1777
Activism
Sybil Ludington’s legendary midnight ride
Legendary midnight ride on April 26, 1777, in which 16-year-old Sybil Ludington is said to have ridden about forty miles to warn militia of a British raid on Danbury, Connecticut.
View detailsThis Day
26April
26 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1836
Science
Birth of Erminnie Adele Platt
Erminnie Adele Platt was born in Marcellus, New York, later becoming a pioneering American ethnologist and mineralogist.
View details1836
Literature
Birth of Erminnie Adele Platt
Erminnie Adele Platt was born on April 26, 1836, in New York City.
View details1886
Science
Birth of Gertrude Pridgett (Ma Rainey)
Born Gertrude Pridgett in Columbus, Georgia, later known as 'Mother of the Blues.'
View details1889
Literature
Anita Loos's Birthday
Anita Loos was born on April 26, 1889, in California, a pioneering screenwriter and novelist.
View details1892
Science
First Black woman in Connecticut to receive a U.S. patent
Boone became the first Black woman in Connecticut to receive a U.S. patent on April 26, 1892, for her improved ironing board.
View details1892
Science
Among the first African American women in the U.S. to receive a patent
On April 26, 1892, Boone became one of the earliest African American women to receive a U.S. patent.
View details1892
Science
Granted U.S. Patent No. 473,653 for improved ironing board
Boone was granted U.S. Patent No. 473,653 for her redesigned ironing board, enhancing seam and sleeve pressing.
View details1905
Sports
Birth of Lily Parr
Lilian 'Lily' Parr was born in St Helens, Lancashire, England, later becoming one of the greatest and most influential footballers of the 20th century.
View details1918
Sports
Birth of Fanny Blankers-Koen
Born in Baarn, Netherlands, she became an iconic female athlete.
View details1922
Politics
Birth of Jeanne Sauvé
Jeanne Sauvé was born on April 26, 1922, in Prud'homme, Saskatchewan.
View details1926
Arts
Opening of Play Sex on Broadway
West's play Sex opens on Broadway, leading to legal controversy.
View details1938
Science
Awarded Cullum Geographical Medal; first woman to autograph AGS Explorers Globe
The American Geographical Society awarded Boyd its Cullum Geographical Medal and she became one of the first women to autograph the Society's Explorers Globe.
View details1970
Science
Death of Gypsy Rose Lee
Gypsy Rose Lee died of lung cancer in Los Angeles, California, at age 59.
View details1983
Activism
Publication of Yuri Andropov’s reply and invitation in Pravda
Pravda published Yuri Andropov’s reply to Samantha Smith and invited her to visit the USSR.
View details1989
Arts
Death of Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm at age 77.
View details1995
Law
Joined majority in United States v. Lopez
Justice O’Connor joins the 5–4 majority in United States v. Lopez, limiting Congress’s Commerce Clause power over gun-free school zones.
View details2006
Sports
Death of Patty Berg in Fort Myers, Florida
Patty Berg died on April 26, 2006, in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 88, after battling cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
View details2012
Science
Induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Barbara Liskov was inducted for her work on data abstraction and CLU programming.
View details2013
Science
Receives honorary Doctor of Science degree from Wright State University
General Wolfenbarger received an honorary Doctor of Science degree at Wright State University's spring 2013 commencement.
View details2014
Science
Inducted as Computer History Museum Fellow
The Computer History Museum inducted Conway as a 2014 Fellow for her development and dissemination of new IC design methods.
View details2015
Sports
2015 U.S. Women’s Championship title
Krush won her seventh U.S. Women’s Championship title.
View details2017
Science
Completes tenure as UNDP Administrator
Clark's term as UNDP Administrator ended on 26 April 2017 after two consecutive four-year terms.
View details2019
Arts
First fragrance collaboration KKW x Kylie
Kylie Jenner launched her first fragrance under KKW x Kylie.
View details2022
Science
Elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
On April 26, 2022, Chung-Pei Ma was announced as a new member elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
View details2024
Science
Updated Pontifical Academy of Sciences biographical entry
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences updated its public biographical listing for Donna Strickland, emphasizing her Nobel Prize and CPA research.
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