On This Day in History — June 26

Highlights of June 26

• 2015 — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the right of same-sex couples to marry is guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Read more
• 2013 — The U.S. Supreme Court granted federal recognition to same-sex marriage when it overturned the Defense of Marriage Act. Read more
• 2010 — A G20 summit, the largest and most expensive security operation in Canadian history, began in downtown Toronto. Read more
• 2003 — The U.S. Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws in the country in the landmark decision Lawrence v. Texas. Read more
• 1997 — J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book in the Harry Potter fantasy novel series, was released. Read more
• 1950 — A Douglas DC-4 Skymaster aircraft crashed after departing from Perth, becoming the worst peacetime aviation accident in Australia's history. Read more
• 1945 — At a conference in San Francisco, delegates from 50 nations signed a charter establishing the United Nations. Read more
• 1918 — World War I: The 26-day Battle of Belleau Wood near the Marne River in France ended with American forces finally clearing that forest of German troops. Read more
• 1907 — Organized by Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, among others, Bolshevik revolutionaries robbed a bank stagecoach in Tiflis, present-day Georgia. Read more
• 1906 — The 1906 French Grand Prix, the first Grand Prix motor racing competition, began near Le Mans. Read more
• 1889 — Bangui, the capital and largest city of the present-day Central African Republic, was founded in French Congo. Read more
• 1886 — French chemist Henri Moissan successfully isolated elemental fluorine (pictured in liquid state), for which he later won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Read more
• 1848 — French authorities suppressed the June Days uprising (pictured), in which workers rioted in response to plans to close the National Workshops. Read more
• 1844 — Julia Gardiner (pictured) married U.S. President John Tyler at the Church of the Ascension in New York, becoming the first lady. Read more
• 1409 — The Council of Pisa elected Peter of Candia as Alexander V, becoming the third simultaneous claimant of the papacy during the Western Schism. Read more
• 1243 — Mongol conquest of Anatolia: Mongols achieved a decisive victory over the Seljuk Turks, leading to the decline and disintegration of the Seljuk state. Read more

