This day in history: 26 april

Europa

• 1478 – The Pazzi Conspiracy: Members of the Pazzi family attempted to assassinate Lorenzo de’ Medici and his brother Giuliano during Mass in Florence, Italy, leading to significant political upheaval.
• 1514 – Copernicus Observes Saturn: Nicolaus Copernicus made his first recorded observations of Saturn, contributing to the advancement of astronomy in Europe.
• 1564 – William Shakespeare Baptized: The baptism of William Shakespeare took place in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, marking the birth of one of the most influential figures in European literature.
• 1915 – Treaty of London: Italy secretly signed the Treaty of London with Britain, France, and Russia, agreeing to join the Allies in World War I.
• 1925 – Hindenburg Elected President: Paul von Hindenburg defeated Wilhelm Marx to become the first directly elected head of state of the Weimar Republic in Germany.
• 1937 – Bombing of Guernica: During the Spanish Civil War, the German Condor Legion and Italian Aviazione Legionaria bombed the Basque town of Guernica, an event later immortalized by Picasso.
• 1945 – Battle of Bautzen: The last successful German tank offensive and the Wehrmacht’s final notable victory in World War II occurred near Bautzen, Germany.
• 1966 – Munich Awarded 1972 Olympics: The International Olympic Committee awarded Munich, Germany, the right to host the 1972 Summer Olympic Games.
• 1986 – Chernobyl Disaster: The world’s worst nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union), causing widespread radioactive contamination.

America

• 1607 – Virginia Company Colonists Land: English settlers made landfall at Cape Henry, Virginia, marking the beginning of permanent English colonization in North America.
• 1777 – Sybil Ludington’s Ride: Sixteen-year-old Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles in New York to alert colonial forces of approaching British troops, a feat often compared to Paul Revere’s ride.
• 1865 – Civil War Ends in the Carolinas: Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered his remaining forces to Union General William Sherman at Bennett Place in North Carolina, effectively ending major Civil War hostilities in the region.
• 1869 – Good Conduct Medal Authorized: The U.S. Congress authorized the Good Conduct Medal for Navy enlisted personnel.
• 1920 – The Great Debate: Astronomers Harlow Shapley and Heber D. Curtis held the “Great Debate” in Washington, D.C., discussing the nature of nebulae and the scale of the universe.
• 1954 – Mass Polio Vaccine Trials Begin: The first mass trials of Jonas Salk’s anti-polio vaccine began in Fairfax County, Virginia, with over 443,000 children receiving shots over three months.
• 1952 – Naval Collision: The U.S. minesweeper Hobson collided with the aircraft carrier Wasp, resulting in 176 deaths.
• 1968 – Ohio State University Protest: Students seized the administration building at Ohio State University during a period of widespread campus activism.
• 1970 – Broadway Milestone: Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company” opened on Broadway, running for 705 performances and winning six Tony Awards.
• 1982 – Rod Stewart Mugged: Musician Rod Stewart was mugged at gunpoint in Los Angeles, and his Porsche was stolen.

Asia

• 1721 – Earthquake in Tabriz, Iran: A massive earthquake devastated the city of Tabriz, causing significant destruction and loss of life.
• 1986 – Daulatpur–Saturia Tornado in Bangladesh: The deadliest tornado in recorded history struck central Bangladesh, killing approximately 1,300 people and leaving a 50-mile path of devastation.
• 1989 – April 26 Editorial, China: The Chinese government published the “April 26 Editorial” in the People’s Daily, denouncing the student-led pro-democracy movement in Beijing as a threat to Communist rule. This editorial escalated tensions and marked a turning point in the Tiananmen Square protests, leading to larger demonstrations and ultimately the violent crackdown in June.
• 2005 – Syria Ends Military Occupation of Lebanon: After 29 years, Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon, responding to international and domestic pressure following the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Africa

• 1994 – Start of South Africa’s First Multiracial Elections: On April 26, 1994, South Africa began its first democratic, all-race elections, marking the end of apartheid and paving the way for Nelson Mandela to become the country’s first Black and democratically elected president. This historic milestone ended over 300 years of White minority rule and was a pivotal moment in the continent’s modern history.
• 1964 – Formation of Tanzania: On April 26, 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania, with Julius Nyerere as its first president. This unification created one of Africa’s most stable nations and remains a significant event in African state-building.
• 2005 – Death of Elisabeth Domitien: On April 26, 2005, Elisabeth Domitien, the first female Prime Minister of the Central African Republic and the first woman to serve as prime minister in sub-Saharan Africa, passed away.