What Happened Today in History Enter your email address     What Historical Events Happened On My Birthday? See what happened Today in History Do you want to memorialize special event on a special date on DatesInHistory.com? Add your own Personal Historic listing HERE for free! Tell the world when you were born, engaged, married, .... See what makes February 26 special at Famous Daily. History, birthdays, holiday, and a quote! What happened on February 26 February 26, 0364 Valentinian I is proclaimed Roman Emperor. February 26, 1266 "Battle of Benevento: An army led by Charles, Count of Anjou, defeats a combined German and Sicilian force led by King Manfred of Sicily. Manfred is killed in the battle and Pope Clement IV invests Charles as king of Sicily and Naples." February 26, 1531 "Earthquake in Lisbon Portugal, kills 20,000" February 26, 1534 Pope Paul II affirms George van Egmond as bishop of Utrecht February 26, 1564 "Christopher Marlowe, dramatist (Dr Faustus), baptized" February 26, 1590 Mauritius of Nassaus sails to Breda February 26, 1616 Spanish Inquisition delivers injunction to Galileo February 26, 1732 "Mass first celebrated in American Catholic church, (St Joseph's Church, Philadelphia)" February 26, 1773 Construction authorized for Walnut St jail (Philadelphia) (1st solitary) February 26, 1794 "Christiansborg Castle, Copenhagen burns down." February 26, 1797 Bank of England issues first œ1-note February 26, 1798 David Thompson 1770-1857 sets off up Red River to explore headwaters of Mississippi February 26, 1804 "Vice-Admiral William Bligh ends siege of Fort Amsterdam, Willemstad" February 26, 1815 "Napoleon & 1,200 leave Elba to start 100-day re-conquest of France" February 26, 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from Elba. February 26, 1832 Polish constitution abolished/replaced by Czar Nicholas I February 26, 1838 Rensselaer Van Rensselaer invades Pelee Island in Lake Erie with 500 American sympathizers of the Canadian rebels February 26, 1839 Jem Mason on Lottery wins first Grand National Steeplechase (Britain) February 26, 1848 2nd French Republic forms February 26, 1848 "Marx & Engels publish ""The Communist Manifesto""" February 26, 1848 The second French Republic is proclaimed. February 26, 1852 British frigate Birkenhead sinks off South Africa-458 die February 26, 1859 Paul Morphy's chess match vs Augustus Mongredien begins; Morphy wins February 26, 1862 "Battle of Woodburn, KY" February 26, 1863 Lincoln signs National Currency Act February 26, 1866 New York Legislature establishes NYC Metropolitan Board of Health February 26, 1869 15th Amendment guaranteeing right to vote sent to states February 26, 1869 "Franz Schubert's ""4th Tragic,"" premieres" February 26, 1870 First NYC subway line opens (pneumatic powered) February 26, 1881 Natal British troops under General-Major Colley occupy Majuba Hill February 26, 1881 SS Ceylon begins first round-the-world cruise from Liverpool February 26, 1884 British & Portuguese treaty signed in Congo by Leopold II February 26, 1885 "Congress of Berlin, gives Congo to Belgium & Nigeria to England" February 26, 1885 "The Berlin Act, which resulted from the Berlin Conference regulating European colonization and trade in Africa, was signed" February 26, 1887 "At the SCG, George Lohmann becomes the first bowler to take eight wickets in a Test innings." February 26, 1887 "George Lohmann took first 8-wicket haul in Test Crickets, 8-35 at SCG" February 26, 1891 First buffalo purchased for Golden Gate Park February 26, 1891 "Henrik Ibsens ""Hedda Gabler,"" premieres in Oslo" February 26, 1893 "2 Clydesdale horses set record by pulling 48 tons on a sledge, Michigan" February 26, 1895 Michael Owens of Toledo OH patents a glass-blowing machine February 26, 1897 "Sigma Pi Fraternity, International was founded at Vincennes University." February 26, 1903 "Richard Gattling, rapid-fire gun inventor, dies." February 26, 1907 Royal Oil & Shell merge to form British Petroleum (BP) February 26, 1907 US Congress raised their own salaries to $7500 February 26, 1912 Coal miners strike in England (settle on 03/01) February 26, 1914 New York Museum of Science & Industry incorporated February 26, 1915 "Malancourt, Argonnen - first (German) flame-thrower" February 26, 1916 "Germans sink French transport ship Provence II, killing 930" February 26, 1916 Mutual signs Charlie Chaplin to a film contract February 26, 1917 First Annual fair at Utrecht Harbor (Netherlands) February 26, 1917 The Original Dixieland Jass Band records the first ever Jazzrecord for the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York. February 26, 1918 "Stands at Hong Kong Jockey Club collapse & burn, killing 604" February 26, 1919 "Acadia National Park established (as Lafayette National Park), Maine" February 26, 1919 An act of the U.S. Congress establishes most of the Grand Canyon as a United States National Park (see Grand Canyon National Park). February 26, 1919 Grand Canyon National Park is established. February 26, 1923 Italian nationalist & fascists merge (blue-shirts & black-shirts) February 26, 1924 Trial against Hitler in Munich begins February 26, 1925 Jihad-Saint war against Turkish government February 26, 1925 Oregon adopts its state flag. February 26, 1929 Grand Teton National Park is established. February 26, 1929 The Grand Teton National Park is created. February 26, 1930 The first red & green traffic lights installed (Manhattan NYC) February 26, 1930 "West Indies make first Test Cricket win, by 289 runs over England" February 26, 1933 Golden Gate Bridge ground-breaking ceremony held at Crissy Field February 26, 1935 "Germany began Luftwaffe operation, under Reichsmarshall H Goering" February 26, 1935 RADAR-Radio Detection & Ranging first demonstrated (Robert Watson-Watt) February 26, 1935 "The Daventry Experiment, Robert Watson-Watt carried out a demonstration near Daventry which led directly to the development of RADAR in the United Kingdom." February 26, 1935 The Luftwaffe is reformed. February 26, 1936 "Hitler introduces Ferdinand Porsche's ""Volkswagen""" February 26, 1936 "In the February 26 Incident, young Japanese military officers attempt to stage a coup against the government." February 26, 1936 Military coup in Japan February 26, 1938 First passenger ship equipped with radar February 26, 1940 The US Air Defense Command is created. February 26, 1941 Cowboys' Amateur Association of America organized (California) February 26, 1941 Utrecht & Zaandam strike against raid on Jews February 26, 1941 Vichy-France makes religious education in school mandatory February 26, 1942 German battle cruiser Gneisenau deactivated by bombs February 26, 1942 "Government starts evacuating 21,000 Japanese Canadians from coastal regions of British Columbia to interior work camps; under War Measures Act" February 26, 1942 Radio Orange calls for March 1 day of prayer in Dutch Indies February 26, 1942 "Werner Heisenberger informs Nazis about uranium project ""Wunderwaffen""" February 26, 1942 "WWII Navy flier Don Mason sends message ""Sighted sub sank same""" February 26, 1943 German assault moves to Beja North Tunisia February 26, 1944 "First female US navy captain, Sue Dauser of nurse corps, appointed" February 26, 1945 Very heavy bombing on Berlin by 8th US Air Force February 26, 1946 2 killed & 10 wounded in race riot in Columbia TN February 26, 1949 USAF plane began first nonstop around-the-world flight February 26, 1950 "Leonard Bernstein's ""Age of Anxiety,"" premieres in New York NY" February 26, 1951 Bread rationing in Czechoslovakia February 26, 1951 "The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which limits a president to two terms of office, is ratified." February 26, 1952 Britain announces that it has its own atomic bomb. February 26, 1952 Netherlands-Indonesian Unity conference February 26, 1952 United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces that his nation has an atomic bomb. February 26, 1953 "Allen W Dulles, promoted from deputy to 5th director of CIA" February 26, 1954 "First typesetting machine (photo engraving) used, Quincy MA" February 26, 1954 "Michigan Representative Ruth Thompson (R) introduces legislation to ban mailing ""obscene, lewd, lascivious or filthy"" phonograph (rock & roll) records" February 26, 1955 """Peter Pan"" closes at Winter Garden Theater NYC after 149 performances" February 26, 1955 The first aviator to bail out at supersonic speed - G F Smith February 26, 1956 Writers Sylvia Plath & Ted Hughes meet at a party in Cambridge February 26, 1960 Soviet premier Khrushchev voices support for Indonesia February 26, 1960 USA's David Jenkins wins the Olympics Gold for men's figure skating February 26, 1960 "Verne Gagne beats Doctor X in Omaha, to become NWA wrestling champion" February 26, 1961 "Mohammed V, King of Morocco, dies." February 26, 1962 US Supreme court disallows race separation on public transportation February 