On This Day for June 27 - Yen made official monetary unit of Japan, Jack Lemmon is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. June 27 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Jack Lemmon READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1871 Yen made official monetary unit of Japan READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2007: After having served as chancellor of the Exchequer (1997–2007), British Labour Party politician Gordon Brown became prime minister of the United Kingdom. [ Test your knowledge of British culture and politics.] 1977: Djibouti gained its independence from France. [ Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about Africa.] 1930: American businessman and philanthropist Ross Perot, who was an independent candidate for U.S. president in 1992 and 1996, was born. [ Test your knowledge of U.S. presidential elections.] 1917: During World War I, Greece declared war on the Central Powers. [ Take our quiz about World War I.] 1862: During the first Battle of Cold Harbor in the American Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee attacked Union troops, driving them back in disorder and forcing them to withdraw to the south side of the Chickahominy River. [ Test your knowledge of the American Civil War.] 1846: Charles Stewart Parnell, Irish nationalist and leader in the struggle for Irish Home Rule, was born in Avondale, County Wicklow. SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1966 J.J. Abrams American writer, director, and producer 1880 Helen Keller American author and educator 1930 Ross Perot American businessman 1869 Emma Goldman American anarchist 1927 Bob Keeshan American television producer and entertainer 1550 Charles IX king of France SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2020 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help