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April 25CalendarApril 27
This Day
26April

26 indexed achievements across recorded history.


1777
Sybil Ludington
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.

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Sybil Ludington·American Battlefield Trust – Sybil Ludington
1836
Erminnie A. Smith
Science

Birth of Erminnie Adele Platt

Erminnie Adele Platt was born in Marcellus, New York, later becoming a pioneering American ethnologist and mineralogist.

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Erminnie A. Smith·Erminnie A. Smith - Wikipedia
1836
Erminnie Platt
Literature

Birth of Erminnie Adele Platt

Erminnie Adele Platt was born on April 26, 1836, in New York City.

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Erminnie Platt·Platt Genealogy In America
1886
Ma Rainey
Science

Birth of Gertrude Pridgett (Ma Rainey)

Born Gertrude Pridgett in Columbus, Georgia, later known as 'Mother of the Blues.'

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Ma Rainey·Ma Rainey - Wikipedia
1889
Anita Loos
Literature

Anita Loos's Birthday

Anita Loos was born on April 26, 1889, in California, a pioneering screenwriter and novelist.

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Anita Loos·Wikipedia
1892
Sarah Boone
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.

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Sarah Boone·Sarah Boone First Connecticut Black Woman to Receive Patent
1892
Sarah Boone
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.

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Sarah Boone·Zion Benton Historical Society Sarah Boone Drop
1892
Sarah Boone
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.

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Sarah Boone·US Patent 473653
1905
Lily Parr
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.

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Lily Parr·Lily Parr - Wikipedia
1918
Fanny Blankers-Koen
Sports

Birth of Fanny Blankers-Koen

Born in Baarn, Netherlands, she became an iconic female athlete.

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Fanny Blankers-Koen·Wikipedia
1922
Jeanne Sauvé
Politics

Birth of Jeanne Sauvé

Jeanne Sauvé was born on April 26, 1922, in Prud'homme, Saskatchewan.

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Jeanne Sauvé·Jeanne Sauvé Biography - Britannica
1926
Mae West
Arts

Opening of Play Sex on Broadway

West's play Sex opens on Broadway, leading to legal controversy.

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Mae West·Mae West Biographical Timeline - PBS
1938
Louise Arner Boyd
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.

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Louise Arner Boyd·Polar Women - National Archives Prologue Magazine
1970
Gypsy Rose Lee
Science

Death of Gypsy Rose Lee

Gypsy Rose Lee died of lung cancer in Los Angeles, California, at age 59.

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Gypsy Rose Lee·Gypsy Rose Lee - Wikipedia
1983
Samantha Smith
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.

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Samantha Smith·Britannica
1989
Lucille Ball
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.

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Lucille Ball·Lucille Ball - Wikipedia
1995
Sandra Day O'Connor
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.

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Sandra Day O'Connor·Sandra Day O’Connor – Wikipedia
2006
Patty Berg
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.

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Patty Berg·Guardian Obituary: Patty Berg
2012
Barbara Liskov
Science

Induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Barbara Liskov was inducted for her work on data abstraction and CLU programming.

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Barbara Liskov·National Inventors Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2013
Janet Wolfenbarger
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.

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Janet Wolfenbarger·Honorary Doctorate Another Milestone for Four-Star Air Force General Janet Wolfenbarger - Wright State University
2014
Lynn Conway
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.

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Lynn Conway·Lynn Conway profile - Computer History Museum
2015
Irinia Krush
Sports

2015 U.S. Women’s Championship title

Krush won her seventh U.S. Women’s Championship title.

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Irinia Krush·US Chess
2017
Helen Clark
Science

Completes tenure as UNDP Administrator

Clark's term as UNDP Administrator ended on 26 April 2017 after two consecutive four-year terms.

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Helen Clark·Helen Clark - Wikipedia
2019
Kylie Jenner
Arts

First fragrance collaboration KKW x Kylie

Kylie Jenner launched her first fragrance under KKW x Kylie.

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Kylie Jenner·Wikipedia Entry on Kylie Jenner
2022
Chung-Pei Ma
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.

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Chung-Pei Ma·National Academy of Sciences Article
2024
Donna Strickland
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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Donna Strickland·Pontifical Academy of Sciences: Donna Strickland Biographical Entry