May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 219 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about May 26th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about May 26th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
- National Paper Airplane Day
- World Lindy Hop Day
- World Dracula Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – May 26
1972: The Soviet Union and the United States sign the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
The ABM Treaty regulated the establishment of anti-ballistic missile shields against nuclear missiles. It was one of the most important treaties between the two superpowers during the Cold War.
1970: The Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2
The Russian plane, sometimes nicknamed Concordski, first took to the skies in 1968, two months before the Concorde.
1923: The 24 Hours of Le Mans is held for the first time
Only three competitors completed the race in 1923. The winners were André Lagarde and Albert Leonard of France, who covered 2210 kilometers in 24 hours.
1908: Engineers make the first major oil find in the Middle East
The discovery in Masjed Soleyman in Iran had a major impact on the country’s and the world region’s economy and politics. More than half of the world’s oil reserves are located in the Middle East.
1896: The Dow Jones Industrial Average is first published
The Dow Jones is one of the world’s most important stock market indices. Today it comprises data from 30 major U.S. companies.
1967: EMI rush releases The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s lonely hearts Club Band” in London and select markets in the UK, prior to nationwide release, it went to number one for 15 weeks in the US and 22 weeks in the UK.
1955: Wasp Prime atomic bomb testing blast in 1955.
1948: South Africa elects a nationalist government under D.F. Malan with an apartheid policy.
1939: Lois Kendall played the bass with the robot “Elektro” at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York
1931: Job seeker in 1931
1927: Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company produced the last and 15th million Model of Tin Lizzie.
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, May 26
1975: Lauryn Hill, American singer-songwriter, producer, actress
1964: Lenny Kravitz, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actor
1926: Miles Davis, American trumpet player, composer, bandleader
1907: John Wayne, American actor, director, producer
1886: Al Jolson, Lithuanian/American singer, actor
Stevie Nicks was born.
James Arness was born.
Umar Akmal was born.
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, May 26
2008: Sydney Pollack, American director
1976: Martin Heidegger, German philosopher
1908: Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Indian religious leader, founded the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
1703: Samuel Pepys, English administrator, politician
735: Bede, English monk, historian, theologian
Vincent Voiture died.
Robert Filmer died.
Willem Maurits died.
