The following events occurred in February 1927:
February 1, 1927 (Tuesday) In its third year of conferring B.A. degrees, the "Southern Branch of the University of California" formally changed to its present name to the University of California at Los Angeles, more commonly referred to as UCLA. The first seaside resort hotel in Hawaii, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel opened for business. Now called the "Pink Palace", the hotel originally owned of land in Honolulu at Waikiki. On the same day, the first and only luxury hotel in Death Valley National Park— originally called The Furnace Creek Inn, and later the Oasis at Death Valley— opened in the California desert. Born: Galway Kinnell, American poet, in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 2014) Died: Sir George Higginson, 100, British general and Crimean War hero
February 2, 1927 (Wednesday) After ax murderer George J. Hassell gave directions, police in Whittier, California unearthed the bodies of his wife and three children. Hassell on death row in Texas for the murder there of a second wife and eight other children, earned a postponement of his February 27 execution date. The Ziegfeld Theatre opened on Broadway with the production Rio Rita. The building was razed in 1967 Born: Stan Getz, American jazz saxophonist, in Philadelphia (d. 1991)
February 3, 1927 (Thursday) A revolt against the government of Portugal broke out at Oporto. After six days of fighting, and at least 120 deaths, the rebels surrendered after it appeared that Oporto would be destroyed by heavy artillery. More than 600 conspirators and participants were exiled to Portugal's colonies in the Azores and Cape Verde. The 4th Regiment of the United States Marines, with 1,200 men, was dispatched from San Diego to protect Americans in Shanghai. After arriving on the transport USS Chaumont on February 27, the unit continued its presence in Shanghai until 1941. The Brazilian airline VARIG (Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense) began operations. William Phillips was named as the first U.S. Minister to Canada, and Frederick A. Sterling was named as the first United States Ambassador to Ireland. Prior to 1927, diplomatic relations with Canada and the Irish Free State had been conducted directly with the United Kingdom. Born: Val Doonican, Irish singer and TV personality, in Waterford (d. 2015) Blas Ople, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2002 until his death in 2003; in Hagonoy (d. 2003)
February 4, 1927 (Friday) Malcolm Campbell of England broke the world's record for the fastest speed in an automobile, driving at nearly per hour on the Pendine Sands in Wales. Driving the Napier-Campbell Blue Bird, Campbell averaged 174.883 mph (281.447 km/h). U.S. Senator Matthew M. Neely (D-WV) introduced a bill in the Senate to provide a $5,000,000 reward to the discoverer of a cure for cancer. Neely would die of cancer on January 18, 1958, after his own 15-month battle with the disease. Flying in an airplane approximately above Columbus Circle in New York City, baritone John Charles Thomas sang operatic arias to an audience in the first public test of what he called the "Voice of the Sky", a secret sound-reproducing and amplifying device which makes possible direct vocal communication between aircraft and any one on the ground.
February 5, 1927 (Saturday) The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), described as "a non-profit organisation training surgeons and maintaining surgical standards in Australia and New Zealand", was founded. The United States Tennis Association dropped its 1926 national champion, Vincent Richards, from its rankings after Richards became the most famous player to that time to turn professional. Bill Tilden, at that time still an amateur, replaced Richards at #1 in the rankings.
February 6, 1927 (Sunday) In Nicaragua, a force of 1,500 rebels captured the city of Chinandega and burned the city, at one time the national capital. Government troops retook the town after a battle of five days. Reportedly, 300 people were killed and 500 were wounded. At the request of President Adolfo Díaz, the United States sent troops to Chinandega.