August 26 facts for kids

2025 Calendar

August 26 in recent years

August 26 is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 127 days remain until the end of the year.

This day, August 26, has seen many important events throughout history. From ancient battles that changed countries to new inventions and major steps for human rights, this date marks moments that shaped our world. Let's explore some of the key happenings and famous people connected to August 26.

Historical Events
Famous Births
Notable Deaths
Holidays and Observances
See also

Historical Events

Early History (Before 1600)

683 – A battle took place in Medina, where many people lost their lives.
1071 – The Seljuq Turks defeated the Byzantine army at the Battle of Manzikert. This victory helped them gain control of much of Anatolia.
1278 – King Ladislaus IV of Hungary and King Rudolf I of Germany defeated Ottokar II of Bohemia in a battle near Dürnkrut.
1303 – The city of Chittorgarh was taken over by the Delhi Sultanate.
1346 – At the Battle of Crécy, an English army easily defeated a French army that was twice its size.
1444 – A much smaller group of Swiss soldiers was defeated by the French army at the Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs.
1542 – Francisco de Orellana completed a journey across South America. He traveled from the Pacific coast to the mouth of the Amazon River.

Later History (1601–1900)

1642 – During the Dutch–Portuguese War, the Dutch took over the Spanish colony on Formosa (modern-day Taiwan). This ended the Spanish rule there.
1648 – In France, Cardinal Mazarin ordered the arrest of leaders from the Parlement of Paris. This caused people in Paris to protest and build barricades in the streets.
1748 – The first Lutheran church group in North America, the Pennsylvania Ministerium, was started in Philadelphia.
1767 – Jesuits in Chile were arrested as the Spanish Empire stopped supporting their group.
1768 – Captain James Cook began his first journey from England on his ship, the HMS Endeavour.
1778 – The highest mountain in Slovenia, Triglav, was climbed for the first time.
1789 – The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was approved in France. This document outlined important human rights.
1791 – John Fitch received a patent in the United States for his invention, the steamboat.
1810 – Santiago de Liniers, a former leader in South America, was executed after his attempt to start a counter-revolution failed.
1813 – During the War of the Sixth Coalition, French and Prussian-Russian forces accidentally met and fought near Liegnitz, Prussia.
1814 – In the Chilean War of Independence, fighting broke out between different rebel groups led by José Miguel Carrera and Bernardo O'Higgins.
1833 – A large earthquake in Kathmandu caused a lot of damage in Nepal, northern India, and Tibet. About 500 people died.
1849 – Faustin Soulouque, the President of Haiti, was declared the Emperor of Haiti. This changed Haiti from a republic into an empire.
1863 – A newspaper in Finland suggested the blue-and-white cross design that is now the flag of Finland.
1883 – The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa began its most powerful and destructive phase.

Modern History (1901–Present)

1914 – World War I: The German colony of Togoland surrendered to French and British forces. It was the first German colony to be taken by the Allies in the war.
1914 – World War I: British forces fought a strong defensive battle at Le Cateau during their retreat from Mons.
1920 – The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution became law. This gave women the right to vote across the country.
1922 – Greco-Turkish War (1919–22): The Turkish army launched a major attack known as the Great Offensive. They quickly broke through Greek defenses.
1936 – Spanish Civil War: The city of Santander fell to the Nationalists.
1940 – World War II: Chad became the first French colony to join the Allies. This happened under the leadership of Félix Éboué, France's first black colonial governor.
1942 – During the Holocaust in Ukraine, two thousand Jewish people were sent to a concentration camp from Chortkiv. Many sick people and children were killed there.
1944 – World War II: Charles de Gaulle entered Paris after its liberation.
1966 – The South African Border War began with a battle at Omugulugwombashe.
1970 – The 50th anniversary of American women getting the right to vote was celebrated with a nationwide Women's Strike for Equality.
1972 – The Olympic Games opened in Munich, West Germany.
1977 – The Charter of the French Language was passed by the National Assembly of Quebec.
1978 – Albino Luciani was chosen as Pope John Paul I.
1980 – A bomb planted at Harvey's Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, accidentally exploded while the FBI was trying to disarm it.
1997 – The Beni Ali massacre happened in Algeria, where many people lost their lives.
1998 – The first flight of the Boeing Delta III rocket failed shortly after launch, losing a communications satellite.
1999 – Russia began the Second Chechen War after an invasion of Dagestan.
2011 – The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a new type of airplane, received its official certifications from aviation authorities.

Famous Births

Born Before 1600

1548 – Bernardino Poccetti, an Italian painter.
1582 – Humilis of Bisignano, an Italian Franciscan friar and saint.
1596 – Frederick V, Elector Palatine, who was a Bohemian king.

