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On This Day in History — October 26
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Highlights of October 26
- 2004 — Rockstar Games released Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, considered one of the best video games ever made, in North America. Read more
- 2001 — President George W. Bush signed the Patriot Act into law, significantly expanding the authority of United States law enforcement agencies. Read more
- 2000 — Following protests against military leader Robert Guéï, Laurent Gbagbo (pictured) became the president of Ivory Coast. Read more
- 1994 — Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty, settling relations between the two countries and pledging that neither would allow its territory to become a staging ground for military strikes by a third country. Read more
- 1977 — Somali hospital cook Ali Maow Maalin began displaying symptoms of smallpox, becoming the last person known to be naturally infected by the disease. Read more
- 1955 — Ngô Đình Diệm proclaimed himself president of the newly created Republic of Vietnam after defeating former emperor Bảo Đại in a fraudulent referendum supervised by his brother Ngô Đình Nhu. Read more
- 1921 — The Chicago Theatre (pictured), the oldest surviving grand movie palace, opened. Read more
- 1906 — The Illinois Memorial, honoring Union army soldiers from Illinois who fought at the Siege of Vicksburg, was dedicated at Vicksburg National Military Park. Read more
- 1905 — The Saint Petersburg Soviet held its first meeting, becoming the first elected body in Russia to represent workers. Read more
- 1902 — A group of Russian explorers led by Baron von Toll left their camp on Bennett Island and disappeared without a trace. Read more
- 1892 — Ida B. Wells (pictured) began publishing her research on lynching in the United States, for which she was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2020. Read more
- 1871 — Liberian president Edward James Roye was overthrown in modern Africa's first coup d'état. Read more
- 1863 — The Football Association, world's first governing body of association football, was founded in London. Read more
- 1813 — War of 1812: British forces and Mohawk allies under Charles de Salaberry repulsed an American attempt to invade Canada. Read more
- 1597 — Imjin War: Thirteen Korean ships commanded by Admiral Yi Sun-sin defeated a far larger Japanese invading fleet at the Battle of Myeongnyang in the Myeongnyang Strait. Read more
- 1520 — Charles V was crowned as Holy Roman Emperor. Read more
- 1341 — The Byzantine army proclaimed chief minister John VI Kantakouzenos as emperor, triggering a civil war between his supporters and those of John V Palaiologos, the heir to the throne. Read more
Events
- 2015 — A 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes in the Hindu Kush mountain range in South Asia, killing 399 people and leaving 2,536 people injured. Read more
- 2012 — Microsoft made a public release of Windows 8 and made it available on new PCs. Read more
- 2004 — Rockstar Games releases Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PlayStation 2 in North America, which sold 12 million units for the PS2, becoming the console's best-selling video game. Read more
- 2003 — The Cedar Fire, the third-largest wildfire in California history, kills 15 people, consumes 250,000 acres (1,000 km2), and destroys 2,200 homes around San Diego. Read more
- 2002 — Approximately 50 Chechen terrorists and 150 hostages die when Russian special forces troops storm a theater building in Moscow, which had been occupied by the terrorists during a musical performance three days before. Read more
- 2001 — The United States passes the USA PATRIOT Act into law. Read more
- 2000 — A wave of protests forces Robert Guéï to step down as president after the Ivorian presidential election. Read more
- 1999 — The United Kingdom's House of Lords votes to end the right of most hereditary peers to vote in Britain's upper chamber of Parliament. Read more
- 1995 — Mossad agents assassinate Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Fathi Shaqaqi in his hotel in Malta. Read more
- 1995 — An avalanche hits the Icelandic village of Flateyri, destroying 29 homes and burying 45 people, and killing 20. Read more
- 1994 — Jordan and Israel sign a peace treaty. Read more
- 1991 — Three months after the end of the Ten-Day War, the last soldier of the Yugoslav People's Army leaves the territory of the Republic of Slovenia. Read more
- 1989 — China Airlines Flight 204 crashes after takeoff from Hualien Airport in Taiwan, killing all 54 people on board. Read more
- 1985 — The Australian government returns ownership of Uluru to the local Pitjantjatjara Aboriginals. Read more
- 1979 — Park Chung Hee, President of South Korea, is assassinated by Korean CIA head Kim Jae-gyu. Read more
- 1977 — Ali Maow Maalin, the last natural case of smallpox, develops a rash in Somalia. The WHO and the CDC consider this date to be the anniversary of the eradication of smallpox, the most spectacular success of vaccination. Read more
- 1968 — Space Race: The Soyuz 3 mission achieves the first Soviet space rendezvous. Read more
- 1967 — Mohammad Reza Pahlavi crowns himself Emperor of Iran. Read more
- 1958 — Pan American Airways makes the first commercial flight of the Boeing 707 from New York City to Paris. Read more
- 1956 — Hungarian Revolution: In the towns of Mosonmagyaróvár and Esztergom, Hungarian secret police forces massacre civilians. As rebel strongholds in Budapest hold, fighting spreads throughout the country. Read more
