January 26

Historic Events

2021

Protesters and farmers storm the Red Fort near Delhi, clashing with police. One protester is killed and more than 80 police officers are injured. ›

2020

A Sikorsky S-76B flying from John Wayne Airport to Camarillo Airport crashes in Calabasas, 30 miles west of Los Angeles, killing all nine people on board, including five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant. ›

2015

An aircraft crashes at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain, killing 11 people and injuring 21 others. ›

2015

Syrian civil war: The People's Protection Units (YPG) recaptures the city of Kobanî from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), marking a turning point in the Siege of Kobanî. ›

2009

Rioting breaks out in Antananarivo, Madagascar, sparking a political crisis that will result in the replacement of President Marc Ravalomanana with Andry Rajoelina. ›

2009

Nadya Suleman gives birth to the world's first surviving octuplets. ›

2001

The 7.7 Mw Gujarat earthquake shakes Western India, leaving 13,805–20,023 dead and about 166,800 injured. ›

2001

Diane Whipple, a lacrosse coach, is killed in a dog attack in San Francisco. The resulting court case clarified the meaning of implied malice murder. ›

1998

Lewinsky scandal: On American television, U.S. President Bill Clinton denies having had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. ›

1991

Mohamed Siad Barre is removed from power in Somalia, ending centralized government, and is succeeded by Ali Mahdi. ›

1986

The Ugandan government of Tito Okello is overthrown by the National Resistance Army, led by Yoweri Museveni. ›

1974

Turkish Airlines Flight 301 crashes during takeoff from Izmir Cumaovası Airport (now İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport), killing 66 of the 73 people on board the Fokker F28 Fellowship. ›

1972

JAT Flight 367 is destroyed by a terrorist bomb, killing 27 of the 28 people on board the DC-9. Flight attendant Vesna Vulović survives with critical injuries. ›

1966

The three Beaumont children disappear from a beach in Glenelg, South Australia, resulting in one of the country's largest-ever police investigations. ›

1962

Ranger 3 is launched to study the Moon. The space probe later misses the Moon by 22,000 miles (35,400 km). ›

1959

The 41-acre (17 ha) Chain Island is listed for sale by the California State Lands Commission, with a minimum bid of $5,226. ›

1956

Soviet Union cedes Porkkala back to Finland. ›

1952

Black Saturday in Egypt: rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses. ›

1950

The Constitution of India comes into force, forming a republic. Rajendra Prasad is sworn in as the first President of India. Observed as Republic Day in India. ›

1949

The Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory sees first light under the direction of Edwin Hubble, becoming the largest aperture optical telescope (until BTA-6 is built in 1976). ›

1942

World War II: The first United States forces arrive in Europe, landing in Northern Ireland. ›

1939

Spanish Civil War: Catalonia Offensive: Troops loyal to nationalist General Francisco Franco and aided by Italy take Barcelona. ›

1934

The Apollo Theater reopens in Harlem, New York City. ›

1934

German–Polish declaration of non-aggression is signed. ›

1930

The Indian National Congress declares 26 January as Independence Day or as the day for Poorna Swaraj ("Complete Independence") which occurred 17 years later. ›

1926

The first demonstration of the television by John Logie Baird. ›

1918

Finnish Civil War: A group of Red Guards hangs a red lantern atop the tower of Helsinki Workers' Hall to symbolically mark the start of the war. ›

1915

The Rocky Mountain National Park is established by an act of the U.S. Congress. ›

1905

The world's largest diamond ever, the Cullinan, which weighs 3,106.75 carats (0.621350 kg), is found at the Premier Mine near Pretoria in South Africa. ›

1885

Troops loyal to The Mahdi conquer Khartoum, killing the Governor-General Charles George Gordon. ›

1870

Reconstruction Era: Virginia is readmitted to the Union. ›

1863

American Civil War: General Ambrose Burnside is relieved of command of the Army of the Potomac after the disastrous Fredericksburg campaign. He is replaced by Joseph Hooker. ›

1863

American Civil War: Governor of Massachusetts John Albion Andrew receives permission from the Secretary of War to raise a militia organization for men of African descent. ›

1861

American Civil War: The state of Louisiana secedes from the Union. ›

1856

First Battle of Seattle: Marines from the USS Decatur drive off Native American attackers after all-day battle with settlers. ›

1855

Point No Point Treaty is signed in Washington Territory. ›

1841

Gordon Bremer takes formal possession of Hong Kong Island at what is now Possession Point, establishing British Hong Kong. ›

1837

Michigan is admitted as the 26th U.S. state. ›

1808

The Rum Rebellion is the only successful (albeit short-lived) armed takeover of the government in New South Wales. ›

1788

The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on Australia. Commemorated as Australia Day. ›

1765

A British naval expedition arrives at and names Port Egmont in the Falkland Islands, founding a settlement there eight days later. (Arrival was 15 January 1765 O.S.) ›

1700

The 8.7–9.2 Mw Cascadia earthquake takes place off the west coast of North America, as evidenced by Japanese records. ›

1699

For the first time, the Ottoman Empire permanently cedes territory to the Christian powers. ›

1641

Reapers' War: Battle of Montjuïc, decisive victory of the Catalan army (with French support) over the Spanish army. ›

1564

The Council of Trent establishes an official distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. ›

1564

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeats the Tsardom of Russia in the Battle of Ula during the Livonian War. ›

1531

The 6.4–7.1 Mw Lisbon earthquake kills about thirty thousand people. ›

661

The Rashidun Caliphate is effectively ended with the assassination of Ali, the last caliph. ›