Wikipedia:Main Page history/2014 August 27

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

ARA Rivadavia was an Argentine battleship, the lead ship of its class, constructed during the South American dreadnought race. When the Brazilian government placed an order for two powerful new "dreadnought"-type warships in 1907, the Argentines moved quickly to acquire their own. After an extended bidding process, contracts to build Rivadavia and Moreno (its only sister ship) were given to the Fore River Shipbuilding Company. Given the tense international climate that soon broke out into the First World War, the Argentine government received several offers for the ships. This dovetailed with a legislative movement that aimed to sell the ships and devote the proceeds to improving the country's educational system. These efforts were defeated, and Rivadavia was commissioned into the Argentine Navy on 27 August 1914, one hundred years ago. Both Argentine dreadnoughts underwent extensive refits in the United States in 1924–25, and saw no active duty during the Second World War. Rivadavia's last cruise was in 1946. The ship was sold for scrapping in 1957 and broken up two years later. (Full article...)

Part of the South American dreadnought race and the Rivadavia-class battleships series, two of Wikipedia's featured topics.

Recently featured: Misterioso (Thelonious Monk album) – Francis Marrash – The FP

Archive – By email – More featured articles...

Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that German para-alpine skier Anna-Lena Forster (pictured) won a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Paralympics by being one of the only two athletes to complete a race?
... that Mo'ne Davis is the first girl to pitch a shutout in Little League World Series history?
... that the sternwheeler Telegraph twice collided with the rival Charm in 1915?
... that a migration to Russia in 1752 led by Jovan Šević was described in a novel by Miloš Crnjanski?
... that Marshall Field and Levi Leiter, co-founders of Marshall Field & Co., were both once partners with John V. Farwell at John V. Farwell & Co.?
... that the U. S. Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery is the last of the original Navy bureaus still in existence?
... that Chicken Licken, the "largest non-American-owned fried chicken franchise in the world", uses a secret recipe bought in Texas for $1,000?

Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news

At the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, Modern Family wins Outstanding Comedy Series and Breaking Bad wins Outstanding Drama Series.
A copy of the 1938 Action Comics #1 is auctioned for US$3.2 million, the highest price paid for a single issue of a comic book.
Bank of America agrees to pay more than US$16 billion for the sale of risky mortgage-backed securities before the Great Recession.
At least 52 people are killed in a series of landslides (damage pictured) in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
The 41st Chess Olympiad concludes with China winning the open section and Russia winning the women's section of the tournament.

Ongoing: Ebola outbreak – Gaza conflict – ISIL Iraq offensive – Ukrainian conflict
Recent deaths: Richard Attenborough – B. K. S. Iyengar – Hashim Khan

On this day...

August 27: Independence Day in Moldova (1991)

1776 – British forces led by William Howe (pictured) defeated the American Continental Army under George Washington at the Battle of Long Island, the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War.
1810 – Napoleonic Wars: The French Navy defeated the Royal Navy, preventing them from taking the harbour of Grand Port on Île de la Passe.
1927 – Five Canadian women filed a petition to ask the Supreme Court of Canada, "Does the word 'Persons' in Section 24 of the British North America Act, 1867, include female persons," to which the court eventually replied that it does not.
1964 – South Vietnamese junta leader Nguyễn Khánh entered into a triumvirate power-sharing arrangement with rival generals Trần Thiện Khiêm and Dương Văn Minh, who had both been involved in plots to unseat Khánh.
2003 – The planet Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years: 55,758,006 kilometres (34,646,419 mi).

More anniversaries: August 26 – August 27 – August 28

Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries

It is now August 27, 2014 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

Leiocephalus personatus is a species of curly-tailed lizard first described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1862. This specimen was photographed in the reptile zoo of Neu-Ulm, Germany.

Photo: H. Krisp

Recently featured: Galerie des Batailles – European bee-eaters – 1933 double eagle reverse

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.