- 1955 — After the last Allied troops have left the country, and following the provisions of the Austrian Independence Treaty, Austria declares that it will never join a military alliance. Read more
- 1955 — Ngô Đình Diệm proclaims himself as President of the newly created Republic of Vietnam. Read more
- 1947 — Partition of India: The Maharaja of Kashmir and Jammu signs the Instrument of Accession with India, beginning the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 and the Kashmir conflict. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The Battle of Leyte Gulf ends with an overwhelming American victory. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: In the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands during the Guadalcanal Campaign, one U.S. aircraft carrier is sunk and another carrier is heavily damaged, while two Japanese carriers and one cruiser are heavily damaged. Read more
- 1937 — Nazi Germany begins expulsions of 18,000 Polish Jews. Read more
- 1936 — The first electric generator at Hoover Dam goes into full operation. Read more
- 1918 — World War I: Erich Ludendorff, quartermaster-general of the Imperial German Army, is dismissed by Kaiser Wilhelm II for refusing to cooperate in peace negotiations. Read more
- 1917 — World War I: Brazil declares war on the Central Powers. Read more
- 1912 — First Balkan War: The Ottomans lose the cities of Thessaloniki and Skopje. Read more
- 1909 — Japanese occupation of Korea: An Jung-geun assassinates Japan's Resident-General of Korea. Read more
- 1905 — King Oscar II recognizes the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. Read more
- 1892 — Ida B. Wells publishes Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases. Read more
- 1890 — Malleco Viaduct in Chile, at the time "the highest railroad bridge in the world", is inaugurated by President José Manuel Balmaceda. Read more
- 1881 — Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday participate in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. Read more
- 1871 — Liberian President Edward James Roye is deposed in a coup d'état. Read more
- 1863 — The Football Association is founded. Read more
- 1860 — Unification of Italy: The Expedition of the Thousand ends when Giuseppe Garibaldi presents his conquests to King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia. Read more
- 1859 — The Royal Charter Storm kills at least eight hundred people in the British Isles. Read more
- 1825 — The Erie Canal opens, allowing direct passage from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. Read more
- 1813 — War of 1812: A combined force of British regulars, Canadian militia and Mohawks defeat the United States Army in the Battle of the Chateauguay. Read more
- 1774 — American Revolution: The First Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia. Read more
- 1689 — General Enea Silvio Piccolomini of Austria burns down Skopje to prevent the spread of cholera; he dies of the disease soon afterwards. Read more
- 1640 — The Treaty of Ripon is signed, restoring peace between Covenanter Scotland and King Charles I of England. Read more
- 1597 — Imjin War: Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin routs the Japanese Navy of 300 ships with only 13 ships at the Battle of Myeongnyang. Read more
- 1520 — Charles V is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor. Read more
- 1377 — Tvrtko I is crowned the first king of Bosnia. Read more
- 1341 — The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 formally begins with the proclamation of John VI Kantakouzenos as Byzantine Emperor. Read more
- 1185 — The Uprising of Asen and Peter begins on the feast day of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki and ends with the creation of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Read more
Born on October 26
- 2002 — Lee Eunsang, South Korean singer Read more
- 1997 — Rhenzy Feliz, American actor and singer Read more
- 1996 — Rebecca Tunney, English gymnast Read more
- 1995 — Yuta, Japanese singer Read more
- 1994 — Waqa Blake, Fijian rugby league player Read more
- 1994 — Allie DeBerry, American model and actress Read more
- 1993 — Sergey Karasev, Russian basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Joseph Cramarossa, Canadian hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Riho Iida, Japanese model and actress Read more
- 1990 — Mark Swanepoel, South African rugby player Read more
- 1989 — Dre Kirkpatrick, American football player Read more
- 1989 — Emil Sayfutdinov, Russian motorcycle racer Read more
- 1988 — Nosliw Rodríguez, Venezuelan politician Read more
- 1988 — Greg Zuerlein, American figure skater Read more
- 1987 — Abudramae Bamba, Ivorian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Shawn Lauvao, American football player Read more
- 1986 — Ibor Bakar, French footballer Read more
- 1986 — Jakub Rzeźniczak, Polish footballer Read more
- 1986 — Marco Ruben, Argentinian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Schoolboy Q, German-American rapper Read more
- 1985 — Andrea Bargnani, Italian basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Kafoumba Coulibaly, Ivorian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Monta Ellis, American basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Kieran Read, New Zealand rugby player Read more
- 1984 — Sasha Cohen, American figure skater Read more
