What Happened on June 26?

All

events

births

deaths

holidays

EVENTS ON JUNE 26

Henri Moissan

Year: 1886

Henri Moissan isolated elemental Fluorine for the first time.

Bangui

Year: 1889

Bangui is founded by Albert Dolisie and Alfred Uzac in what was then the upper reaches of the French Congo.

1906 French Grand Prix

Year: 1906

The first Grand Prix motor race is held at Le Mans.

Victoria Cross

Year: 1857

The first investiture of the Victoria Cross in Hyde Park, London.

June Days uprising

Year: 1848

End of the June Days Uprising in Paris.

William IV

Year: 1830

William IV becomes king of Britain and Hanover following the death without surviving legitimate issue of his older brother George IV.

Treaty of Nanking

Year: 1843

Treaty of Nanking comes into effect, Hong Kong Island is ceded to the British "in perpetuity".

Science Museum, London

Year: 1909

The Science Museum in London comes into existence as an independent entity.

World War I

Year: 1917

World War I: The American Expeditionary Forces begin to arrive in France. They will first enter combat in the Battle of Hamel on July 4.

Focke-Wulf Fw 61

Year: 1936

Initial flight of the Focke-Wulf Fw 61, the first practical helicopter.

BIRTHS ON JUNE 26

Pavel Belyayev

Year of birth: 1925

Pavel Belyayev, Soviet soldier, pilot and cosmonaut (died 1970)

Kenny Baker (fiddler)

Year of birth: 1926

Kenny Baker, American fiddler (died 2011)

Wolfgang Unzicker

Year of birth: 1925

Wolfgang Unzicker, German chess player (died 2006)

James W. McCord Jr.

Year of birth: 1924

James W. McCord Jr., CIA officer (died 2017)

Franz-Paul Decker

Year of birth: 1923

Franz-Paul Decker, German conductor (died 2014)

Bill Sheffield

Year of birth: 1928

Bill Sheffield, American politician; 5th Governor of Alaska (died 2022)

Yoshiro Nakamatsu

Year of birth: 1928

Yoshiro Nakamatsu, Japanese inventor

June Bronhill

Year of birth: 1929

June Bronhill, Australian soprano and actress (died 2005)

Wolfgang Schwanitz

Year of birth: 1930

Wolfgang Schwanitz, East German secret police (died 2022)

Fred Bruemmer

Year of birth: 1929

Fred Bruemmer, Latvian-Canadian photographer and author (died 2013)

DEATHS ON JUNE 26

Andrija Štampar

Year of death: 1958

Andrija Štampar, Croatian physician and scholar (born 1888)

George Orton

Year of death: 1958

George Orton, Canadian runner and hurdler (born 1873)

Léo Dandurand

Year of death: 1964

Léo Dandurand, American-Canadian businessman (born 1889)

Françoise Dorléac

Year of death: 1967

Françoise Dorléac, French actress and singer (born 1942)

Alfred Döblin

Year of death: 1957

Alfred Döblin, Polish-German physician and author (born 1878)

Malcolm Lowry

Year of death: 1957

Malcolm Lowry, English novelist and poet (born 1909)

Kim Ku

Year of death: 1949

Kim Koo, South Korean educator and politician, 13th President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (born 1876)

Engelbert Zaschka

Year of death: 1955

Engelbert Zaschka, German engineer (born 1895)

Richie Powell

Year of death: 1956

Richie Powell, American pianist (born 1931)

Clifford Brown

Year of death: 1956

Clifford Brown, American trumpet player and composer (born 1930)

HOLIDAYS ON JUNE 26

Vigilius of Trent

Christian feast day: Vigilius of Trent

Pelagius of Córdoba

Christian feast day: Pelagius of Córdoba

June 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Christian feast day: June 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Independence Day (Somaliland)

Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Somaliland from United Kingdom in 1960. (Somaliland)

World Refrigeration Day

World Refrigeration Day (International)

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (International)

Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan

Josemaría Escrivá

Christian feast day: Josemaría Escrivá

David the Dendrite

Christian feast day: David the Dendrite

Anthelm of Belley

Christian feast day: Anthelm of Belley

June