✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 57th day of the year

February 26

A look at February 26 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Victor Hugo and Sébastien Loeb, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2026

    Pakistan

    The government of Pakistan declares "open war" against the Taliban in Afghanistan, initiating the 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan War.

    Country in South Asia
  2. 2012

    Trayvon Martin

    Seventeen-year-old African-American student Trayvon Martin is shot to death by neighborhood watch coordinator George Zimmerman in an altercation in Sanford, Florida.

    American teenager killed in
  3. 1995

    Barings Bank

    The UK's oldest investment banking institute, Barings Bank, collapses after a rogue securities broker Nick Leeson loses $1.4 billion by speculating on the Singapore International Monetary Exchange using futures contracts.

    Defunct English merchant bank
  4. 1993

    1993 World Trade Center bombing

    World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a truck bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing six and injuring over a thousand people.

    Terrorist attack in the
  5. 1979

    Superliner (railcar)

    The Superliner railcar enters revenue service with Amtrak.

    Class of American double-deck,
  6. 1960

    Kyiv

    A Kyiv-bound Aeroflot airliner crashes on approach to Snilow Airport in Lviv, killing 32 of the 33 people on board.

    Capital and largest city
  7. 1945

    World War II

    World War II: US troops reclaim the Philippine island of Corregidor from the Japanese.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  8. 1935

    Adolf Hitler

    Adolf Hitler orders the Luftwaffe to be re-formed, violating the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.

    Dictator of Germany from
  9. 1914

    HMHS Britannic

    HMHS Britannic, sister to the RMS Titanic, is launched at Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast.

    Olympic-class ocean liner
  10. 1815

    Napoleon

    Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from exile on the island of Elba.

    French general and emperor
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Famous birthday twins

Born on February 26

Victor Hugo

b. 1802

French author, poet, and playwright

Sébastien Loeb

b. 1974

French racing driver

David Beasley

b. 1957

American lawyer and politician, 113th Governor of South Carolina

Kenneth Edgeworth

b. 1880

Irish astronomer

Sharon Van Etten

b. 1981

American singer-songwriter, musician and actress

Henry Molaison

b. 1926

American medical patient

Ole Gunnar Solskjær

b. 1973

Norwegian footballer and manager

Ahn Cheol-soo

b. 1962

South Korean physician, academic, and politician

Deaths

  • 1995Jack Clayton, English director and producer
  • 1994Bill Hicks, American comedian
  • 1931Otto Wallach, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1726Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria
  • 1577Erik XIV, King of Sweden from 1560 to 1569
  • 420AD 420, Greek bishop and saint

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Alexander of Alexandria
  • —Christian feast day: Emily Malbone Morgan (Episcopal Church (USA))
  • —Christian feast day: Isabelle of France
  • —Christian feast day: Li Tim-Oi (Anglican Church of Canada)
  • —Christian feast day: Paula Montal Fornés
  • —Christian feast day: Porphyry of Gaza
  • —Christian feast day: February 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —Day of Remembrance for Victims of Khojaly Massacre (Azerbaijan)

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