26, 1965 Dutch Government of Marijnen falls February 26, 1965 West Germany ceases military aid to Tanzania February 26, 1966 "Apollo Program: Launch of AS-201, the first flight of the Saturn IB rocket" February 26, 1967 "Verne Gagne beats Mad Dog Vachon in St Paul, to become NWA champion" February 26, 1968 Clandestine Radio Voice of Iraqi People (Communist) final transmission February 26, 1969 Number one hit on UK music charts - Peter Sarstedt - Where Do You Go To My Lovely? February 26, 1971 Ottawa starts program to raise Francophone numbers in the Canadian Armed Forces to at least 28% February 26, 1971 Secretary-General U Thant signs United Nations proclamation of the vernal equinox as Earth Day. February 26, 1972 Buffalo Creek Flood caused by a burst dam kills 125 in West Virginia. February 26, 1972 "Slag heap dam collapses above Buffalo Creek WV, kills 125" February 26, 1973 Triple Crown horse Secretariat bought for a record $5.7m February 26, 1974 Gold hits record $188 an ounce in Paris February 26, 1975 """Night... Made America Famous"" opens at Barrymore NYC for 75 performances" February 26, 1975 A televised kidney transplant is shown February 26, 1977 First flight of Space Shuttle (atop a Boeing 747) February 26, 1978 "Ira Levin's ""Deathtrap,"" premieres in New York NY" February 26, 1979 A total eclipse of the sun casts a huge shadow from Oregon to North Dakota. February 26, 1979 "Total solar eclipse crosses western Canada, casting a moving shadow 250 km wide" February 26, 1980 Egypt & Israel exchange ambassadors for the first time February 26, 1980 Military coup under Desi Bouterse in Suriname February 26, 1980 "R Hadlee scores Test Cricket century vs Roberts, Garner, Holding, Croft" February 26, 1981 3 Anglican missionaries detained in Iran since August 1980 are released February 26, 1981 French Train … Grande Vitesse averages 380 kph on trial run February 26, 1983 "Michael Jackson's ""Thriller"" album goes to #1 & stays #1 for 37 weeks" February 26, 1984 Last US marines in multinational peace-keeping force in Lebanon left Beirut February 26, 1984 Pak Awang (84) marries 80th spouse February 26, 1984 "Reverend Jesse Jackson acknowledges that he called NYC, ""Hymietown""" February 26, 1984 "Robert Penn Warren, Pulitzer Prize winner, named first US poet laureate" February 26, 1984 US troops withdraw from Beirut. President Ronald Reagan had sent the troops as a peacekeeping force in August 1982. February 26, 1985 "27th Grammy Awards What's Love Got to Do With It, Cyndi Lauper win" February 26, 1986 Former Philippines President Ferdinand E Marcos fled in defeat February 26, 1986 Goaltending great Jacques Plante 1929-1986 dies at his home near Geneva at age 57 February 26, 1986 People Power Revolution in the Philippines. February 26, 1987 Iran-Contra affair: The Tower Commission rebukes American President Ronald Reagan for not controlling his national security staff. February 26, 1987 NASA launches GEOS-H February 26, 1987 The first release of Beatles compact discs February 26, 1987 "The Tower Commission report is issued, chiding President Reagan for his national security staff's actions in the Iran-Contra affair." February 26, 1987 USSR resumes nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk USSR February 26, 1988 Christa Rotherburger (GDR) skates ladies world record 1000 meter (1:17.65) February 26, 1989 """Jerome Robbins' Broadway"" opens at Imperial Theater NYC for 634 performances" February 26, 1989 California court throws out most of Margo Adams's $12 million breach-of- contract suit against Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs February 26, 1990 "President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua concedes defeat to election opponent, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro." February 26, 1990 The Sandinistas are defeated in Nicaraguan elections. February 26, 1990 "USSR agrees to withdraw all 73,500 troops from Czechoslovakia by July, 1991" February 26, 1991 Asanka Gurusinha scores twin Test Cricket tons vs New Zealand (119 & 102) February 26, 1991 Bill Veeck & Tony Lazzeri elected to Baseball Hall of Fame February 26, 1991 Gulf War: On Baghdad Radio Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein announces the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait. February 26, 1991 Kuwaiti resistance leaders declare they have control of their capital February 26, 1991 "Tim Berners-Lee introduces WorldWideWeb, the first web