On This Day: 26 December

26 December in Indian history

• 2004A major earthquake and tsunami devastated communities around the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries.India

26 December in world history

• 2012China opens the world's longest high-speed rail route, which links Beijing and Guangzhou.
• 2003The 6.6 Mw Bam earthquake shakes southeastern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving more than 26,000 dead and 30,000 injured.
• 1980Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell".
• 1978The inaugural Paris-Dakar Rally begins.
• 1972Vietnam War: As part of Operation Linebacker II, 120 American B-52 Stratofortress bombers attacked Hanoi, including 78 launched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the largest single combat launch in Strategic Air Command history.
• 1966The first Kwanzaa is celebrated by Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach.
• 1963The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "I Saw Her Standing There" are released in the United States, marking the beginning of Beatlemania on an international level.
• 1943World War II: In the Battle of Cape Gloucester, American and Australian forces bombarded Japanese positions on New Britain in the Territory of New Guinea while U.S. Marines invaded from two sides of the island.
• 1919American baseball player Babe Ruth was sold by the Boston Red Sox to their rivals, the New York Yankees, beginning the 84-year-long "Curse of the Bambino".
• 1898At the French Academy of Sciences, physicists Pierre and Marie Curie announced the discovery of a new element, naming it radium.
• 1862American Civil War: The Battle of Chickasaw Bayou began with Confederate defenders engaging Union forces who were attempting to capture the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
• 1862Dakota War of 1862: The largest mass-hanging in U.S. history takes place in Mankato, Minnesota, where 38 Native American prisoners are hanged.
• 1861American Civil War: The Trent Affair: Confederate diplomatic envoys James Murray Mason and John Slidell are freed by the United States government, thus easing tensions between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
• 1843The discovery of octonions by John T. Graves, who denoted them with a boldface O, was announced to his mathematician friend William Hamilton, discoverer of quaternions, in a letter on this date.
• 1825Advocates of liberalism in Russia rise up against Czar Nicholas I in the Decembrist revolt, but are later suppressed.
• 1776American Revolutionary War: George Washington led a Continental Army column across the Delaware River to launch a surprise attack against Hessian forces at the Battle of Trenton (painting shown).
• 1723Johann Sebastian Bach directed the premiere of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, his first Christmas cantata composed in Leipzig.

Born on 26 December

• 1960Cem Uzan, Turkish businessman and politician
• 1944William Ayers, American academic and activist
• 1940Edward C. Prescott, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2022)
• 1912Arsenio Lacson, Filipino journalist and politician, Mayor of Manila (died 1962)
• 1904Alejo Carpentier, Swiss-Cuban musicologist and author (died 1980)
• 1894Jean Toomer, American author and poet (died 1967)

Died on 26 December

• 2024Manmohan Singh, Indian economist and politician, 13th Prime Minister of India (born 1932)India
• 1989Doug Harvey, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1924)
• 1981Savitri, Indian actress, playback singer, dancer, director and producer (born 1936)India
• 1191Reginald Fitz Jocelin, archbishop-elect of Canterbury

Frequently asked questions

What happened on 26 December in history?

2012: China opens the world's longest high-speed rail route, which links Beijing and Guangzhou. 2004: A major earthquake and tsunami devastated communities around the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries. 2003: The 6.6 Mw Bam earthquake shakes southeastern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving more than 26,000 dead and 30,000 injured. 1980: Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell".

What happened on 26 December in Indian history?

2004: A major earthquake and tsunami devastated communities around the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries.

Which famous people were born on 26 December?

Cem Uzan, Turkish businessman and politician (1960); William Ayers, American academic and activist (1944); Edward C. Prescott, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2022) (1940); Arsenio Lacson, Filipino journalist and politician, Mayor of Manila (died 1962) (1912).

Which day is observed on 26 December?

Boxing Day, except when December 26 is a Sunday. If it is a Sunday, Boxing Day is transferred to December 27 by Royal Proclamation. (Commonw; Boxing Day, except when December 26 is a Sunday. If it is a Sunday, Boxing Day is transferred to December 27 by Royal Proclamation. (Commonw; Boxing Day, except when December 26 is a Sunday. If it is a Sunday, Boxing Day is transferred to December 27 by Royal Proclamation. (Commonw; Independence and Unity Day (Slovenia); Mauro Hamza Day (Houston, Texas).