On This Day — January 26

🕰️ Notable Events on January 26

• 2015 — An aircraft crashes at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain, killing 11 people and injuring 21 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — Rioting breaks out in Antananarivo, Madagascar, sparking a political crisis that will result in the replacement of President Marc Ravalomanana with Andry Rajoelina. Wikipedia ↗
• 2001 — The 7.7 Mw Gujarat earthquake shakes Western India with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), leaving 13,805-20,023 dead and about 166,800 injured. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Lewinsky scandal: On American television, U.S. President Bill Clinton denies having had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Boris Yeltsin announces that Russia will stop targeting United States cities with nuclear weapons. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Mohamed Siad Barre is removed from power in Somalia, ending centralized government, and is succeeded by Ali Mahdi. Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — The Ugandan government of Tito Okello is overthrown by the National Resistance Army, led by Yoweri Museveni. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Israel and Egypt establish diplomatic relations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Hindi becomes the official language of India. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Ranger 3 is launched to study the Moon. The space probe later misses the moon by 22,000 miles (35,400 km). Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — John F. Kennedy appoints Janet G. Travell to be the first woman Physician to the President. Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Soviet Union cedes Porkkala back to Finland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Black Saturday in Egypt: rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses. Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — The Constitution of India comes into force, forming a republic. Rajendra Prasad is sworn in as its first President of India. Observed as Republic Day in India. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — The Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory sees first light under the direction of Edwin Hubble, becoming the largest aperture optical telescope (until BTA-6 is built in 1976). Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: The Red Army begins encircling the German Fourth Army near Heiligenbeil in East Prussia, which will end in destruction of the 4th Army two months later. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: Audie Murphy displays valor and bravery in action for which he will later be awarded the Medal of Honor. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — World War II: The first United States forces arrive in Europe landing in Northern Ireland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Spanish Civil War: Catalonia Offensive: Troops loyal to nationalist General Francisco Franco and aided by Italy take Barcelona. Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — The Apollo Theater reopens in Harlem, New York City. Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact is signed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — The Indian National Congress declares 26 January as Independence Day or as the day for Poorna Swaraj ("Complete Independence") which occurred 17 years later. Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — The first demonstration of the television by John Logie Baird. Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Former Ford Motor Company executive Henry Leland launches the Lincoln Motor Company which he later sold to his former employer. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Finnish Civil War: A group of Red Guards hangs a red lantern atop the tower of Helsinki Workers' Hall to symbolically mark the start of the war. Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — The Rocky Mountain National Park is established by an act of the U.S. Congress. Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Glenn H. Curtiss flies the first successful American seaplane. Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — The world's largest diamond ever, the Cullinan weighing 3,106.75 carats (0.621350 kg), is found at the Premier Mine near Pretoria in South Africa. Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Troops loyal to The Mahdi conquer Khartoum, killing the Governor-General Charles George Gordon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1870 — Reconstruction Era: Virginia rejoins the Union. Wikipedia ↗
• 1863 — American Civil War: General Ambrose Burnside is relieved of command of the Army of the Potomac after the disastrous Fredericksburg campaign. He is replaced by Joseph Hooker. Wikipedia ↗
• 1863 — American Civil War: Governor of Massachusetts John Albion Andrew receives permission from the Secretary of War to raise a militia organization for men of African descent. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — American Civil War: The state of Louisiana secedes from the Union. Wikipedia ↗
• 1856 — First Battle of Seattle. Marines from the USS Decatur drive off American Indian attackers after all day battle with settlers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1855 — Point No Point Treaty is signed in Washington Territory. Wikipedia ↗
• 1841 — James Bremer takes formal possession of Hong Kong Island at what is now Possession Point, establishing British Hong Kong. Wikipedia ↗
• 1838 — Tennessee enacts the first prohibition law in the United States Wikipedia ↗
• 1837 — Michigan is admitted as the 26th U.S. state. Wikipedia ↗
• 1808 — The Rum Rebellion is the only successful (albeit short-lived) armed takeover of the government in Australia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1788 — The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on the continent. Commemorated as Australia Day. Wikipedia ↗
• 1736 — Stanislaus I of Poland abdicates his throne. Wikipedia ↗
• 1700 — The Cascadia earthquake takes place off the west coast of North America, as evidenced by Japanese records. Wikipedia ↗
• 1699 — For the first time, the Ottoman Empire permanently cedes territory to the Christian powers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1565 — Battle of Talikota, fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan sultanates, leads to the subjugation, and eventual destruction of the last Hindu kingdom in India, and the consolidation of Islamic rule over much of the Indian subcontinent. Wikipedia ↗
• 1564 — The Council of Trent establishes an official distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Wikipedia ↗
• 1564 — The Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeats the Tsardom of Russia in the Battle of Ula during the Livonian War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1531 — The Lisbon earthquake kills about thirty thousand people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1500 — Vicente Yáñez Pinzón becomes the first European to set foot on Brazil. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on January 26

