This Day in History: May 27

1703 Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) founded by Russian Tsar Peter the Great

In 1703, Russian Tsar Peter the Great founded the city of Saint Petersburg, which was later known as Leningrad. The city served as the capital of Russia from 1712 to 1918 and was a vital center of Russian culture, science, and politics.

1851 The world's first chess tournament is held in London

In 1851, the world's first international chess tournament was held in London, England, parallel to the Great Exhibition. The tournament was won by Adolf Anderssen, a maths teacher from Wrocław.

1873 Heinrich Schliemann discovers "Priam's Treasure" in Troy

Heinrich Schliemann, a German archaeologist, discovered a cache of gold and other objects known as "Priam's Treasure" in Hisarlik, Anatolia, in 1873. Schliemann believed that the treasure belonged to the Trojan king Priam, but this claim has been contested by many scholars.

1905 Japanese fleet destroys the Russian East Sea fleet in the Battle of Tsushima

In 1905, the Japanese fleet destroyed the Russian East Sea fleet in the Battle of Tsushima, which was the only decisive clash between modern steel battleships in history. The battle marked Japan's emergence as a major world power and contributed to the Russian Revolution of 1905.

1933 Walt Disney's cartoon Three Little Pigs is released

Walt Disney's animated short film, Three Little Pigs, was released in 1933. The film is one of the best-known cartoons of all time and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1934.

1937 The Golden Gate Bridge is opened

The Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most recognized works of United States architecture, was opened in 1937. The suspension bridge connects the San Francisco peninsula with Marin County and has become an iconic symbol of the city of San Francisco.

1940 British and Allied forces begin the evacuation of Dunkirk during WWII

In 1940, during World War II, British and Allied forces began the evacuation of Dunkirk, also known as Operation Dynamo. The operation rescued more than 330,000 soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk and became a symbol of British resolve in the face of overwhelming odds.

1942 Czech resistance fighters kill Reinhard Heydrich

In 1942, Czech resistance fighters assassinated Reinhard Heydrich, a high-ranking German Nazi official who was one of the main architects of the Holocaust. In retaliation, the Nazis murdered all male inhabitants over 15 years of age in the Czech village of Lidice and deported most of the remaining people to concentration camps.

1963 Jomo Kenyatta elected 1st Prime Minister of Kenya

In 1963, Jomo Kenyatta was elected as the first Prime Minister of Kenya. Kenyatta played a significant role in Kenya's struggle for independence from British colonial rule and is considered one of the founding fathers of the Kenyan nation.