On This Day in History — May 26

Highlights of May 26

• 2025 — A car rammed into a crowd on Water Street, Liverpool, injuring 65 people. Read more
• 2020 — Protests following the murder of George Floyd erupted in Minneapolis–Saint Paul before spreading across the United States and internationally. Read more
• 2002 — Barges being towed destroyed part of a bridge (aftermath pictured) near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, causing vehicles to fall into the Robert S. Kerr Reservoir on the Arkansas River. Read more
• 1999 — Manchester United won the UEFA Champions League final to become the first English football club to win three major championships in the same season. Read more
• 1989 — Tropical Storm Cecil dissipated over Laos after devastating Quảng Nam province, Vietnam, and causing the deaths of 751 people. Read more
• 1967 — The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, one of the first progressive rock albums, was released. Read more
• 1940 — Second World War: The Allies began a mass evacuation of British, French and Belgian troops cut off by the German army during the Battle of Dunkirk. Read more
• 1938 — The House Un-American Activities Committee was established to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities by people or organizations in the U.S. suspected of having communist or fascist ties. Read more
• 1933 — American singer Jimmie Rodgers died at the Taft Hotel in New York City. Read more
• 1932 — Donoghue v Stevenson is decided, ultimately establishing the foundation for negligence in common law jurisdictions worldwide. Read more
• 1906 — Vauxhall Bridge in London opened, crossing the River Thames between Vauxhall and Westminster. Read more
• 1897 — The Church of England returned the original manuscript of William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation, an account of the Pilgrims and the early years of the Plymouth Colony, to the state of Massachusetts. Read more
• 1894 — Germany's Emanuel Lasker defeated Wilhelm Steinitz to become the world chess champion, beginning a record 27-year reign. Read more
• 1888 — The comic novel The Diary of a Nobody by brothers George and Weedon Grossmith first appeared in serial form in Punch. Read more
• 1868 — The impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson adjourned after the second and third articles of impeachment did not obtain enough votes from the U.S. Senate to convict. Read more
• 1865 — American Civil War: General Edmund Kirby Smith negotiated the surrender of his army, the only significant Confederate Army force remaining in the war. Read more
• 1822 — The deadliest fire in Norwegian history occurred at a church in Grue, killing at least 113 people. Read more
• 1644 — Portuguese Restoration War: Portuguese and Spanish forces both claimed victory at the Battle of Montijo. Read more
• 1328 — English friar William of Ockham, who popularised the methodological principle known as Occam's razor, secretly left Avignon under threat from Pope John XXII. Read more
• 946 — King Edmund I (pictured) of England was murdered at Pucklechurch on the feast day of St Augustine. Read more