browser." February 26, 1992 Irish Supreme Court rules 14 year old rape victim may get an abortion February 26, 1993 "2nd tallest building in world, NYC World Trade Center bombed, 7 die" February 26, 1993 "Allan Border beats Gavaskar's record for most Test Cricket runs 10,123" February 26, 1993 Six people die and more than a thousand are injured when Islamic extremists explode a bomb in the parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City. February 26, 1993 "World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a truck bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center goes off, killing 6 and injuring over a thousand." February 26, 1994 Actor Dolph Lundgren (34) weds Anette Qviberg in Stockholm February 26, 1995 "Barings, England's oldest investment banking company, fails after a securities broker loses over $1 billion gambling on Tokyo stock prices." February 26, 1995 "The United Kingdom's oldest investment banking firm, Barings Bank collapses after a securities broker, Nick Leeson, loses $1.4 billion by speculating on the Singapore International Monetary Exchange using futures contracts." February 26, 1997 "39th Grammy Awards Change the World Babyface, Beck & LeAnn Rimes win" February 26, 1998 Oprah Winfrey beats Texas cattlemen in beef trial February 26, 1998 Total solar eclipse in Venezuela-Pacific Ocean February 26, 1999 "Ontario Southland commenced operation over the CP Port Burwell subdivision from Ingersoll to Tillsonburg, ON." February 26, 2001 "The Taliban destroy two giant Buddha statues in Bamyan, Afghanistan." February 26, 2004 "Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski is killed in a plane crash near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina." February 26, 2004 "The United States lifts a ban on travel to Libya, ending travel restrictions to the nation that had lasted for 23 years." February 26, 2005 Hosni Mubarak the president of Egypt orders the constitution changed to allow multi-candidate presidential elections before September 2005 by asking Egyptian parliament to amend Article 76 of the constitution.   Visitors' Postings February 26, 1839 Visitor posting - First Grand National steeplechase held at Aintree - United Kingdom February 26, 1918 Visitor posting - Leonard Bolnick was born - USA February 26, 1949 Visitor posting - Author Elizabeth George born - USA February 26, 1959 "Visitor posting - Roger Wertheimer is born (Cleveland, Ohio) - USA" February 26, 1959 "Visitor posting - Ronald M. Rodriguez born in Houston, Texas - USA" February 26, 1960 Visitor posting - Vernon Reacel Prince was born - USA February 26, 1961 Visitor posting - Feb 26 1961 Lord Michael Scott was born in Winnipeg February 26, 1964 Visitor posting - Kenneth B Forbes was born in Miami FL - USA February 26, 1965 Visitor posting - Rodney Johns born in Los Angeles - USA February 26, 1966 Visitor posting - Estela and Carlos Veale are born - USA February 26, 1969 "Visitor posting - Feb. 26, 1969 J. Mendicino is born" February 26, 1971 Visitor posting - Michael Gonyea was born February 26, 1982 Visitor posting - February 26 1982 Herman J Nunez was born February 26, 1983 "Visitor posting - Edward Snook, the world's finest non league footballer is born - United Kingdom" February 26, 1983 Visitor posting - Joshua Snyder born February 26, 1992 Visitor posting - Tawnie l JUlian born - USA February 26, 1993 Visitor posting - Crystal Flores from Texas birthday February 26, 1993 "Visitor posting - Personal - Kaitlynn Manning of Amarillo, TX date of birth - USA" February 26, 1994 Visitor posting - Alan was born! - United Kingdom February 26, 1994 Visitor posting - Brianna was born!!! February 26, 1994 Visitor posting - Bridgette Irene is Born - USA February 26, 1994 Visitor posting - Claudia was born !!!! February 26, 1995 Visitor posting - Parker Reid Olmstead is born February 26, 1995 Visitor posting - Umair Saquib was born - India zon4you@gmail.com February 26, 1996 "Visitor posting - Future celebrity, Marissa Lee was born - Canada" February 26, 1996 Visitor posting - Toni-Marie Hackett was born. - United Kingdom February 26, 1997 Visitor posting - Lisa was born :) - USA February 26, 1998 Visitor posting - zishan bashir was born - United Kingdom February 26, 1999 Visitor posting - alex birthday - United Kingdom February 26, 2011 Visitor posting - Call Of Duty Black Ops Map Pack Comes Out - USA Add your own Personal Historic listing FREE! - Click Here © DatesInHistory.com | Privacy