Home › Almanac › On This Day
On This Day in History — September 26
‹ September 25The AlmanacSeptember 27 ›
Highlights of September 26
- 2016 — The Ecnomiohyla rabborum became extinct when the last known surviving member died in captivity. Read more
- 2014 — Forty-three students of the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College in Iguala, Mexico, were kidnapped and probably later killed. Read more
- 2010 — Scottish aid worker Linda Norgrove and three Afghan colleagues were kidnapped by members of the Taliban in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Read more
- 2008 — Swiss pilot and inventor Yves Rossy (pictured) flew a wingpack powered by jet engines across the English Channel. Read more
- 1983 — Cold War: Soviet lieutenant colonel Stanislav Petrov averted a potential nuclear war by identifying as a false alarm signals that appeared to indicate an impending U.S. missile attack. Read more
- 1983 — The racing yacht Australia II, captained by John Bertrand, won the America's Cup and ended the New York Yacht Club's 132-year defence of the trophy. Read more
- 1968 — The Beatles completed the recording of John Lennon's song "Happiness Is a Warm Gun", regarded by all the band members as their favourite on the album The Beatles. Read more
- 1959 — The Cambodian–Vietnamese War formally ended with the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from the People's Republic of Kampuchea, a client state it had implemented to overthrow Democratic Kampuchea and the Khmer Rouge. Read more
- 1959 — Japan was struck by Typhoon Vera, the strongest and deadliest typhoon on record to make landfall on the country, causing damage in excess of US$261 million and more than 5,000 deaths. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: The Soviet Red Army completed the Tallinn offensive, driving German forces out of Estonia. Read more
- 1933 — As gangster Machine Gun Kelly surrendered to the FBI, he supposedly shouted "Don't shoot, G-Men!", which became a nickname for FBI agents. Read more
- 1928 — The Republic of China adopted Gwoyeu Romatzyh (designer pictured) as the official system for romanization of Mandarin Chinese. Read more
- 1919 — The Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine defeated the White Russian Volunteer Army at the Battle of Peregonovka. Read more
- 1917 — World War I: The Battle of Polygon Wood, part of the Battle of Passchendaele, began near Ypres, Belgium. Read more
- 1907 — The British colony of New Zealand officially became a dominion to reflect its political independence since the 1850s. Read more
- 1580 — English explorer Francis Drake's galleon the Golden Hind (replica pictured) sailed into Plymouth, completing his circumnavigation of the globe. Read more
- 1493 — Pope Alexander VI issued the papal bull Dudum siquidem, one of the Bulls of Donation, marking the beginning of the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Read more
- 1142 — Stephen of Blois's army approached Oxford, beginning the siege of Oxford. Read more
- 1087 — William II, son of William the Conqueror, was crowned king of England. Read more
- 46 BC — Julius Caesar dedicated the Temple of Venus Genetrix in Rome to Venus, the mythical ancestor of his family. Read more
Events
- 2024 — Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Perry, Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, killing over 250 people, causing US$78.7 billion in damage and becoming the deadliest hurricane in the mainland United States since Katrina. Read more
- 2022 — A mass shooting occurs at a school in Izhevsk, Udmurtia, Russia, resulting in the deaths of 18 people, including 11 children. Read more
- 2014 — A mass kidnapping of 43 students from a teaching college occurs in Iguala, Mexico. Read more
- 2010 — The Philippine Bar exam bombing occurs near the De La Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila injuring 47 people. Read more
- 2009 — Typhoon Ketsana hits the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, causing 700 fatalities. Read more
- 2002 — The overcrowded Senegalese ferry, MV Le Joola, capsizes off the coast of the Gambia killing more than 1,000. Read more
- 2000 — Anti-globalization protests in Prague (some 20,000 protesters) turn violent during the IMF and World Bank summits. Read more
- 2000 — The MS Express Samina sinks off Paros in the Aegean Sea killing 80 passengers. Read more
- 1997 — A Garuda Indonesia Airbus A300 crashes near Medan airport, killing 234. Read more
- 1997 — An earthquake strikes the Italian regions of Umbria and the Marche, causing part of the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi to collapse. Read more
- 1994 — A Yakovlev Yak-40 crashes into a river near Vanavara, Russia, killing 24. Read more
- 1992 — A Nigerian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules crashes in Ejigbo, Lagos, killing 159. Read more
- 1984 — The United Kingdom and China agree to a transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, to take place in 1997. Read more
- 1983 — Soviet Air Force officer Stanislav Petrov identifies a report of an incoming nuclear missile as a computer error and not an American first strike, thus preventing nuclear war. Read more
- 1983 — Soyuz 7K-ST No. 16L, intended to launch a crew to the Salyut 7 space station, explodes on the launch pad. The launch escape system is activated before the Soyuz-U rocket explodes, saving the crew. Read more
