March 26

Historic Events

2024

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses following a collision between the MV Dali container ship and one of the bridge's support pillars, killing six people. ›

2017

Russia-wide anti-corruption protests in 99 cities. The Levada Center survey showed that 38% of surveyed Russians supported protests and that 67 percent held Putin personally responsible for high-level corruption. ›

2010

The South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan is torpedoed, killing 46 sailors. After an international investigation, the President of the United Nations Security Council blames North Korea. ›

2005

Around 200,000 to 300,000 Taiwanese demonstrate in Taipei in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of China. ›

1998

During the Algerian Civil War, the Oued Bouaicha massacre sees fifty-two people, mostly infants, killed with axes and knives. ›

1997

Thirty-nine bodies are found in the Heaven's Gate mass suicides. ›

1991

Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay sign the Treaty of Asunción, establishing Mercosur, the South Common Market. ›

1991

Singapore Airlines Flight 117 is hijacked by four Pakistani terrorists and diverted to Changi Airport. ›

1982

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is held in Washington, D.C. ›

1981

Social Democratic Party (UK) is founded as a party. ›

1979

Anwar al-Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter sign the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in Washington, D.C. ›

1979

An Interflug Ilyushin Il-18 crashes at Quatro de Fevereiro Airport during a rejected takeoff, killing 10. ›

1975

The Biological Weapons Convention comes into force. ›

1971

East Pakistan, then a province of Pakistan, declares its independence from Pakistan to form Bangladesh; the Bangladesh War of Independence begins. ›

1970

South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu implements a land reform program to solve the problem of land tenancy. ›

1967

Ten thousand people gather for one of many Central Park be-ins in New York City. ›

1958

The United States Army launches Explorer 3. ›

1958

The African Regroupment Party is launched at a meeting in Paris. ›

1955

Pan Am Flight 845/26 ditches in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon, killing four. ›

1954

Nuclear weapons testing: The Romeo shot of Operation Castle is detonated at Bikini Atoll. Yield: 11 megatons. ›

1945

World War II: The Battle of Iwo Jima ends as the island is officially secured by American forces. ›

1942

The Holocaust: The first female prisoners arrive at Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland. ›

1939

Spanish Civil War: Nationalists begin their final offensive of the war. ›

1934

The United Kingdom driving test is introduced. ›

1931

Swissair is founded as the national airline of Switzerland. ›

1931

Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union is founded in Vietnam. ›

1922

The German Social Democratic Party is founded in Poland. ›

1915

The Vancouver Millionaires win the 1915 Stanley Cup Final, the first championship played between the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the National Hockey Association. ›

1913

First Balkan War: Bulgarian forces capture Adrianople. ›

1896

An explosion at the Brunner Mine near Greymouth, New Zealand, kills 65 coal miners in the country's worst industrial accident. ›

1885

The Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel begin the North-West Rebellion against Canada. ›

1871

The elections of Commune council of the Paris Commune are held. ›

1839

The first Henley Royal Regatta is held. ›

1830

The Book of Mormon is published in Palmyra, New York. ›

1812

An earthquake devastates Caracas, Venezuela. ›

1812

A political cartoon in the Boston-Gazette coins the term "gerrymander" to describe oddly shaped electoral districts designed to help incumbents win reelection. ›

1700

William Dampier is the first European to circumnavigate New Britain, discovering it is an island (which he names Nova Britannia) rather than part of New Guinea. ›

1697

Safavid government troops take control of Basra. ›

1651

The silver-loaded Spanish ship San José, pushed south by strong winds, is wrecked on the coast of southern Chile and its surviving crew members are killed by indigenous Cuncos. ›

1640

The Royal Academy of Turku, the first university of Finland, is founded in the city of Turku by Queen Christina of Sweden at the proposal of Count Per Brahe. ›

1636

Utrecht University is founded in the Netherlands. ›

1552

Guru Amar Das becomes the Third Sikh guru. ›

1484

William Caxton prints his translation of Aesop's Fables. ›

1351

Combat of the Thirty: Thirty Breton knights call out and defeat thirty English knights. ›

1344

The Siege of Algeciras, one of the first European military engagements where gunpowder was used, comes to an end. ›

1244

The crown of Aragon and the crown of Castile agree in the Treaty of Almizra on the limits of their respective expansion into al-Andalus. ›

1169

Saladin becomes the emir of Egypt. ›

1027

Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. ›

1021

The death of the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, kept secret for six weeks, is announced, along with the succession of his son, al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah. ›

752

Election of Pope Stephen II following the death of Pope Zachary. ›

624

First Eid al-Fitr celebration. ›

590

Emperor Maurice proclaims his son Theodosius as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. ›