June 27: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Colombia’s militant group FARC agreed to lay down their weapons after 52 years of guerilla warfare.

Bill Gates stepped down as chairman of Microsoft Corporation.

Gates resigned to have more time to focus on his charity organization Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, officially opened.

Aerosmith became the first major-label band to allow fans to freely download their new single “Head First” online.

Iraqi warplanes bombed the town of Sardasht in Iran with a chemical attack.

This was the first time in military history that a chemical attack targeted a civilian population.

NASA launched the Columbia Space Shuttle for its final test flight, STS-4.

Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 15:00:00 UTC, making it the first shuttle flight that took off at the exact time it was scheduled for. The flight was successful, but the shuttle's detachable booster rockets were lost when their parachutes failed to open. Columbia landed at Edwards Air Force Base seven days later, and the Space Shuttle Program was given the go-ahead.

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali retired for the third time.

His retirement didn't last long, and he returned because he needed money. His comeback was to battle against Larry Holmes for the World Boxing Championship belt.

James Bond’s eighth movie, “Live and Let Die,” was released in the US.

The world’s first operating ATM opened in Enfield, London.

Illinois became the first US state to make it compulsory by law to wear a seatbelt.

The use of seatbelts was made mandatory after the development of cars was progressing. Some vehicles were capable of over 90 miles per hour, leading to many deaths during accidents.

Stock markets crashed in New York because of a public panic, which was traced back to wheat crop failure in Argentina.

As a result, over 575 banks collapsed or had to temporarily suspend all operations.

Telegraph wires linked new York and Boston.

With this, communication became relatively possible over long distances.

The founder of the Mormons, Joseph Smith Jr., was murdered by a mob at the Carthage, Illinois jail.

Smith's brother Hyrum was also killed. Joseph was running for president at the time and is, therefore, the first US presidential candidate to be assassinated.

Cherokee warriors defeated British forces at the Battle of Echoee, during the Anglo-Cherokee War.

The battle took place near the present-day municipality of Otto, in Macon County, North Carolina.