✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 26th day of the year

January 26

A look at January 26 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Oldo Hlaváček and Florian Thauvin, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♒ZodiacAquarius ◈BirthstoneGarnet ❀Birth flowerCarnation
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2020

    Sikorsky S-76

    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.

    American medium-size commercial utility
  2. 2009

    Antananarivo

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

    Capital and largest city
  3. 1974

    Turkish Airlines Flight 301

    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.

    Aviation accident in Turkey
  4. 1972

    JAT Flight 367

    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.

    1972 aircraft bombing in
  5. 1966

    Disappearance of the Beaumont children

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

    1966 disappearance in Australia
  6. 1952

    Cairo fire

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

    1952 anti-British riots in
  7. 1949

    Hale Telescope

    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).

    Telescope at Palomar Observatory
  8. 1945

    Audie Murphy

    World War II: Audie Murphy displays valor and bravery in action for which he will later be awarded the Medal of Honor.

    American soldier and actor
  9. 1934

    Apollo Theater

    The Apollo Theater reopens in Harlem, New York City.

    Entertainment venue in Manhattan,
  10. 1841

    Gordon Bremer

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

    British naval officer (1786–1850)
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Famous birthday twins

Born on January 26

Oldo Hlaváček

b. 1934

Slovak actor and screenwriter

Florian Thauvin

b. 1993

French footballer

Jimmy Van Heusen

b. 1913

American pianist and composer

Paul Newman

b. 1925

American actor, activist, director, race car driver, and businessman, co-founded Newman's Own

Jörg Haider

b. 1950

Austrian lawyer and politician, Governor of Carinthia

Anders Fogh Rasmussen

b. 1953

Danish politician and diplomat, 39th Prime Minister of Denmark

Charles XIV John

b. 1763

of Sweden

Achim von Arnim

b. 1781

German poet and author

Deaths

  • 2020Kobe Bryant, American basketball player
  • 2000Don Budge, American tennis player and coach
  • 1979Nelson Rockefeller, American businessman and politician, 41st Vice President of the United States
  • 1977Dietrich von Hildebrand, German Catholic philosopher and author
  • 1823Edward Jenner, English physician and immunologist, creator of the smallpox vaccine
  • 1795Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, German harpsichord player and composer

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Saint Alberic of Cîteaux
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Gabriele Allegra
  • —Christian feast day: Saint Paula of Rome
  • —Christian feast day: Timothy
  • —Christian feast day: Titus
  • —Christian feast day: January 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —Australia Day (Australia)
  • —Republic Day (India)

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