27 August

Across recorded history, 1,390 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 27 August. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← August 26 August 28 →

Le Corbusier

1887–1965

Swiss-French architect, designer, urbanist, and writer

Le Corbusier was an architect who pioneered modern design and urban planning principles.

Ernest Lawrence

1901–1958

American nuclear physicist

Ernest Lawrence was a nuclear physicist who invented the cyclotron.

Cesare Pavese

1908–1950

Italian writer, literary critic, and translator

Cesare Pavese was an Italian writer who worked as a literary critic and translator.

W. E. B. Du Bois

1868–1963

American sociologist and activist

W. E. B. Du Bois was a sociologist and civil rights advocate who helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma

1900–1979

British statesman and naval officer

Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was a British naval officer and statesman who served as the last Viceroy of India.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

1954–1990

American blues guitarist

Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American blues guitarist known for his influential contributions to the genre.

Sergey Mikhalkov

1913–2009

Soviet and Russian writer

Sergey Mikhalkov was a writer who authored the lyrics for the national anthem of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation.

Edmond H. Fischer

1920–2021

American biochemist

Edmond H. Fischer was a biochemist who conducted research on reversible protein phosphorylation.

Brian Epstein

1934–1967

British personal manager and impresario

Brian Epstein was an impresario who managed the career of the Beatles.

Valeri Kharlamov

1948–1981

Soviet ice hockey player

Valeri Kharlamov was a Soviet ice hockey player who competed internationally for the Soviet Union.

Hélder Câmara

1909–1999

Brazilian Catholic priest, archbishop of Olinda and Recife

Hélder Câmara was a Brazilian Catholic archbishop who served the archdiocese of Olinda and Recife.

Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

1851–1914

Austrian economist

Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk was an Austrian economist who contributed significantly to the development of the Austrian School of economics.

Charles Evans Hughes

1862–1948

American jurist; Chief Justice of the United States from 1930 to 1941

Charles Evans Hughes was a jurist who served as the Chief Justice of the United States.

Mireille Darc

1938–2017

French actress and director

Mireille Darc was a French actress and director who appeared in numerous films throughout her career.

Dawda Kairaba Jawara

1924–2019

1st President of the Gambia

Dawda Kairaba Jawara served as the first president of the Gambia.

Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark

1906–1968

Duchess of Kent from 1934 to 1968

Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark was an aristocrat who served as the Duchess of Kent.

Otto Strasser

1897–1974

German politician, former member of the Nazi Party, rival of Adolf Hitler and founder of the Black Front

Otto Strasser was a German politician who founded the Black Front and served as a rival to Adolf Hitler.

Anandamayi Ma

1896–1982

Hindu Guru

Anandamayi Ma was a Hindu guru who traveled throughout India teaching her philosophy.

Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild

1868–1937

British banker and zoologist

Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild was a zoologist who amassed one of the largest private collections of natural history specimens in history.

Mukesh

1923–1976

Indian singer

Mukesh was an Indian playback singer known for his contributions to the film industry.

Eugène Fromentin

1820–1876

French painter

Eugène Fromentin was a French painter known for his work as an art historian and writer.

Erika Mann

1905–1969

German actress and writer

Erika Mann was a German writer and actress who worked as a war correspondent.

Margaret Bourke-White

1904–1971

American photographer

Margaret Bourke-White was a photographer who documented major global events and conflicts throughout her career.

Gracie Allen

1895–1964

American actress and entertainer

Gracie Allen was an American entertainer who performed as a comedian on stage, in films, and on television.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.