Events

• 2024 — Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, returns to Australia after pleading guilty to one charge of espionage in a Saipan court and subsequently being released by the United States Department of Justice. Read more
• 2015 — Five different terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia, Somalia, Kuwait, and Syria occur on what was dubbed Bloody Friday by international media. Upwards of 750 people are either killed or injured in these uncoordinated attacks. Read more
• 2015 — The U.S. Supreme Court rules, 5–4, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Read more
• 2013 — Riots in China's Xinjiang region kill at least 36 people and injure 21 others. Read more
• 2013 — The U.S. Supreme Court rules, 5–4, that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and in violation of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Read more
• 2012 — The Waldo Canyon fire descends into the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs, United States, burning 347 homes in a matter of hours and killing two people. Read more
• 2008 — A suicide bomber dressed as an Iraqi policeman detonates an explosive vest, killing 25 people. Read more
• 2007 — Pope Benedict XVI reinstates the traditional laws of papal election in which a successful candidate must receive two-thirds of the votes. Read more
• 2006 — Mari Alkatiri, the first Prime Minister of East Timor, resigns after weeks of political unrest. Read more
• 2003 — The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Lawrence v. Texas that sex-based sodomy laws are unconstitutional. Read more
• 2000 — The Human Genome Project announces the completion of a "rough draft" sequence. Read more
• 1997 — The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the Communications Decency Act violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Read more
• 1997 — J. K. Rowling publishes the first of her Harry Potter novel series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in the United Kingdom. Read more
• 1995 — Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani deposes his father Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, in a bloodless coup d'état. Read more
• 1991 — Yugoslav Wars: The Yugoslav People's Army begins the Ten-Day War in Slovenia. Read more
• 1988 — The first crash of an Airbus A320 occurs when Air France Flight 296Q crashes at Mulhouse–Habsheim Airfield in Habsheim, France, during an air show, killing three of the 136 people on board. Read more
• 1981 — Dan-Air Flight 240, flying to East Midlands Airport, crashes in Nailstone, Leicestershire. All three crew members perish. Read more
• 1978 — Air Canada Flight 189, flying to Toronto, overruns the runway and crashes into the Etobicoke Creek ravine. Two of the 107 passengers on board perish. Read more
• 1975 — Two FBI agents and a member of the American Indian Movement are killed in a shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota; Leonard Peltier is later convicted of the murders in a controversial trial. Read more
• 1974 — The Universal Product Code is scanned for the first time to sell a package of Wrigley's chewing gum at the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio. Read more
• 1967 — Karol Wojtyła (later John Paul II) is made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. Read more
• 1963 — Cold War: U.S. President John F. Kennedy gives his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech, underlining the support of the United States for democratic West Germany shortly after Soviet-supported East Germany erected the Berlin Wall. Read more
• 1960 — The former British Protectorate of British Somaliland gains its independence as Somaliland. Read more
• 1960 — Madagascar gains its independence from France. Read more
• 1959 — Swedish boxer Ingemar Johansson becomes world champion of heavyweight boxing, by defeating American Floyd Patterson on technical knockout after two minutes and three seconds in the third round at Yankee Stadium. Read more
• 1955 — The South African Congress Alliance adopts the Freedom Charter at the Congress of the People in Kliptown. Read more
• 1953 — Lavrentiy Beria, head of MVD, is arrested by Nikita Khrushchev and other members of the Politburo. Read more
• 1952 — The Pan-Malayan Labour Party is founded in Malaya, as a union of statewide labour parties. Read more
• 1948 — Cold War: The first supply flights are made in response to the Berlin Blockade. Read more
• 1948 — William Shockley files the original patent for the grown-junction transistor, the first bipolar junction transistor. Read more
• 1945 — The United Nations Charter is signed by 50 Allied nations in San Francisco, California. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: San Marino, a neutral state, is mistakenly bombed by the RAF based on faulty information, leading to 35 civilian deaths. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: The Battle of Osuchy in Osuchy, Poland, one of the largest battles between Nazi Germany and Polish resistance forces, ends with the defeat of the latter. Read more
• 1942 — The first flight of the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Read more
• 1941 — World War II: Soviet planes bomb Kassa, Hungary (now Košice, Slovakia), giving Hungary the impetus to declare war the next day. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union presents an ultimatum to Romania requiring it to cede Bessarabia and the northern part of Bukovina. Read more
• 1936 — Initial flight of the Focke-Wulf Fw 61, the first practical helicopter. Read more
• 1934 — United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Federal Credit Union Act, which establishes credit unions. Read more
• 1924 — The American occupation of the Dominican Republic ends after eight years. Read more
• 1918 — World War I: Allied forces under John J. Pershing and James Harbord defeat Imperial German forces under Wilhelm, German Crown Prince in the Battle of Belleau Wood. Read more
• 1917 — World War I: The American Expeditionary Forces begin to arrive in France. They will first enter combat in the Battle of Hamel on July 4. Read more
• 1909 — The Science Museum in London comes into existence as an independent entity. Read more
• 1906 — The first Grand Prix motor race is held at Le Mans. Read more
• 1889 — Bangui is founded by Albert Dolisie and Alfred Uzac in what was then the upper reaches of the French Congo. Read more
• 1886 — Henri Moissan isolates elemental fluorine for the first time. Read more
• 1857 — The first investiture of the Victoria Cross takes place in Hyde Park, London. Read more
• 1848 — End of the June Days Uprising in Paris, France. Read more
• 1843 — Treaty of Nanking comes into effect; Hong Kong Island is ceded to the British "in perpetuity". Read more
• 1830 — William IV becomes king of Britain and Hanover following the death without surviving legitimate issue of his older brother George IV. Read more
• 1794 — French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of Fleurus marks the first successful military use of aircraft and turns the tide of the War of the First Coalition. Read more
• 1740 — A combined force of Spanish, free blacks and allied Indians defeat a British garrison at the Siege of Fort Mose near St. Augustine during the War of Jenkins' Ear. Read more
• 1723 — After a siege and bombardment by cannon, Baku surrenders to the Russians. Read more
• 1718 — Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia, Peter the Great's son, mysteriously dies after being sentenced to death by his father for plotting against him. Read more
• 1656 — A joined Hospitaller-Venetian fleet defeats a numerically superior Ottoman fleet in the battle of the Dardanelles. Read more
• 1579 — Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory begins. Read more
• 1541 — Francisco Pizarro is assassinated in Lima by the son of his former companion and later antagonist, Diego de Almagro the younger. Almagro is later caught and executed. Read more
• 1539 — Afghan Sur forces under Sher Shah Suri defeat a Mughal army under Humayun in the battle of Chausa. Read more
• 1522 — Ottomans begin the second Siege of Rhodes. Read more
• 1483 — Richard III becomes King of England. Read more
• 1460 — War of the Roses: Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, and Edward, Earl of March, land in England with a rebel army and march on London. Read more

