✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 238th day of the year

August 26

A look at August 26 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Katherine Johnson and Karen Spärck Jones, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♍ZodiacVirgo ◈BirthstonePeridot ❀Birth flowerGladiolus
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2015

    Murders of Alison Parker and Adam Ward

    Two U.S. journalists are shot and killed by a disgruntled former coworker while conducting a live report in Moneta, Virginia.

    2015 shooting in Moneta,
  2. 2011

    Boeing 787 Dreamliner

    The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing's all-new composite airliner, receives certification from the EASA and the FAA.

    Twin-aisle airliner family
  3. 1980

    Harvey's Resort Hotel bombing

    After John Birges plants a bomb at Harvey's Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, in the United States, the FBI inadvertently detonates the bomb during its disarming.

    1980 extortion attempt in
  4. 1944

    Charles de Gaulle

    World War II: Charles de Gaulle enters Paris.

    French general and statesman
  5. 1940

    World War II

    World War II: Chad becomes the first French colony to join the Allies under the administration of Félix Éboué, France's first black colonial governor.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1914

    World War I

    World War I: The German colony of Togoland surrenders to French and British forces after a 20-day campaign. Togoland is the first German colony to fall to Allied hands in World War I.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  7. 1883

    1883 eruption of Krakatoa

    The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa begins its final, paroxysmal, stage.

    Large volcanic eruption in
  8. 1778

    Triglav

    The first recorded ascent of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia.

    Mountain in northwest Slovenia;
  9. 1748

    Lutheranism

    The first Lutheran denomination in North America, the Pennsylvania Ministerium, is founded in Philadelphia.

    Major branch of Protestantism
  10. 1346

    Hundred Years' War

    Hundred Years' War: At the Battle of Crécy, an English army easily defeats a French one twice its size.

    Medieval Anglo-French conflicts, 1337–1453
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Famous birthday twins

Born on August 26

Katherine Johnson

b. 1918

American physicist and mathematician

Karen Spärck Jones

b. 1935

English computer scientist and academic

Chris Pine

b. 1980

American actor

Mother Teresa

b. 1910

Albanian-Indian nun, missionary, Catholic saint, and Nobel Prize laureate

Antoine Lavoisier

b. 1743

French chemist and biologist

James Franck

b. 1882

German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Frederick V of the Palatinate

b. 1596

Elector Palatine, Bohemian king

Wolfgang Sawallisch

b. 1923

German pianist and conductor

Deaths

  • 1974Charles Lindbergh, American pilot and explorer
  • 1921Matthias Erzberger, German publicist and politician
  • 1865Johann Franz Encke, German astronomer and academic
  • 1850Louis Philippe I, of France
  • 1723Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, Dutch microscopist and biologist
  • 787AD 787, duke of Benevento

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Alexander of Bergamo (Roman Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá
  • —Christian feast day: Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier des Ages
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed John Paul I
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Lavrentia Herasymiv
  • —Christian feast day: Mariam Baouardy (Melkite Greek Catholic Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Melchizedek
  • —Christian feast day: Our Lady of Częstochowa

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