• 1997 — Gedion Zelalem, German-born American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Sione Katoa, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Florian Thauvin, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Sasha Banks, American professional wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Peter Sagan, Slovak professional cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Nina Zander, German tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — MarShon Brooks, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Emily Hughes, American figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Dimitrios Chondrokoukis, Greek high jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Sebastian Giovinco, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Gerald Green, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Mustapha Yatabaré, French-Malian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Heather Stanning, English rower Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ryan Hoffman, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Iain Turner, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Luo Xuejuan, Chinese swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Petri Oravainen, Finnish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Eric Werner, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Reggie Hodges, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — José de Jesús Corona, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Gustavo Dudamel, Venezuelan violinist, composer, and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Juan José Haedo, Argentinian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Colin O'Donoghue, Irish actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Corina Morariu, American tennis player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Vince Carter, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Justin Gimelstob, American tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Melvil Poupaud, French actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Brendan Rodgers, Northern Irish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Mayu Shinjo, Japanese author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Kirk Franklin, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — George Dikeoulakos, Greek-Romanian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Anatoly Komm, Russian chef and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Col Needham, English businessman, co-founded Internet Movie Database Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Kazushige Nagashima, Japanese baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Thomas Östros, Swedish businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Natalia Yurchenko, Russian gymnast and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Adam Crozier, Scottish businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — José Mourinho, Portuguese footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Simon O'Donnell, Australian footballer, cricketer, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Tony Parks, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Andrew Ridgeley, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Guo Jian, Chinese-Australian painter, sculptor, and photographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Tim May, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Oscar Ruggeri, Argentinian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Wayne Gretzky, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Tom Keifer, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Anita Baker, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Ellen DeGeneres, American comedian, actress, and talk show host Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Road Warrior Hawk, American wrestler (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Eddie Van Halen, Dutch-American guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Kim Hughes, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Alik L. Alik, Micronesian politician, 7th Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Danish politician and diplomat, 39th Prime Minister of Denmark Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Lucinda Williams, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — David Briggs, Australian guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Andy Hummel, American singer-songwriter and bass player (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Anne Mills, English economist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Jörg Haider, Austrian lawyer and politician, Governor of Carinthia (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Jonathan Carroll, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — David Strathairn, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Patrick Dewaere, French actor and composer (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Les Ebdon, English chemist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Redmond Morris, 4th Baron Killanin, Irish director, producer, and production manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Michel Sardou, French singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Christopher Hampton, Portuguese-English director, screenwriter, and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Gene Siskel, American journalist and film critic (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Susan Friedlander, American mathematician Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Jacqueline du Pré, English cellist (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — David Purley, English race car driver (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Angela Davis, American activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Jerry Sandusky, American football player, coach, and criminal Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — César Gutiérrez, Venezuelan baseball player and manager (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Jack Warner, Trinidadian businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Scott Glenn, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Henry Jaglom, English-American director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Séamus Hegarty, Irish bishop Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Joseph Saidu Momoh, Sierra Leonean soldier and politician, 2nd President of Sierra Leone (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Sal Buscema, American illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Corrado Augias, Italian journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Henry Jordan, American football player (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Bob Uecker, American baseball player, sportscaster and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Paula Rego, Portuguese-born British visual artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Roger Landry, Canadian businessman and publisher Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Charles Marowitz, American director, playwright, and critic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Huey "Piano" Smith, American pianist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Jules Feiffer, American cartoonist, playwright, screenwriter, and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Roger Vadim, French actor and director (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — José Azcona del Hoyo, Honduran businessman and politician, President of Honduras (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Bob Nieman, American baseball player and scout (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Hubert Schieth, German footballer and manager (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Farman Fatehpuri, Pakistani linguist and scholar (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Joseph Bacon Fraser, Jr., American architect and businessman, co-founded the Sea Pines Company (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — David Jenkins, English bishop and theologian (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Joan Leslie, American actress (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Paul Newman, American actor, activist, director, race car driver, and businessman, co-founded Newman's Own (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Ben Pucci, American football player and sportscaster (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Claude Ryan, Canadian journalist and politician (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Annette Strauss, American philanthropist and politician, Mayor of Dallas (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Patrick J. Hannifin, American admiral (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Anne Jeffreys, American actress and singer (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Michael Bentine, English actor and screenwriter (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Seán Flanagan, Irish footballer and politician, 7th Irish Minister for Health (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Gil Merrick, English footballer (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Eddie Barclay, French record producer, founded Barclay Records (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Akio Morita, Japanese businessman, co-founded Sony (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Hans Holzer, Austrian-American paranormal researcher and author (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Valentino Mazzola, Italian footballer (d. 1949) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Bill Nicholson, English footballer and manager (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Nicolae Ceaușescu, Romanian general and politician, 1st President of Romania (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Philip José Farmer, American author (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Louis Zamperini, American runner and captain (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — William Hopper, American actor (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Dürrüşehvar Sultan, Imperial Princess of the Ottoman Empire (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Jimmy Van Heusen, American pianist and composer (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Polykarp Kusch, German-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Norbert Schultze, German composer and conductor (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Jean Image, Hungarian-French animator, director, and screenwriter (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Jill Esmond, English actress (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Rupprecht Geiger, German painter and sculptor (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Stéphane Grappelli, French violinist (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Henry Cotton, English golfer (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Dimitrios Holevas, Greek priest and philologist (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Charles Lane, American actor and singer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Maria von Trapp, Austrian-American singer (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Ancel Keys, American physiologist and nutritionist (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Seán MacBride, Irish lawyer and politician, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Menno ter Braak, Dutch author (d. 1940) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Karl Ristenpart, German conductor (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Günther Reindorff, Russian-Estonian graphic designer and illustrator (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Giuseppe Genco Russo, Italian mob boss (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1892 — Bessie Coleman, American pilot (d. 1926) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — Frank Costello, Italian-American mob boss (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — August Froehlich, German priest and martyr (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — Wilder Penfield, American-Canadian neurosurgeon and academic (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — François Faber, French-Luxembourgian cyclist (d. 1915) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — Marc Mitscher, American admiral and pilot (d. 1947) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — Dimitris Pikionis, Greek architect and academic (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Michael Considine, Irish-Australian politician (d. 1959) Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — Harry Ricardo, English engineer and academic (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
• 1880 — Douglas MacArthur, American general, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1964) Wikipedia ↗
• 1878 — Dave Nourse, English-South African cricketer and coach (d. 1948) Wikipedia ↗
• 1866 — John Cady, American golfer (d. 1933) Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — József Pusztai, Slovene-Hungarian poet and journalist (d. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — Louis Anquetin, French painter (d. 1932) Wikipedia ↗
• 1852 — Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, Italian-French explorer (d. 1905) Wikipedia ↗
• 1842 — François Coppée, French poet and author (d. 1908) Wikipedia ↗
• 1832 — George Shiras, Jr., American lawyer and jurist (d. 1924) Wikipedia ↗
• 1813 — Juan Pablo Duarte, Dominican philosopher and poet (d. 1876) Wikipedia ↗
• 1781 — Ludwig Achim von Arnim, German poet and author (d. 1831) Wikipedia ↗
• 1763 — Charles XIV John of Sweden (d. 1844) Wikipedia ↗
• 1722 — Alexander Carlyle, Scottish minister and author (d. 1805) Wikipedia ↗
• 1716 — George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville, English general and politician, Secretary of State for the Colonies (d. 1785) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on January 26 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on January 26

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Auckland Anniversary Day (NZ) · Australia Day (AU) · Republic Day (IN)

✡️ Religious Observances

• Islamic: Birth of Sayyidina Qasim ibn Hasan (ر)