April 27th

More than 120 tornadoes raked the South and Midwest, resulting in 316 deaths across parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.

Construction began on a 1,776-foot building on the site of the World Trade Center in New York City.

The Superjumbo jet aircraft Airbus A380 makes its first flight from Toulouse, France.

South African citizens of all races are allowed to vote in a general election for the first time. The 1994 general election was held precisely 44 years after Apartheid was formalized by the government with the passing of the Group Areas Act.

Eritrea declared itself independent.

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was proclaimed in Belgrade by the Republic of Serbia and its lone ally, Montenegro.

The Justice Department barred Austrian President Kurt Waldheim from entering the United States, saying he had aided in the deportation and execution of thousands of Jews and others as a German Army officer during World War II.

Pitcher Nolan Ryan surpassed Walter Johnson’s strikeout record—one that had held since 1927.

John W. Hinckley Jr. went on trial in Washington, D.C., in the shooting of President Ronald Reagan. (He was acquitted by reason of insanity.).

Apollo 16 returned to Earth after a manned voyage to the moon.

Broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow died at age 57.

Sierra Leone gained independence from Great Britain.

Rocky Marciano retired as undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion.

'Babe Ruth Day' was held at Yankee Stadium to honor the ailing baseball star.

Italian partisans capture Benito Mussolini at Dongo (Lake Como).

The Australian Labor Party under Chris Watson becomes the first Labour government in the world.

Baseball Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby was born in Winters, Texas.

Steamboat "SS Sultana" explodes in the Mississippi River, killing up to 1,800 of the 2,427 passengers in the greatest maritime disaster in United States history. Most were paroled Union POWs on their way home.

Ludwig van Beethoven composes “Für Elise”. “Bagatelle No. 25” for solo piano is one of the German composer's most popular works and one of the most recognized melodies in the history of music.

The U.S. Marines captured Derna, on the shores of Tripoli.

1st Spanish settlement in Philippines, Cebu City, forms.

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was killed in a fight with natives of the Philippines.