December 26

Sunday 26, 2004:

A massive earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter magnitude scale creates a tsunami causing devastation in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, The Maldives and many other areas around the rim of the Indian Ocean. The death toll is currently estimated at more than 300,000. Officials say the true toll may never be known, due to rapid burials. Indonesia was worst affected with as many as 219,000 people killed.

Friday 26, 2003:

Major earthquake devastates southeast Iranian city of Bam, with up to 43,300 killed, and 90,000 homeless; the citadel of Arg-é Bam destroyed.

Thursday 26, 2002:

French Raelian scientist Brigitte Boisselier says Clonaid has delivered the first of a supposed five clone babies through cesarean section

Sunday 26, 1999:

1999 - On the 26-28th, France and countries to east hit by severe storms and rain. Over 100 people were killed, and the storm caused extensive damage to property and trees and the French national power grid.

Saturday 26, 1998:

1998 - Severe gales over Ireland, northern England, and southern Scotland. Widespread disruption, widespread power outages in Northern Ireland and southern Scotland

Thursday 26, 1996:

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification goes into force

Thursday 26, 1991:

Supreme Soviet meets and formally dissolves the USSR

Monday 26, 1988:

Start of the Nanjing Anti-African protests

Friday 26, 1986:

The first long-running American television soap opera, Search for Tomorrow, airs its final episode after thirty-five years on the air

Wednesday 26, 1984:

Princess Astrid of Belgium marries Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este

Sunday 26, 1982:

TIME magazine's Man of the Year was for the first time given to a non-human; the personal computer

Friday 26, 1980:

Aeroflot puts the Ilyushin Il-86 into service.

Wednesday 26, 1979:

Soviet Special forces troops take over presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan

Sunday 26, 1976:

Foundation of the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist).

Friday 26, 1975:

Tupolev Tu-144 goes into service in Soviet Union

Thursday 26, 1974:

Salyut 4 launched

Wednesday 26, 1973:

Soyuz 13 lands

Monday 26, 1966:

The first Kwanzaa is celebrated by Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach

Sunday 26, 1948:

Cardinal Mindszenty arrested in Hungary

Friday 26, 1947:

26 inches of snowfall in 16 hours in New York City

Thursday 26, 1946:

Flamingo Hotel opens in Las Vegas

Wednesday 26, 1945:

CFP franc and CFA franc are created

Tuesday 26, 1944:

American troops repulse German forces at Bastogne

Sunday 26, 1943:

The German warship Scharnhorst sinks off the coast of North Cape in Norway after being attacked by the British Royal Navy late the previous evening.

Tuesday 26, 1933:

FM radio is patented

Saturday 26, 1931:

Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity was founded

Saturday 26, 1925:

Turkey adopts Gregorian Calendar

Tuesday 26, 1916:

Joseph Joffre is made Marshal of France

Saturday 26, 1908:

Jack Johnson becomes the first African American heavyweight boxing champion by defeating Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia

Monday 26, 1898:

Marie and Pierre Curie announce the isolation of radium

Friday 26, 1862:

American Civil War: Start of the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou.

Thursday 26, 1861:

Confederate diplomatic envoys James Mason and John Slidell are freed by the United States government, thus heading off a possible war between the United States and Britain

Monday 26, 1825:

The Erie Canal opens

Saturday 26, 1812:

Delaware and Chesapeake blockaded during the War of 1812

Friday 26, 1806:

indecisive battle between Napoleon and the Russians

Thursday 26, 1793:

Wedding of Prince Friedrich Ludwig of Prussia and Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Wednesday 26, 1792:

Final trial of Louis XVI of France begins in Paris

Sunday 26, 1790:

Louis XVI of France gives his public assent to Civil Constitution of the Clergy during the French Revolution

Thursday 26, 1776:

American Revolutionary War: The British were defeated in the Battle of Trenton

Saturday 26, 1620:

Pilgrim Fathers land of what becomes New Plymouth in Massachusetts

Tuesday 26, 1606:

King Lear performed in the Court of England

Monday 26, 1481:

Holland defeats troops of Utrecht

More on December, 26

• People Born on December, 26
• They left us on December, 26