This Day In History, August 27

Here are some notable events that occurred on this day throughout history. 

479 BC – The Greek armies deal Persian armies two crushing defeats at Plataea and Mycale, essentially halting the Persian invasion.

1859 – Edwin Drake erects the first successful oil drilling operation in United States history in Titusville, Pennsylvania.

1883 – The volcanic island of Krakatoa erupts in Indonesia, killing approximately 40,000 people.

1908 – Future President of the United States (number 36) Lyndon B. Johnson is born on a farm near Stonewall, Texas.

1962 – NASA launches the Mariner II space probe to visit Venus.

2008 – NFL quarterback Michael Vick pleads guilty to dogfighting charges and is sentenced to 21 months in prison. 

2008 – President Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination to run for the President of the United States. He went on to defeat John McCain in the election.