- 1980 — A terrorist bombing at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, kills 13 people and injures 213 others. Read more
- 1978 — Air Caribbean Flight 309 crashes in Residencial Las Casas in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing six. Read more
- 1960 — In Chicago, the first televised debate takes place between presidential candidates Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Read more
- 1959 — Typhoon Vera, the strongest typhoon to hit Japan in recorded history, makes landfall, killing 4,580 people and leaving nearly 1.6 million others homeless. Read more
- 1954 — The Japanese rail ferry Tōya Maru sinks during a typhoon in the Tsugaru Strait, Japan, killing 1,172. Read more
- 1953 — Rationing of sugar in the United Kingdom ends. Read more
- 1950 — Korean War: United Nations troops recapture Seoul from North Korean forces. Read more
- 1942 — Holocaust: Senior SS official August Frank issues a memorandum detailing how Jews should be "evacuated". Read more
- 1936 — Spanish Civil War: Lluis Companys reshuffles the Generalitat de Catalunya, with the marxist POUM and anarcho-syndicalist CNT joining the government. Read more
- 1933 — As gangster Machine Gun Kelly surrenders to the FBI, he shouts out, "Don't shoot, G-Men!", which becomes a nickname for FBI agents. Read more
- 1923 — The German government calls off the passive resistance to the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr. Read more
- 1919 — Ukrainian War of Independence: The Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine defeats the White Russian Volunteer Army at the Battle of Peregonovka. Read more
- 1918 — World War I: The Meuse-Argonne Offensive began which would last until the total surrender of German forces. Read more
- 1917 — World War I: The Battle of Polygon Wood begins. Read more
- 1914 — The United States Federal Trade Commission is established by the Federal Trade Commission Act. Read more
- 1907 — Four months after the 1907 Imperial Conference, New Zealand and Newfoundland are promoted from colonies to dominions within the British Empire. Read more
- 1905 — Albert Einstein publishes the third of his Annus Mirabilis papers, introducing the special theory of relativity. Read more
- 1810 — A new Act of Succession is adopted by the Riksdag of the Estates, and Jean Baptiste Bernadotte becomes heir to the Swedish throne. Read more
- 1799 — War of the 2nd Coalition: French troops defeat Austro-Russian forces, leading to the collapse of Suvorov's campaign. Read more
- 1789 — George Washington appoints Thomas Jefferson the first United States Secretary of State. Read more
- 1777 — American Revolutionary War: British troops capture and begin the occupation of Philadelphia, which had been serving as the American capital city, during the Philadelphia campaign. Read more
- 1688 — The city council of Amsterdam votes to support William of Orange's invasion of England, which became the Glorious Revolution. Read more
- 1687 — Morean War: The Parthenon in Athens, used as a gunpowder depot by the Ottoman garrison, is partially destroyed after being bombarded during the Siege of the Acropolis by Venetian forces. Read more
- 1580 — Francis Drake finishes his circumnavigation of the Earth in Plymouth, England. Read more
- 1493 — Pope Alexander VI issues the papal bull Dudum siquidem to the Spanish, extending the grant of new lands he made them in Inter caetera. Read more
- 1423 — Hundred Years' War: A French army defeats the English at the Battle of La Brossinière. Read more
- 1371 — Serbian–Turkish wars: Ottoman Turks fight against a Serbian army at the Battle of Maritsa. Read more
- 1345 — Friso-Hollandic Wars: Frisians defeat Holland in the Battle of Warns. Read more
- 1212 — The Golden Bull of Sicily is issued to confirm the hereditary royal title in Bohemia for the Přemyslid dynasty. Read more
- 1143 — Election of pope Celestine II following the death of pope Innocent II. Read more
- 1142 — Stephen of Blois's army approaches Oxford, beginning the siege of Oxford. Read more
- 1087 — William II is crowned King of England, and reigns until 1100. Read more
- 715 — Ragenfrid defeats Theudoald at the Battle of Compiègne. Read more
- 46 BC — Julius Caesar dedicates a temple to Venus Genetrix, fulfilling a vow he made at the Battle of Pharsalus. Read more
Born on September 26
- 2006 — Myles Lewis-Skelly, English footballer Read more
- 2003 — Jane Remover, American musician Read more
- 2001 — João Pedro, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 2001 — Xinyu Wang, Chinese tennis player Read more
- 2000 — Frankie Amaya, American soccer player Read more
- 2000 — Princess Salma bint Abdullah, Jordanian princess Read more
- 1997 — Özge Yağız, Turkish actress Read more
- 1995 — Miloš Veljković, Serbian footballer Read more
- 1994 — Jack Conger, American swimmer Read more
- 1993 — Rosicleide Andrade, Brazilian Paralympic judoka Read more
- 1993 — Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, American basketball player Read more
- 1992 — Yoo Ara, South Korean singer and actress Read more
- 1991 — Alma Jodorowsky, French actress, fashion model and singer Read more
- 1991 — Dan Preston, English footballer Read more
- 1989 — Jonny Bairstow, English cricketer Read more
- 1988 — Chris Archer, American baseball player Read more
- 1988 — James Blake, English singer-songwriter and producer Read more
- 1988 — Kiira Korpi, Finnish figure skater Read more
- 1988 — Buddy Matthews, Australian wrestler Read more