Events

• 2025 — 65 people are injured when a car rams into a crowd on Water Street, near Liverpool F.C.'s Premier League trophy parade. Read more
• 2021 — Ten people are killed in a shooting at a VTA rail yard in San Jose, California, United States. Read more
• 2020 — Protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd erupt in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, later becoming widespread across the United States and around the world. Read more
• 2014 — Narendra Modi takes oath as the 15th Prime Minister of India. Read more
• 2008 — Severe flooding begins in eastern and southern China that will ultimately cause 148 deaths and force the evacuation of 1.3 million. Read more
• 2003 — Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines Flight 4230 crashes in the Turkish town of Maçka, killing 75. Read more
• 2002 — The tugboat Robert Y. Love collides with a support pier of Interstate 40 on the Arkansas River near Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, resulting in 14 deaths and 11 others injured. Read more
• 1998 — The Supreme Court of the United States rules in New Jersey v. New York that Ellis Island, the historic gateway for millions of immigrants, is mainly in the state of New Jersey, not New York. Read more
• 1998 — The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia. Reconciliation events are held nationally, and attended by over a million people. Read more
• 1998 — A MIAT Mongolian Airlines Harbin Y-12 crashes near Erdenet, Orkhon Province, Mongolia, resulting in 28 deaths. Read more
• 1991 — Zviad Gamsakhurdia becomes the first elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era. Read more
• 1991 — Lauda Air Flight 004 breaks apart in mid-air and crashes in the Phu Toei National Park in the Suphan Buri province of Thailand, killing all 223 people on board. Read more
• 1986 — The European Community adopts the European flag. Read more
• 1983 — The 7.8 Mw Sea of Japan earthquake shakes northern Honshu with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). A destructive tsunami is generated that leaves about 100 people dead. Read more
• 1981 — Italian Prime Minister Arnaldo Forlani and his coalition cabinet resign following a scandal over membership of the pseudo-masonic lodge P2 (Propaganda Due). Read more
• 1981 — An EA-6B Prowler crashes on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, killing 14 crewmen and injuring 45 others. Read more
• 1972 — Cold War: The United States and the Soviet Union sign the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Read more
• 1971 — Bangladesh Liberation War: The Pakistan Army slaughters at least 71 Hindus in Burunga, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Read more
• 1970 — The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2. Read more
• 1969 — Apollo program: Apollo 10 returns to Earth after a successful eight-day test of all the components needed for the forthcoming first crewed Moon landing. Read more
• 1968 — H-dagurinn in Iceland: Traffic changes from driving on the left to driving on the right overnight. Read more
• 1967 — The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is released. Read more
• 1966 — British Guiana gains independence, becoming Guyana. Read more
• 1948 — The U.S. Congress passes Public Law 80-557, which permanently establishes the Civil Air Patrol as an auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Read more
• 1942 — World War II: The Battle of Gazala begins, in present-day Libya. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: Operation Dynamo: In northern France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France. The Battle of Dunkirk begins simultaneously as Allied defenders fight to slow down the German offensive. Read more
• 1940 — World War II: The Siege of Calais ends with the surrender of the British and French garrison. Read more
• 1938 — In the United States, the House Un-American Activities Committee begins its first session. Read more
• 1937 — Walter Reuther and members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) clash with Ford Motor Company security guards at the River Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, during the Battle of the Overpass. Read more
• 1936 — In the House of Commons of Northern Ireland, Tommy Henderson begins speaking on the Appropriation bill. By the time he sits down in the early hours of the following morning, he had spoken for ten hours. Read more
• 1927 — The last Ford Model T rolls off the assembly line after a production run of 15,007,003 vehicles. Read more
• 1926 — Abd el-Krim ends surrenders to the French, bringing an end to the Rif War. Read more
• 1923 — The first 24 Hours of Le Mans is held in France. Run annually in June thereafter, it became the oldest endurance racing event in the world. Read more
• 1918 — The Democratic Republic of Georgia is established. Read more
• 1908 — The first major commercial oil strike in the Middle East is made at Masjed Soleyman in southwest Persia. The rights to the resource were quickly acquired by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. Read more
• 1903 — Românul de la Pind, the longest-running newspaper by and about Aromanians until World War II, is founded. Read more
• 1900 — Thousand Days' War: The Colombian Conservative Party turns the tide of war in their favor with victory against the Colombian Liberal Party in the Battle of Palonegro. Read more
• 1896 — Nicholas II is crowned as the last Tsar of Imperial Russia. Read more
• 1896 — Charles Dow publishes the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Read more
• 1879 — Russia and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Gandamak establishing an Afghan state. Read more
• 1869 — Boston University is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Read more
• 1868 — Impeachment of Andrew Johnson: President Andrew Johnson is acquitted by one vote in the United States Senate. Read more
• 1865 — Conclusion of the American Civil War: The Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi division, is the last full general of the Confederate Army to surrender, at Galveston, Texas. Read more
• 1864 — President Abraham Lincoln signs legislation organizing the Montana Territory. Read more
• 1822 — At least 113 people die in the Grue Church fire, the biggest fire disaster in Norway's history. Read more
• 1821 — Establishment of the Peloponnesian Senate by the Greek rebels. Read more
• 1805 — Napoléon Bonaparte assumes the title of King of Italy and is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy in Milan Cathedral, the gothic cathedral in Milan. Read more
• 1783 — A Great Jubilee Day held at North Stratford, Connecticut, celebrates the end of fighting in the American Revolutionary War. Read more
• 1736 — The Battle of Ackia is fought near the present site of Tupelo, Mississippi. British and Chickasaw soldiers repel a French and Choctaw attack on the then-Chickasaw village of Ackia. Read more
• 1644 — Portuguese Restoration War: Portuguese and Spanish forces both claim victory in the Battle of Montijo. Read more
• 1637 — Pequot War: A combined English and Mohegan force under John Mason attacks a village in Connecticut, massacring approximately 500 Pequots. Read more
• 1573 — The Battle of Haarlemmermeer, a naval engagement in the Eighty Years' War. Read more
• 1538 — Geneva expels John Calvin and his followers from the city. Calvin lives in exile in Strasbourg for the next three years. Read more
• 1328 — William of Ockham, the Franciscan Minister-General Michael of Cesena, and two other Franciscan leaders secretly leave Avignon, fearing a death sentence from Pope John XXII. Read more
• 1293 — An earthquake strikes Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, killing about 23,000. Read more
• 1135 — Alfonso VII of León and Castile is crowned in León Cathedral as Imperator totius Hispaniae (Emperor of all of Spain). Read more
• 961 — King Otto I elects his six-year-old son Otto II as heir apparent and co-ruler of the East Frankish Kingdom. He is crowned at Aachen, and placed under the tutelage of his grandmother Matilda. Read more
• 946 — England is left temporarily without a monarch after the death of King Edmund I in a street fight, resulting in Edmund's brother Eadred assuming the throne for the minority of Edmund's two sons. Read more
• 866 — Basil I is crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire by Michael III. Read more
• 451 — Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sasanian Empire takes place. The Sasanids defeat the Armenians militarily but guarantee them freedom to openly practice Christianity. Read more

