February 26


February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are
308 days remaining, 309 in leap years.

Events

   * 1266 - Battle of Benevento: French forces, under Charles of Anjou,
     overcome a combined German-Sicilian force
   * 1797 - The Bank of England issues the first one pound note
   * 1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from Elba
   * 1848 - The second French Republic is proclaimed.
   * 1863 - President of the United States Abraham Lincoln signs the
     National Currency Act into law.
   * 1870 - In New York City, the first pneumatic-subway is opened.
   * 1919 - An act of the United States Congress establishes most of the
     Grand Canyon as a United States National Park (see Grand Canyon
     National Park).
   * 1929 - The Grand Teton National Park is created.
   * 1935 - The Luftwaffe is reformed
   * 1952 - United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces that
     his nation has an atomic bomb
   * 1986 - After exiled President Ferdinand Marcos leaves the Philippines,
     Corazon Aquino is inaugurated president.
   * 1987 - Iran-Contra affair: The Tower Commission rebukes American
     President Ronald Reagan for not controlling his national security
     staff.
   * 1990 - The Sandinistas are defeated in Nicaraguan elections
   * 1991 - Tim Berners-Lee introduces WorldWideWeb, the first web browser
   * 1991 - Gulf War: On Baghdad Radio Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein announces
     the withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait.
   * 1993 - World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a van bomb parked
     below the North Tower of the World Trade Center goes off, killing 6 and
     injuring over a thousand.
   * 1995 - United Kingdom's oldest investment banking firm, Barings PLC
     collapses after a securities broker lost $1.4 billion by gambling on
     the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
   * 1986 - Robert Penn Warren is named poet laureate of the United States.

Births

   * 1361 - Wenceslaus, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia (+ 1419)
   * 1802 - Victor Hugo, poet (+ 1885)
   * 1808 - HonorŽ Daumier, painter, illustrator, lithograph and sculptor (+
     1879)
   * 1829 - Levi Strauss, clothing designer (+ 1902)
   * 1846 - Buffalo Bill, pioneer and officer, hunter and carny (+ 1917)
   * 1861 - King Ferdinand of Bulgaria (+ 1948)
   * 1875 - Hans Bšckler, unionist and politician (+ 1951)
   * 1887 - Grover Cleveland Alexander, Baseball Hall of Famer (+ 1950)
   * 1908 - Tex Avery, cartoonist (+ 1980)
   * 1908 - Jean-Pierre Wimille, race car driver (+ 1949)
   * 1916 - Jackie Gleason, actor, writer, composer, comedian (+ 1987)
   * 1918 - Theodore Sturgeon, science fiction writer (+ 1985)
   * 1920 - Tony Randall, actor
   * 1928 - Fats Domino, musician
        o 1928 - Anatoli Filipchenko, cosmonaut
   * 1932 - Johnny Cash, country music singer
   * 1933 - Godfrey Cambridge, actor (+ 1976)
   * 1954 - Michael Bolton, singer
   * 1971 - Erykah Badu, singer
   * 1973 - Jenny Thompson, U.S. Olympic swimmer
   * 1973 - Marshall Faulk, American football star

Deaths

   * 1903 - Richard Jordan Gatling, inventor
   * 1961 - King Mohammed V of Morocco
   * 1971 - Fernandel, actor
   * 2002 - Lawrence Tierney, actor

Holidays and observances

   * Purim
   * Bah‡'’ Faith - Day 1 of Ayy‡m-i-H‡ (Intercalary Days) - days in the
     Bah‡'’ calendar devoted to service and gift giving.