What are the important events that happened on May 26? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
May 26: Facts & Myths About This Day
May 26 is the 146th day of the year 2025 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 219 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Monday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is May 13, 2025 – a Monday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 1,748,217,600 seconds has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.
Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘hectatetracontahexagon’ day.
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Gemini is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Emerald is the modern birthstone for this month. Sapphire is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 267 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.
The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,539 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
Do people and celebrities interest you? Discover all the May 26 famous birthdays who share your special day. Learn some fun facts about your birthday!
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May 26 Historical Events
- 451 –Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sassanid Empire takes place. The Empire defeats the Armenians militarily but guarantees them freedom to openly practice Christianity.
- 1822 –116 people die in the Grue Church fire, the biggest fire disaster in Norway’s history.
- 1828 –Feral child Kaspar Hauser is discovered wandering the streets of Nuremberg.
- 1864 –Montana is organized as a United States territory.
- 1879 –Russia and the United Kingdom sign the Treaty of Gandamak establishing an Afghan state.
- 1896 –Charles Dow publishes the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
- 1940 –World War II: Battle of Dunkirk – In France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France.
- 1966 –British Guiana gains independence, becoming Guyana.
- 1972 –The United States and the Soviet Union sign the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
- 1991 –Zviad Gamsakhurdia becomes the first elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era.
Who were born on May 26?
- 1822 –Edmond de Goncourt, French writer (d. 1896)
- 1938 –Pauline Parker, New Zealander murderer
- 1946 –Mick Ronson, English musician (d. 1993)
- 1946 –Neshka Robeva, Bulgarian Rhythmic gymnastics coach
- 1955 –Masaharu Morimoto, Japanese chef
- 1959 –Ole Bornedal, Danish film director, actor and producer
- 1962 –Genie Francis, American actress
- 1979 –Ashley Massaro, American model and professional wrestler
- 1981 –Jason Manford, British comedian
- 1982 –Yoko Matsugane, Japanese model
Who died on May 26?
- 1421 –Mehmed I, Ottoman Sultan (b. 1389)
- 1512 –Bayezid II, Ottoman Sultan
- 1685 –Karl II, Elector Palatine (b. 1651)
- 1742 –Pylyp Orlyk, Ukrainian Zaporozhian Cossack starshina, diplomat (b. 1672)
- 1944 –Christian Wirth, commandant of Belzec extermination camp (b. 1885)
- 1954 –Lionel Conacher, Canadian athlete (b. 1900)
- 1977 –William Powell, American singer (The O'Jays) (b. 1942)
- 1999 –Waldo Semon, American inventor (b. 1898)
- 2004 –Dullah Omar, South African lawyer (b. 1934)
- 2009 –Peter Zezel, Canadian professional hockey player (b. 1965)
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