Born on May 26

• 2000 — Yeji, South Korean singer Read more
• 1999 — Micah Parsons, American football player Read more
• 1999 — Georgia Wareham, Australian cricketer Read more
• 1997 — Mathew Barzal, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1996 — Lara Goodall, South African cricketer Read more
• 1994 — Gong Myung, South Korean actor Read more
• 1993 — Jason Adesanya, Belgian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Ah Young, South Korean singer and actress Read more
• 1989 — Paula Findlay, Canadian triathlete Read more
• 1989 — Park Ye-eun, South Korean singer Read more
• 1988 — Andrea Catellani, Italian footballer Read more
• 1988 — Juan Cuadrado, Colombian footballer Read more
• 1988 — Dani Samuels, Australian discus thrower Read more
• 1987 — Olcay Şahan, Turkish footballer Read more
• 1986 — Michel Tornéus, Swedish long jumper Read more
• 1985 — Monika Christodoulou, Greek singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1985 — Ashley Vincent, English footballer Read more
• 1983 — Demy de Zeeuw, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1983 — Nathan Merritt, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1982 — Hasan Kabze, Turkish footballer Read more
• 1981 — Anthony Ervin, American swimmer Read more
• 1981 — Jason Manford, English actor, screenwriter, and television host Read more
• 1981 — Ben Zobrist, American baseball player Read more
• 1980 — Louis-Jean Cormier, Canadian singer and songwriter Read more
• 1979 — Ashley Massaro, American wrestler and model (died 2019) Read more
• 1979 — Natalya Nazarova, Russian sprinter Read more
• 1979 — Mehmet Okur, Turkish basketball player Read more
• 1978 — Fabio Firmani, Italian footballer Read more
• 1978 — Dan Parks, Australian-Scottish rugby player Read more
• 1977 — Nikos Chatzivrettas, Greek basketball player Read more
• 1977 — Raina Telgemeier, American author and cartoonist Read more
• 1977 — Luca Toni, Italian footballer Read more
• 1977 — Misaki Ito, Japanese actress and model Read more
• 1976 — Paul Collingwood, English cricketer and coach Read more
• 1976 — Stephen Curry, Australian comedian and actor Read more
• 1976 — Kenny Florian, American mixed martial artist and sportscaster Read more
• 1975 — Lauryn Hill, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress Read more
• 1974 — Lars Frölander, Swedish swimmer Read more
• 1973 — Naomi Harris, Canadian-American photographer Read more
• 1971 — Zaher Andary, Lebanese footballer Read more