Born on June 26

• 2005 — Princess Alexia of the Netherlands Read more
• 2004 — Mikey Williams, American basketball player Read more
• 2002 — Chandler Smith, American race car driver Read more
• 2002 — Manon Bannerman, Swiss singer and dancer Read more
• 2000 — Ann Li, American tennis player Read more
• 1999 — Connor Dewar, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1997 — Baek Ye-rin, South Korean singer Read more
• 1997 — Jacob Elordi, Australian actor Read more
• 1997 — Callum Taylor, English cricketer Read more
• 1997 — Ethan Bear, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1994 — Hollie Arnold, English javelin thrower Read more
• 1994 — Leonard Carow, German actor Read more
• 1993 — Ariana Grande, American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress Read more
• 1992 — Joel Campbell, Costa Rican footballer Read more
• 1992 — Rudy Gobert, French basketball player Read more
• 1992 — Jennette McCurdy, American actress and singer-songwriter Read more
• 1991 — Houssem Chemali, French footballer Read more
• 1991 — Diego Falcinelli, Italian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Dustin Martin, Australian rules footballer Read more
• 1990 — Belaynesh Oljira, Ethiopian runner Read more
• 1990 — Iman Shumpert, American basketball player Read more
• 1990 — Igor Subbotin, Estonian footballer Read more
• 1990 — Brandon Sklenar, American actor Read more
• 1988 — Oliver Stang, German footballer Read more
• 1988 — King Bach, Canadian-American actor, comedian, director, producer, writer and social media personality Read more
• 1987 — Carlos Iaconelli, Brazilian racing driver Read more
• 1987 — Samir Nasri, French footballer Read more
• 1986 — Duvier Riascos, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Tibetan spiritual leader, 17th Karmapa Lama Read more
• 1984 — J. J. Barea, Puerto Rican-American basketball player Read more
• 1984 — Yankuba Ceesay, Gambian footballer Read more
• 1984 — Elijah Dukes, American baseball player Read more
• 1984 — Raymond Felton, American basketball player Read more
• 1984 — Indila, French singer Read more
• 1984 — Priscah Jeptoo, Kenyan runner Read more
• 1984 — Aubrey Plaza, American actress Read more
• 1984 — Preslava, Bulgarian singer Read more
• 1984 — Deron Williams, American basketball player Read more
• 1984 — Cody McLeod, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1983 — Vinícius Rodrigues Almeida, Brazilian footballer Read more