- 1987 — Rosanna Munter, Swedish singer-songwriter Read more
- 1986 — Sean Doolittle, American baseball player Read more
- 1985 — Talulah Riley, English actress Read more
- 1984 — Nev Schulman, American photographer, television host, and producer Read more
- 1983 — Ricardo Quaresma, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1982 — Rob Burrow, English rugby player (died 2024) Read more
- 1982 — John Scott, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1982 — Sun Li, Chinese actress Read more
- 1981 — Asuka, Japanese professional wrestler Read more
- 1981 — Yao Beina, Chinese singer (died 2015) Read more
- 1981 — Christina Milian, American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress Read more
- 1981 — Ayumi Tsunematsu, Japanese voice actress Read more
- 1981 — Serena Williams, American tennis player Read more
- 1980 — Patrick Friesacher, Austrian racing driver Read more
- 1980 — Brooks Orpik, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1980 — Daniel Sedin, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1980 — Henrik Sedin, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
- 1979 — Chris Kunitz, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1979 — Naomichi Marufuji, Japanese wrestler Read more
- 1979 — Fuifui Moimoi, Tongan-New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1979 — Cameron Mooney, Australian footballer Read more
Died on September 26
- 2024 — John Ashton, American actor (born 1948) Read more
- 2019 — Jacques Chirac, French politician, President of France (born 1932) Read more
- 2016 — Toughie, last known Rabbs' fringe-limbed treefrog (h. fl. 2005) Read more
- 2015 — Eudóxia Maria Froehlich, Brazilian zoologist (born 1928) Read more
- 2015 — Sidney Phillips, American soldier, physician, and author (born 1924) Read more
- 2015 — Ana Seneviratne, Sri Lankan police officer and diplomat (born 1927) Read more
- 2014 — Jim Boeke, American football player and coach (born 1938) Read more
- 2014 — Sam Hall, American screenwriter (born 1921) Read more
- 2014 — Gerald Neugebauer, American astronomer and physicist (born 1932) Read more
- 2014 — Tamir Sapir, Georgian-American businessman (born 1946) Read more
- 2013 — Azizan Abdul Razak, Malaysian politician, 10th Menteri Besar of Kedah (born 1944) Read more
- 2013 — Seánie Duggan, Irish hurler (born 1922) Read more
- 2013 — Mario Montez, Puerto Rican-American actor (born 1935) Read more
- 2013 — Sos Sargsyan, Armenian actor and director (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — M'el Dowd, American actress and singer (born 1933) Read more
- 2012 — Sylvia Fedoruk, Canadian physicist and politician, 17th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan (born 1927) Read more
- 2012 — Eugene Genovese, American historian and author (born 1930) Read more
- 2012 — Sam Steiger, American journalist and politician (born 1929) Read more
- 2011 — Bob Cassilly, American sculptor, founded the City Museum (born 1949) Read more
- 2010 — Terry Newton, English rugby player (born 1978) Read more
- 2010 — Gloria Stuart, American actress (born 1910) Read more
- 2008 — Marc Moulin, Belgian keyboard player, producer, and journalist (born 1942) Read more
- 2008 — Paul Newman, American actor, director, producer, and businessman (born 1925) Read more
- 2007 — Bill Wirtz, American businessman (born 1929) Read more
- 2006 — Byron Nelson, American golfer and coach (born 1912) Read more
- 2006 — Iva Toguri D'Aquino, American wartime propaganda broadcaster (born 1916) Read more
- 2005 — Helen Cresswell, English author and screenwriter (born 1934) Read more
- 2004 — Marianna Komlos, Canadian bodybuilder, model, and wrestler (born 1969) Read more
- 2003 — Shawn Lane, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer (born 1963) Read more
- 2003 — Robert Palmer, English singer-songwriter (born 1949) Read more
- 2002 — Nils Bohlin, Swedish engineer, invented three-point safety belt (born 1920) Read more
- 2000 — Richard Mulligan, American actor (born 1932) Read more
- 2000 — Baden Powell de Aquino, Brazilian guitarist and composer (born 1937) Read more
- 1999 — Oseola McCarty, American philanthropist (born 1908) Read more
- 1998 — Betty Carter, American singer (born 1930) Read more
- 1997 — Dorothy Kingsley, American screenwriter and producer (born 1909) Read more
- 1996 — Nicu Ceaușescu, Romanian politician (born 1951) Read more
- 1995 — Kalju Pitksaar, Estonian chess player (born 1931) Read more
- 1991 — Billy Vaughn, American singer and bandleader (born 1919) Read more
- 1990 — Hiram Abas, Turkish intelligence officer (born 1932) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast days:
Canadian Martyrs (Catholic Church in Canada); Christian feast days:
Cosmas and Damian; Christian feast days:
Blessed Crescencia Valls Espí; Christian feast days:
John of Meda; Christian feast days:
Blessed Kaspar Stanggassinger; Christian feast days:
Blessed Luigi Tezza; Christian feast days:
Nilus the Younger; Christian feast days:
Thérèse Couderc; Christian feast days:
Wilson Carlile (Anglican); Christian feast days:
September 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of the National Flag (Ecuador); Dominion Day (New Zealand); European Day of Languages (European Union); International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; Petrov day; Revolution Day (Yemen)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “September 26”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.