Born 1601–1900

1676 – Robert Walpole, an English politician who became the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
1728 – Johann Heinrich Lambert, a Swiss mathematician, physicist, and astronomer.
1740 – Joseph-Michel Montgolfier, a French inventor who helped create the hot air balloon.
1743 – Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist and biologist.
1792 – Manuel Oribe, an Uruguayan soldier and politician who became the 4th President of Uruguay.
1819 – Albert, Prince Consort of the United Kingdom.
1873 – Lee de Forest, an American engineer who invented the Audion tube.
1875 – John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, a Scottish-Canadian historian and politician who was the 15th Governor General of Canada.
1882 – James Franck, a German physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics.
1900 – Peggy Guggenheim, an American-Italian art collector.

Born 1901–Present

1901 – Eleanor Dark, an Australian author.
1904 – Christopher Isherwood, an English-American author.
1906 – Albert Sabin, a Polish-American physician who developed the polio vaccine.
1910 – Mother Teresa, an Albanian-Indian nun and missionary who won the Nobel Peace Prize.
1914 – Julio Cortázar, a Belgian-Argentinian author.
1918 – Katherine Johnson, an American physicist and mathematician who worked for NASA.
1920 – Prem Tinsulanonda, a Thai general and politician who became the 16th Prime Minister of Thailand.
1921 – Benjamin C. Bradlee, an American journalist.
1934 – Tom Heinsohn, an American basketball player and coach.
1935 – Geraldine Ferraro, an American lawyer and politician.
1940 – Don LaFontaine, an American voice actor.
1946 – Alison Steadman, an English actress.
1949 – Leon Redbone, a Canadian-American singer-songwriter.
1951 – Edward Witten, an American physicist.
1952 – Will Shortz, an American journalist and puzzle creator.
1953 – David Hurley, an Australian general and politician who became the 27th Governor General of Australia.
1960 – Branford Marsalis, an American saxophonist and composer.
1966 – Shirley Manson, a Scottish singer-songwriter and actress.
1968 – Chris Boardman, an English cyclist.
1970 – Melissa McCarthy, an American actress and comedian.
1971 – Thalía, a Mexican-American singer and actress.
1980 – Macaulay Culkin, an American actor.
1980 – Chris Pine, an American actor.
1983 – Nicol David, a Malaysian squash player.
1989 – James Harden, an American basketball player.
1991 – Dylan O'Brien, an American actor.
1993 – Keke Palmer, an American actress and singer.

Notable Deaths

Died Before 1600

787 – Arechis II, a duke of Benevento.
887 – Emperor Kōkō, an emperor of Japan.
1278 – Ottokar II of Bohemia, a king.
1346 – Several important figures died at the Battle of Crécy, including John of Bohemia.
1349 – Thomas Bradwardine, an English archbishop, mathematician, and physicist.
1572 – Petrus Ramus, a French philosopher.

Died 1601–1900

1666 – Frans Hals, a Dutch painter.
1723 – Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch scientist known for his work with microscopes.
1810 – Santiago de Liniers, 1st Count of Buenos Aires, a French-Spanish sailor and politician.
1850 – Louis Philippe I, a king of France.
1865 – Johann Franz Encke, a German astronomer.

Died 1901–Present

1910 – William James, an American psychologist and philosopher.
1930 – Lon Chaney, an American actor and director.
1945 – Franz Werfel, an Austrian author.
1958 – Ralph Vaughan Williams, an English composer.
1974 – Charles Lindbergh, an American pilot and explorer, famous for his solo flight across the Atlantic.
1977 – H. A. Rey, a German-American author and illustrator who created Curious George.
1980 – Tex Avery, an American animator and director, known for classic cartoons.
1986 – Ted Knight, an American actor.
1987 – Georg Wittig, a German chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
1998 – Frederick Reines, an American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics.
2000 – Bunny Austin, an English tennis player.
2009 – Dominick Dunne, an American journalist and novelist.
2017 – Tobe Hooper, an American film director.
2018 – Neil Simon, an American playwright and author.
2020 – Joe Ruby, an American animator.
2023 – Bob Barker, an American television game show host.

Holidays and Observances

Christian feast day:
- Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia (Eastern Orthodox Church)
- Alexander of Bergamo (Roman Catholic Church)
- Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá
- David Lewis
- Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier des Ages
- Mariam Baouardy (Melkite Greek Catholic Church)
- Melchizedek
- Our Lady of Częstochowa
- Simplicius, Constantius and Victorinus
- Teresa Jornet Ibars
- Zephyrinus
- August 26 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Herero Day (Namibia)
Heroes' Day (Namibia)
Repentance Day (Papua New Guinea)
Women's Equality Day (United States)