✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 269th day of the year

September 26

A look at September 26 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Serena Williams and Michael Ballack, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1959

    Typhoon Vera

    Typhoon Vera, the strongest typhoon to hit Japan in recorded history, makes landfall, killing 4,580 people and leaving nearly 1.6 million others homeless.

    Pacific typhoon in 1959
  2. 1942

    The Holocaust

    Holocaust: Senior SS official August Frank issues a memorandum detailing how Jews should be "evacuated".

    Genocide of European Jews
  3. 1933

    Machine Gun Kelly (gangster)

    As gangster Machine Gun Kelly surrenders to the FBI, he shouts out, "Don't shoot, G-Men!", which becomes a nickname for FBI agents.

    American gangster (1895–1954)
  4. 1917

    World War I

    World War I: The Battle of Polygon Wood begins.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  5. 1905

    Albert Einstein

    Albert Einstein publishes the third of his Annus Mirabilis papers, introducing the special theory of relativity.

    German-born theoretical physicist (1879–1955)
  6. 1789

    George Washington

    George Washington appoints Thomas Jefferson the first United States Secretary of State.

    U.S. Founding Father, president
  7. 1580

    Francis Drake

    Francis Drake finishes his circumnavigation of the Earth in Plymouth, England.

    English sailor and privateer
  8. 1142

    Stephen, King of England

    Stephen of Blois's army approached Oxford, beginning the siege of Oxford.

    King of England from
  9. 1087

    William II of England

    William II is crowned King of England, and reigns until 1100.

    King of England from
  10. -46

    Julius Caesar

    Julius Caesar dedicates a temple to Venus Genetrix, fulfilling a vow he made at the Battle of Pharsalus.

    Roman general and dictator
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Famous birthday twins

Born on September 26

Serena Williams

b. 1981

American tennis player

Michael Ballack

b. 1976

German footballer

Pope Paul VI

b. 1897

Head of the Catholic Church from 1963 to 1978

T. S. Eliot

b. 1888

English poet, playwright, critic, Nobel Prize laureate

Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford

b. 1865

British aviator and ornithologist

Manmohan Singh

b. 1932

Indian economist and politician, 13th Prime Minister of India

Ivan Pavlov

b. 1849

Russian physiologist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate

Martin Heidegger

b. 1889

German philosopher and academic

Deaths

  • 2019Jacques Chirac, French politician, President of France
  • 2008Paul Newman, American actor, director, producer, and businessman
  • 1973Anna Magnani, Italian actress and singer
  • 1868August Ferdinand Möbius, German mathematician and astronomer
  • 1620Taichang Emperor, of China
  • 1413Stephen III, Duke of Bavaria, Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt from 1375

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast days: Canadian Martyrs (Catholic Church in Canada)
  • —Christian feast days: Cosmas and Damian
  • —Christian feast days: John of Meda
  • —Christian feast days: Nilus the Younger
  • —Christian feast days: Thérèse Couderc
  • —Christian feast days: Wilson Carlile (Anglican)
  • —Christian feast days: September 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —Day of the National Flag (Ecuador)

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