Historical Events
1214: The Battle of Bouvines ends the Anglo-French War, with Philip II of France defeating the forces of the Holy Roman Empire, England, and Flanders.
1663: The British Parliament passes the second Navigation Act, which requires that all goods bound for the American colonies have to be shipped in English vessels.
1789: The first U.S. federal government agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs, is established (later renamed the Department of State).
1794: Maximilien Robespierre, one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution, is arrested and the next day executed, ending the Reign of Terror.
1921: Researchers at the University of Toronto, led by biochemist Frederick Banting, prove that the hormone insulin regulates blood sugar.
1953: The Korean War armistice is signed at Panmunjom, ending three years of fighting.
1974: The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee votes to recommend the first article of impeachment against President Richard Nixon for obstruction of justice in the Watergate scandal.
1990: Belarus declares its sovereignty, establishing independence from the Soviet Union.
1996: A pipe bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta during the Summer Olympics, resulting in two deaths and injuring 111 people.
Birthdays
1824: Alexandre Dumas fils, French author and playwright, known for works like “The Lady of the Camellias” (d. 1895).
1870: Hilaire Belloc, French-born British writer and historian, known for his Cautionary Tales for Children (d. 1953).
1916: Elizabeth Hardwick, American literary critic, novelist, and essayist, co-founder of The New York Review of Books (d. 2007).
1931: Jerry Van Dyke, American actor and comedian, known for his role on “Coach” (d. 2018). 1948: Peggy Fleming, American figure skater, Olympic gold medalist.
1965: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spanish politician, Prime Minister of Spain from 2004 to 2011.
1984: Taylor Schilling, American actress, known for her role in “Orange Is the New Black.”
Deaths
1841: Mikhail Lermontov, Russian poet and novelist, known for “A Hero of Our Time” (b. 1814).
1844: John Dalton, English chemist, physicist, and meteorologist, known for developing the atomic theory (b. 1766).
1924: Ferruccio Busoni, Italian composer, pianist, and conductor (b. 1866).
1946: Gertrude Stein, American novelist, poet, and playwright, known for works like “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” (b. 1874).
1965: Margaret Sanger, American birth control activist, sex educator, and nurse, founder of Planned Parenthood (b. 1879).
1980: Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, who was overthrown during the Iranian Revolution in 1979 (b. 1919).
2003: Bob Hope, British-American comedian, actor, and singer, known for his work in entertainment and USO shows (b. 1903).