- 1984 — Adriano Correia, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Mathieu Crépel, French snowboarder Read more
- 1984 — Jefferson Farfán, Peruvian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Amanda Overmyer, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1983 — Francisco Liriano, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1983 — Dmitri Sychev, Russian footballer Read more
- 1983 — Luke Watson, South African rugby player Read more
- 1982 — Nicola Adams, English boxer Read more
- 1982 — Adam Carroll, Irish race car driver Read more
- 1981 — Sam Brown, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Read more
- 1981 — Martina Schild, Swiss skier Read more
- 1981 — Guy Sebastian, Malaysian-Australian singer-songwriter Read more
- 1981 — Chou Ssu-Chi, Taiwanese baseball player Read more
- 1980 — Cristian Chivu, Romanian footballer Read more
- 1980 — Nick Collison, American basketball player Read more
Died on October 26
- 2025 — Bjorn Andresen, Swedish actor and musician (born 1955) Read more
- 2021 — Roh Tae-woo, South Korean general and politician, 6th President of South Korea (born 1932) Read more
- 2017 — Ali Ashraf Darvishian, Iranian novelist, short story writer and academic. (born 1941) Read more
- 2015 — Willis Carto, American activist and theorist (born 1926) Read more
- 2015 — Leo Kadanoff, American physicist and academic (born 1937) Read more
- 2015 — Giuseppe Nazzaro, Italian-Syrian bishop and theologian (born 1937) Read more
- 2014 — Vic Allen, English sociologist, economist, and historian (born 1923) Read more
- 2014 — Mo Collins, American football player and coach (born 1976) Read more
- 2014 — Germain Gagnon, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1942) Read more
- 2014 — Senzo Meyiwa, South African footballer (born 1987) Read more
- 2014 — Brian Moore, Australian rugby league player (born 1944) Read more
- 2014 — Jeff Robinson, American baseball player (born 1961) Read more
- 2014 — Gordy Soltau, American football player and sportscaster (born 1925) Read more
- 2014 — Oscar Taveras, Dominican baseball player (born 1992) Read more
- 2013 — Ritva Arvelo, Finnish actress, director, and screenwriter (born 1921) Read more
- 2013 — Ron Davies, Welsh photographer (born 1921) Read more
- 2013 — Doug Ireland, American journalist and activist (born 1946) Read more
- 2013 — Al Johnson, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1948) Read more
- 2013 — Andries Maseko, South African footballer (born 1955) Read more
- 2013 — Gabriel of Komana (born 1946) Read more
- 2012 — Mac Ahlberg, Swedish-Italian director, screenwriter, and cinematographer (born 1931) Read more
- 2012 — Arnold Greenberg, American businessman, co-founded Snapple (born 1932) Read more
- 2012 — John M. Johansen American architect, designed the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre (born 1916) Read more
- 2012 — Alan Kirschenbaum, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1961) Read more
- 2012 — Björn Sieber, Austrian skier (born 1989) Read more
- 2012 — Alan Stretton, Australian general (born 1922) Read more
- 2011 — Jona Senilagakali, Fijian physician and politician, 7th Prime Minister of Fiji (born 1929) Read more
- 2010 — Glen Little, American clown (born 1925) Read more
- 2010 — Mbah Maridjan, Indonesian spiritual leader (born 1927) Read more
- 2010 — Romeu Tuma, Brazilian police officer and politician (born 1931) Read more
- 2009 — Teel Bivins, American lawyer and politician, 18th United States Ambassador to Sweden (born 1947) Read more
- 2009 — Yoshirō Muraki, Japanese production designer and art director(born 1924) Read more
- 2009 — George Naʻope, American singer and dancer (born 1928) Read more
- 2009 — Troy Smith, American businessman, founded Sonic Drive-In (born 1922) Read more
- 2008 — Tony Hillerman, American journalist, author, and educator (born 1925) Read more
- 2008 — Delmar Watson, American actor and photographer (born 1926) Read more
- 2007 — Nicolae Dobrin, Romanian footballer and manager (born 1947) Read more
- 2007 — Friedman Paul Erhardt, German-American chef and television host (born 1943) Read more
- 2007 — Arthur Kornberg, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize (born 1918) Read more
- 2006 — Tillman Franks, American bassist and songwriter (born 1920) Read more
Holidays & observances
Accession Day (Jammu and Kashmir, India); Angam Day (Nauru); Armed Forces Day (Benin); Christian feast day:
Alfred the Great (Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Amandus of Strasbourg; Christian feast day:
Beóán (Bean) of Mortlach; Christian feast day:
Blessed Celine Borzecka; Christian feast day:
Cedd; Christian feast day:
Cuthbert of Canterbury; Christian feast day:
Demetrius of Thessaloniki; Christian feast day:
Eadfrith of Leominster; Christian feast day:
Eata of Hexham; Christian feast day:
Pope Evaristus (Aristus); Christian feast day:
Fulk of Pavia (Roman Catholic Church); Christian feast day:
Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann and Paul Gerhardt (Lutheran Church); Christian feast day:
Quadragesimus; Christian feast day:
Quodvultdeus; Christian feast day:
Rusticus of Narbonne; Christian feast day:
Witta (Albinus) of Büraburg; Christian feast day:
Eastern Orthodox liturgics; National Day, celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Neutrality in 1955. (Austria); Intersex Awareness Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “October 26”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.