This Day In History, April 27th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on April 27th.
John Milton, who is blind and penniless, sells the rights to "Paradise Lost" for ten pounds in 1667.
1805: The First Barbary War starts as American Marines arrive in Derna, Libya.
1861: To halt separatist activities, President Abraham Lincoln suspends the habeas corpus writ in Maryland.
1945: The Second World War: Soviet forces conquer Berlin, ending the fight.
Nelson Mandela-led African National Congress wins the majority of votes in South Africa's first democratic general election, which takes place in 1994.
This Day In History, April 27th, 1667: The blind and impoverished John Milton sells the copyright of "Paradise Lost" for 10 pounds.
On April 27, 1667, John Milton, an English poet and the creator of "Paradise Lost," surrendered the rights to his masterwork for just 10 pounds. Milton sold the rights to a London bookseller named Samuel Simmons at the time because he was blind and in need of money. Milton's "Paradise Lost" went on to become one of the finest pieces of English literature despite the meager payment he earned for the work, solidifying his position as one of the most significant poets of his day.
The United States Marines land in Derna, Libya, and begin the First Barbary War.
As part of the First Barbary War, a group of US Marines led by Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon landed in Derna, a city on the coast of Libya, on April 27, 1805. The Barbary nations of North Africa, infamous for their practice of seizing American ships and detaining their sailors for ransom, and the United nations engaged in combat during this conflict. The Marines' Hymn, which contains the lyric "to the shores of Tripoli," immortalizes the seizure of Derna as an important triumph for the United States.
President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus in Maryland in order to suppress secessionist activity.
To halt separatist activities in Maryland, President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus on April 27, 1861. This made it possible for military officials to hold and arrest suspects without giving them a chance to defend themselves. Lincoln was worried about Maryland's ability to separate and join the Confederacy since it was a border state during the American Civil War. Lincoln argued that the suspension of habeas corpus was important to keep the Union together despite the fact that it was contentious and the move provoked demonstrations and legal challenges.
The Second World War: The battle of Berlin ends as Soviet troops capture the city.
The Battle of Berlin, one of the last and most important conflicts of World War II, came to a close on April 27, 1945, when Soviet forces took control of the city. The conflict had started that year in April when Soviet forces launched a huge attack on Berlin, which was fiercely resisted by German forces and Hitler's fervent followers. The conflict was characterized by fierce street fighting and significant loss of life on both sides. Less than a week after Berlin fell, Germany surrendered to the Allies, marking a significant turning point in the war.
South African general election: The African National Congress party, led by Nelson Mandela, wins a majority of the votes in the first democratic general election in South Africa.
The country of South Africa held its first general election on April 27, 1994, with voting open to all residents, regardless of race. Nelson Mandela, the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) party, received the majority of the votes, and as a result, he was chosen to serve as South Africa's first black president. Apartheid, a system of racial segregation that had been in effect in South Africa since 1948, came to an end with the election. It was considered a remarkable accomplishment and a role model for other nations making the transition from authoritarian to democratic governments.