Died on June 26

• 2026 — Joe Doering, American professional wrestler (born 1982) Read more
• 2025 — Carolyn McCarthy, American nurse and politician (born 1944) Read more
• 2025 — Bill Moyers, American journalist, 13th White House Press Secretary (born 1934) Read more
• 2025 — Lalo Schifrin, Argentinian pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1932) Read more
• 2025 — Takutai Tarsh Kemp, New Zealand politician (born 1975) Read more
• 2024 — Taiki Matsuno, Japanese voice actor (born 1967) Read more
• 2022 — Margaret Keane, American artist (born 1927) Read more
• 2021 — Mike Gravel, American politician (born 1930) Read more
• 2020 — Milton Glaser, American graphic designer (born 1929) Read more
• 2019 — Beth Chapman, American reality Television star, Bounty Hunter (born 1967) Read more
• 2019 — Emily Stonington, American politician from Montana (born 1947) Read more
• 2015 — Yevgeny Primakov, Ukrainian-Russian journalist and politician, 32nd Prime Minister of Russia (born 1929) Read more
• 2015 — Chris Thompson, American screenwriter and producer (born 1952) Read more
• 2014 — Howard Baker, American lawyer, politician, and diplomat, 12th White House Chief of Staff (born 1925) Read more
• 2014 — Bill Frank, American-Canadian football player (born 1938) Read more
• 2014 — Rollin King, American businessman, co-founded Southwest Airlines (born 1931) Read more
• 2014 — Bob Mischak, American football player and coach (born 1932) Read more
• 2014 — Julius Rudel, Austrian-American conductor (born 1921) Read more
• 2014 — Mary Rodgers, American composer and author (born 1931) Read more
• 2013 — Henrik Otto Donner, Finnish trumpet player and composer (born 1939) Read more
• 2013 — Edward Huggins Johnstone, Brazilian-American sergeant and judge (born 1922) Read more
• 2013 — Byron Looper, American politician (born 1964) Read more
• 2013 — Justin Miller, American baseball player (born 1977) Read more
• 2013 — Marc Rich, Belgian-American businessman (born 1934) Read more
• 2012 — Sverker Åström, Swedish diplomat, Swedish Permanent Representative to the United Nations (born 1915) Read more
• 2012 — Pat Cummings, American basketball player (born 1956) Read more
• 2012 — Nora Ephron, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1941) Read more
• 2012 — Mario O'Hara, Filipino director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1944) Read more
• 2012 — Doris Singleton, American actress (born 1919) Read more
• 2011 — Edith Fellows, American actress (born 1923) Read more
• 2011 — Jan van Beveren, Dutch footballer and coach (born 1948) Read more
• 2010 — Algirdas Brazauskas, Lithuanian engineer and politician, 4th President of Lithuania (born 1932) Read more
• 2010 — Harald Keres, Estonian physicist and academic (born 1912) Read more
• 2007 — Liz Claiborne, Belgian-American fashion designer, founded Liz Claiborne (born 1929) Read more
• 2007 — Joey Sadler, New Zealand rugby player (born 1914) Read more
• 2006 — Tommy Wonder, Dutch magician (born 1953) Read more
• 2005 — Tõnno Lepmets, Estonian basketball player (born 1938) Read more
• 2005 — Richard Whiteley, English journalist and game show host (born 1943) Read more
• 2004 — Ott Arder, Estonian poet and translator (born 1950) Read more
• 2004 — Yash Johar, Indian film producer, founded Dharma Productions (born 1929) Read more

Holidays & observances

Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan; Christian feast day: Anthelm of Belley; Christian feast day: David the Dendrite; Christian feast day: Blessed Giacinto Longhin; Christian feast day: Hermogius; Christian feast day: Isabel Florence Hapgood (Episcopal Church); Christian feast day: Jeremiah (Lutheran); Christian feast day: John and Paul; Christian feast day: José María Robles Hurtado (one of Saints of the Cristero War); Christian feast day: Josemaría Escrivá; Christian feast day: Mar Abhai (Syriac Orthodox Church); Christian feast day: Pelagius of Córdoba; Christian feast day: Blessed Therese-Madeleine Fantou; Christian feast day: Vigilius of Trent; Christian feast day: June 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Somaliland from United Kingdom in 1960. (Somaliland); International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (International); International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (International); World Refrigeration Day (International)

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