✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 299th day of the year

October 26

A look at October 26 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including François Mitterrand and Emil Sayfutdinov, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♏ZodiacScorpio ◈BirthstoneOpal ❀Birth flowerMarigold
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2004

    Rockstar Games

    Rockstar Games releases Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PlayStation 2 in North America, which sold 12 million units for the PS2, becoming the console's best-selling video game.

    American video game publisher
  2. 2000

    Robert Guéï

    A wave of protests forces Robert Guéï to step down as president after the Ivorian presidential election.

    1999–2000 military president of
  3. 1977

    Ali Maow Maalin

    Ali Maow Maalin, the last natural case of smallpox, develops a rash in Somalia. The WHO and the CDC consider this date to be the anniversary of the eradication of smallpox, the most spectacular success of vaccination.

    Last naturally acquired case
  4. 1955

    Ngo Dinh Diem

    Ngô Đình Diệm proclaims himself as President of the newly created Republic of Vietnam.

    President of South Vietnam
  5. 1892

    Ida B. Wells

    Ida B. Wells publishes Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases.

    American journalist and civil
  6. 1871

    Edward James Roye

    Liberian President Edward James Roye is deposed in a coup d'état.

    5th president of Liberia
  7. 1863

    The Football Association

    The Football Association is founded.

    Governing body of association
  8. 1813

    War of 1812

    War of 1812: A combined force of British regulars, Canadian militia and Mohawks defeat the United States Army in the Battle of the Chateauguay.

    1812–1815 conflict in North
  9. 1597

    Imjin War

    Imjin War: Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin routs the Japanese Navy of 300 ships with only 13 ships at the Battle of Myeongnyang.

    1592–1598 Japanese invasions of
  10. 1520

    Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

    Charles V is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor.

    Holy Roman Emperor from
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Famous birthday twins

Born on October 26

François Mitterrand

b. 1916

French lawyer and politician, 21st President of France

Emil Sayfutdinov

b. 1989

Russian motorcycle racer

Hillary Clinton

b. 1947

American lawyer and politician, 67th United States Secretary of State and 44th First Lady of the United States

Zhengde Emperor

b. 1491

of China

Nancy D. Griffeth

b. 1945

American computer scientist and academic

Daniel Elena

b. 1972

Monegasque race car driver

Hot Rod Hundley

b. 1934

American basketball player and sportscaster

Miloš Crnjanski

b. 1893

Serbian poet and author

Deaths

  • 1999Hoyt Axton, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor
  • 1979Park Chung Hee, South Korean general and politician, 3rd President of South Korea
  • 1956Walter Gieseking, French-German pianist and composer
  • 1817Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin, Dutch-Austrian chemist and botanist
  • 1631Michael Maestlin, German astronomer and mathematician
  • 899Alfred the Great, English king

Holidays & observances

  • —Accession Day (Jammu and Kashmir, India)
  • —Angam Day (Nauru)
  • —Armed Forces Day (Benin)
  • —Christian feast day: Alfred the Great (Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Amandus of Strasbourg
  • —Christian feast day: Beóán (Bean) of Mortlach
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Celine Borzecka
  • —Christian feast day: Cedd

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