Birthday October 26, 1466 Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch scholar, author of The Praise of Folly
Birthday October 26, 1759 Georges Danton, French Revolutionary leader
Birthday October 26, 1855 Charles Post, who had a way with breakfast cereals
Birthday October 26, 1911 Sid Gillman, NFL coach (LA, San Diego, Houston)
Birthday October 26, 1916 Francois Mitterrand, French President
Birthday October 26, 1917 Felix the cat, cartoon character
Birthday October 26, 1919 Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, shah of Iran (1941-79)
Birthday October 26, 1933 Suzy Parker, in San Antonio Texas
Birthday October 26, 1946 Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak born
Birthday October 26, 1947 Lynn Anderson, in North Dakota
Birthday October 26, 1948 Jaclyn Smith, in Houston Texas (Charlie's Angel)
Birthday October 26, 1954 Lauren Tewes, (Love Boat)
Birthday October 26, 1955 Outlaw Sammy Swindell is born
History October 26, 1774 1st Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia.
History October 26, 1776 Benjamin Franklin sets sail for France
History October 26, 1825 Erie Canal opens
History October 26, 1825 Erie Canal between Hudson River & Lake Erie opened
History October 26, 1861 Telegraph service inaugurated in US (end of Pony Express)
History October 26, 1863 Soccer rules standardized; rugby starts as a separate game.
History October 26, 1864 Bloody Bill Anderson killed
History October 26, 1881 Shootout at the OK corral in Tombstone Az
History October 26, 1881 The Earps shoot it out at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona
History October 26, 1900 Henry James and Edith Wharton begin corresponding
History October 26, 1903 Yerba Buena is 1st Key System ferry to cross SF Bay.
History October 26, 1917 Brazil declares war on Germany
History October 26, 1941 US Savings Bonds go on sale
History October 26, 1942 The United States loses the Hornet
History October 26, 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf ends
History October 26, 1948 An abused wife gets revenge
History October 26, 1949 Pres Truman increases minimum wage - from 40 cents to 75 cents.
History October 26, 1955 Diem wins referendum in South Vietnam
History October 26, 1955 Diem declares himself premier of Republic of Vietnam
History October 26, 1956 International Atomic Energy Agency established
History October 26, 1957 Vatican Radio begins broadcasting
History October 26, 1958 PanAm flies the 1st transAtlantic jet trip - NY to Paris.
History October 26, 1966 Fire breaks out on U.S. aircraft carrier
History October 26, 1968 Soyuz 3 is launched
History October 26, 1968 Big battle begins in Tay Ninh Province
History October 26, 1970 Doonesbury comic strip debuts in 28 newspapers.
History October 26, 1971 UN votes to replace Taiwan with China
History October 26, 1972 Guided tours of Alcatraz (by Park Service) begin
History October 26, 1976 according to South Africa Transkei gains independence. Not recognized as an independent country outside of South Africa.
History October 26, 1977 Fifth & Final test of the Space Shuttle Enterprise
History October 26, 1979 St. Vincent & the Grenadines gains independence from Britain.
History October 26, 1979 S Korean Pres Park Chung-hee is assassinated.
History October 26, 1984 Infant receives baboon heart
History October 26, 1984 An Ozzy Osbourne fan commits suicide
History October 26, 1984 Baby Fae gets a baboon heart in an experimental transplant in Loma Linda CA. She will live for 21 days with the animal heart.
History October 26, 1985 Whitney Houston earns her first #1 hit with Saving All My Love For You
History October 26, 1986 Buckner lets ground ball roll through his legs
History October 26, 1987 head of Salvadoran Human Rights Comm. assassinated by death squads.
History October 26, 1998 Hurricane Mitch slams into Central America
History October 26, 2001 George W. Bush signs the Patriot Act
October 26, 1466 Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch scholar, author of The Praise of Folly
October 26, 1759 Georges Danton, French Revolutionary leader
October 26, 1855 Charles Post, who had a way with breakfast cereals
October 26, 1911 Sid Gillman, NFL coach (LA, San Diego, Houston)
October 26, 1916 Francois Mitterrand, French President
October 26, 1917 Felix the cat, cartoon character
October 26, 1919 Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, shah of Iran (1941-79)
October 26, 1933 Suzy Parker, in San Antonio Texas
October 26, 1946 Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak born
October 26, 1947 Lynn Anderson, in North Dakota
October 26, 1948 Jaclyn Smith, in Houston Texas (Charlie's Angel)
October 26, 1954 Lauren Tewes, (Love Boat)
October 26, 1955 Outlaw Sammy Swindell is born
October 26, 1774 1st Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia.
October 26, 1776 Benjamin Franklin sets sail for France
October 26, 1825 Erie Canal opens
October 26, 1825 Erie Canal between Hudson River & Lake Erie opened
October 26, 1861 Telegraph service inaugurated in US (end of Pony Express)
October 26, 1863 Soccer rules standardized; rugby starts as a separate game.
October 26, 1864 Bloody Bill Anderson killed
October 26, 1881 Shootout at the OK corral in Tombstone Az
October 26, 1881 The Earps shoot it out at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona
October 26, 1900 Henry James and Edith Wharton begin corresponding
October 26, 1903 Yerba Buena is 1st Key System ferry to cross SF Bay.
October 26, 1917 Brazil declares war on Germany
October 26, 1941 US Savings Bonds go on sale
October 26, 1942 The United States loses the Hornet
October 26, 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf ends
October 26, 1948 An abused wife gets revenge
October 26, 1949 Pres Truman increases minimum wage - from 40 cents to 75 cents.
October 26, 1955 Diem wins referendum in South Vietnam
October 26, 1955 Diem declares himself premier of Republic of Vietnam
October 26, 1956 International Atomic Energy Agency established
October 26, 1957 Vatican Radio begins broadcasting
October 26, 1958 PanAm flies the 1st transAtlantic jet trip - NY to Paris.
October 26, 1966 Fire breaks out on U.S. aircraft carrier
October 26, 1968 Soyuz 3 is launched
October 26, 1968 Big battle begins in Tay Ninh Province
October 26, 1970 Doonesbury comic strip debuts in 28 newspapers.
October 26, 1971 UN votes to replace Taiwan with China
October 26, 1972 Guided tours of Alcatraz (by Park Service) begin
October 26, 1976 according to South Africa Transkei gains independence. Not recognized as an independent country outside of South Africa.
October 26, 1977 Fifth & Final test of the Space Shuttle Enterprise
October 26, 1979 St. Vincent & the Grenadines gains independence from Britain.
October 26, 1979 S Korean Pres Park Chung-hee is assassinated.
October 26, 1984 Infant receives baboon heart
October 26, 1984 An Ozzy Osbourne fan commits suicide
October 26, 1984 Baby Fae gets a baboon heart in an experimental transplant in Loma Linda CA. She will live for 21 days with the animal heart.
October 26, 1985 Whitney Houston earns her first #1 hit with Saving All My Love For You
October 26, 1986 Buckner lets ground ball roll through his legs
October 26, 1987 head of Salvadoran Human Rights Comm. assassinated by death squads.
October 26, 1998 Hurricane Mitch slams into Central America
October 26, 2001 George W. Bush signs the Patriot Act