Died on May 26

• 2022 — Andy Fletcher, English musician (born 1961) Read more
• 2022 — Ray Liotta, American actor (born 1954) Read more
• 2022 — Alan White, English drummer (born 1949) Read more
• 2019 — Prem Tinsulanonda, Former Prime Minister of Thailand (born 1920) Read more
• 2017 — Zbigniew Brzezinski, Polish-born American politician (born 1928) Read more
• 2016 — Hedy Epstein, German-born American human rights activist and Holocaust survivor (born 1924) Read more
• 2015 — Vicente Aranda, Spanish director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1926) Read more
• 2015 — Les Johnson, Australian politician and diplomat, Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand (born 1924) Read more
• 2015 — Robert Kraft, American astronomer and academic (born 1927) Read more
• 2015 — João Lucas, Portuguese footballer (born 1979) Read more
• 2014 — Baselios Thoma Didymos I, Indian metropolitan (born 1921) Read more
• 2014 — Miodrag Radulovacki, Serbian-American academic and neuropharmacologist (born 1933) Read more
• 2014 — William R. Roy, American physician, journalist, and politician (born 1926) Read more
• 2014 — Hooshang Seyhoun, Iranian-Canadian architect, sculptor, and painter (born 1920) Read more
• 2013 — Ray Barnhart, American businessman and politician (born 1928) Read more
• 2013 — John Bierwirth, American lawyer and businessman (born 1924) Read more
• 2013 — Roberto Civita, Italian-Brazilian businessman (born 1936) Read more
• 2013 — Tom Lichtenberg, American football player and coach (born 1940) Read more
• 2013 — Otto Muehl, Austrian painter (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — Jack Vance, American author (born 1916) Read more
• 2012 — Arthur Decabooter, Belgian cyclist (born 1936) Read more
• 2012 — Leo Dillon, American illustrator (born 1933) Read more
• 2012 — Stephen Healey, Welsh captain and footballer (born 1982) Read more
• 2012 — Hiroshi Miyazawa, Japanese politician (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — Hans Schmidt, Canadian wrestler (born 1925) Read more
• 2012 — Jim Unger, English-Canadian illustrator (born 1937) Read more
• 2011 — Arisen Ahubudu, Sri Lankan scholar, author, and playwright (born 1920) Read more
• 2010 — Art Linkletter, Canadian-American radio and television host (born 1912) Read more
• 2010 — Chris Moran, English air marshal and pilot (born 1956) Read more
• 2010 — Kieran Phelan, Irish politician (born 1949) Read more
• 2009 — Mihalis Papagiannakis, Greek journalist and politician (born 1941) Read more
• 2009 — Peter Zezel, Canadian ice hockey and soccer player (born 1965) Read more
• 2008 — Sydney Pollack, American actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1934) Read more
• 2008 — Zita Urbonaitė, Lithuanian cyclist (born 1973) Read more
• 2007 — Jack Edward Oliver, English illustrator (born 1942) Read more
• 2007 — Howard Porter, American basketball player (born 1948) Read more
• 2006 — Édouard Michelin, French businessman (born 1963) Read more
• 2006 — Kevin O'Flanagan, Irish footballer and physician (born 1919) Read more
• 2005 — Eddie Albert, American actor (born 1906) Read more
• 2005 — Chico Carrasquel, Venezuelan baseball player and manager (born 1928) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Andrew Kaggwa; Christian feast day: Augustine of Canterbury (Anglican Communion and Eastern Orthodox); Christian feast day: Lambert of Vence; Christian feast day: Mariana de Jesús de Paredes; Christian feast day: Martyrs of the Paris Commune; Christian feast day: Peter Sanz (one of Martyr Saints of China); Christian feast day: Philip Neri; Christian feast day: Pope Eleutherius; Christian feast day: Zachary, Bishop of Vienne; Christian feast day: May 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Independence Day, commemorates the declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918 (Georgia); Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Guyana from the United Kingdom in 1966.; Mother's Day (Poland); National Paper Airplane Day (United States); National Sorry Day (Australia)

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