On This Day — 26 March
2000s
2024
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses following a collision between the MV Dali container ship and one of the bridge's support pillars, killing six people.
Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore)
2017
Russia-wide anti-corruption protests in 99 cities. The Levada Center survey showed that 38% of surveyed Russians supported protests and that 67 percent held Putin personally responsible for high-level corruption.
2017–2018 Russian protests
2010
The South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan is torpedoed, killing 46 sailors. After an international investigation, the President of the United Nations Security Council blames North Korea.
ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772)
2005
Around 200,000 to 300,000 Taiwanese demonstrate in Taipei in opposition to the Anti-Secession Law of China.
Taiwan
1900s
1998
During the Algerian Civil War, the Oued Bouaicha massacre sees fifty-two people, mostly infants, killed with axes and knives.
Algerian Civil War
1997
Thirty-nine bodies are found in the Heaven's Gate mass suicides.
Heaven's Gate (religious group)
1991
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay sign the Treaty of Asunción, establishing Mercosur, the South Common Market.
Argentina
1991
Singapore Airlines Flight 117 is hijacked by four Pakistani terrorists and diverted to Changi Airport.
Singapore Airlines Flight 117
1982
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is held in Washington, D.C.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1981
Social Democratic Party (UK) is founded as a party.
Social Democratic Party (UK)
1979
Anwar al-Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter sign the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in Washington, D.C.
Anwar Sadat
1979
An Interflug Ilyushin Il-18 crashes at Quatro de Fevereiro Airport during a rejected takeoff, killing 10.
Interflug
1975
The Biological Weapons Convention comes into force.
Biological Weapons Convention
1971
East Pakistan, then a province of Pakistan, declares its independence from Pakistan to form Bangladesh; the Bangladesh War of Independence begins.
East Pakistan
1970
South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu implements a land reform program to solve the problem of land tenancy.
South Vietnam
1967
Ten thousand people gather for one of many Central Park be-ins in New York City.
Central Park be-ins
1958
The United States Army launches Explorer 3.
Explorer 3
1958
The African Regroupment Party is launched at a meeting in Paris.
African Regroupment Party
1955
Pan Am Flight 845/26 ditches in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon, killing four.
Pan Am Flight 845/26
1954
Nuclear weapons testing: The Romeo shot of Operation Castle is detonated at Bikini Atoll. Yield: 11 megatons.
Nuclear weapons testing
1945
World War II: The Battle of Iwo Jima ends as the island is officially secured by American forces.
World War II
1942
The Holocaust: The first female prisoners arrive at Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.
The Holocaust
1939
Spanish Civil War: Nationalists begin their final offensive of the war.
Spanish Civil War
1934
The United Kingdom driving test is introduced.
United Kingdom driving test
1931
Swissair is founded as the national airline of Switzerland.
Swissair
1931
Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union is founded in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union
1922
The German Social Democratic Party is founded in Poland.
German Social Democratic Party (Poland)
1917
World War I: First Battle of Gaza: British troops are halted after 17,000 Turks block their advance.
World War I
1915
The Vancouver Millionaires win the 1915 Stanley Cup Final, the first championship played between the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the National Hockey Association.
Vancouver Millionaires
1913
First Balkan War: Bulgarian forces capture Adrianople.
First Balkan War
1800s
1896
An explosion at the Brunner Mine near Greymouth, New Zealand, kills 65 coal miners in the country's worst industrial accident.
Brunner Mine disaster
1885
The Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel begin the North-West Rebellion against Canada.
Métis
1871
The elections of Commune council of the Paris Commune are held.
Paris Commune
1839
The first Henley Royal Regatta is held.
Henley Royal Regatta
1830
The Book of Mormon is published in Palmyra, New York.
Book of Mormon
1812
An earthquake devastates Caracas, Venezuela.
1812 Caracas earthquake
1812
A political cartoon in the Boston-Gazette coins the term "gerrymander" to describe oddly shaped electoral districts designed to help incumbents win reelection.
Gerrymandering
Before 1800
1700
William Dampier is the first European to circumnavigate New Britain, discovering it is an island (which he names Nova Britannia) rather than part of New Guinea.
William Dampier
1697
Safavid government troops take control of Basra.
Safavid Iran
1651
The silver-loaded Spanish ship San José, pushed south by strong winds, is wrecked on the coast of southern Chile and its surviving crew members are killed by indigenous Cuncos.
Real Situado
1640
The Royal Academy of Turku, the first university of Finland, is founded in the city of Turku by Queen Christina of Sweden at the proposal of Count Per Brahe.
Royal Academy of Turku
1636
Utrecht University is founded in the Netherlands.
Utrecht University
1552
Guru Amar Das becomes the Third Sikh guru.
Guru Amar Das
1484
William Caxton prints his translation of Aesop's Fables.
William Caxton
1351
Combat of the Thirty: Thirty Breton knights call out and defeat thirty English knights.
Combat of the Thirty
1344
The Siege of Algeciras, one of the first European military engagements where gunpowder was used, comes to an end.
Siege of Algeciras (1342–1344)
1244
The crown of Aragon and the crown of Castile agree in the Treaty of Almizra on the limits of their respective expansion into al-Andalus.
Crown of Aragon
1169
Saladin becomes the emir of Egypt.
Saladin
1027
Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor.
Pope John XIX
1021
The death of the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, kept secret for six weeks, is announced, along with the succession of his son, al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah.
Fatimid Caliphate
752
Election of Pope Stephen II following the death of Pope Zachary.
Pope Stephen II
624
First Eid al-Fitr celebration.
Eid al-Fitr
590
Emperor Maurice proclaims his son Theodosius as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
Maurice (emperor)