John F. Kennedy
Famous Military Veterans
Marilyn Monroe
Anthony Weiner
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived
On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
December 26
Events on This Day
-
1908
105 years ago
Boxer Jack Johnson, nicknamed the Galveston Giant, becomes the first African American world heavyweight champion.
-
1933
80 years ago
Edwin Armstrong receives a patent for wideband frequency modulation (FM), an invention that delivers clearer radio broadcasts than AM radio.
-
1965
48 years ago
The iconic Broadway musical Funny Girl has its closing night, having starred Barbra Streisand in the lead role.
-
1978
35 years ago
Controversial former prime minister of India Indira Gandhi is released from prison.
December 26
Born on This Day
-
Phil Spector
- In these groups:
- Fatally Famous
- Ugly Inside and Out
- Fantastic Facial Hair
Phil Spector
Murderer, Musician / 1940 -
Phil Spector is best known for writing several No. 1 hit songs, and for being convicted of the murder of Lana Clarkson.
Born: December 26, 1940
Age: 72 years old
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Occupation: Murderer, Musician -
Steve Allen
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Actors
- Famous Talk Show Hosts
Steve Allen
Actor, Songwriter, Talk Show Host, Writer / 1921 - 2000
American television personality Steve Allen is best known as the first host of The Tonight Show. He also starred on The Benny Goodman Show, and was an accomplished musician, composer, author and actor.
1921 | 78 years old
Actor, Songwriter, Talk Show Host, ... -
Charles Babbage
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Mathematicians
Charles Babbage
Mathematician, Inventor / 1791 - 1871
Charles Babbage was known for his contributions to the first mechanical computers, which laid the groundwork for more complex future designs.
1791 | 79 years old
Mathematician, Inventor -
Mao Tse-tung
- In these groups:
- Erratic and Autocratic
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Military Leaders
Mao Tse-tung
Military Leader, Political Leader / 1893 - 1976
Mao Tse-tung was the principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier and statesman who led his nation's Cultural Revolution.
Born: December 26, 1893
Birthplace: Shaoshan, China
Occupation: Military Leader, Political Leader -
David Sedaris
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous People Named David
- Famous People Born in 1956
David Sedaris
Writer / 1956 -
David Sedaris is a humorist and essayist best known for his sardonic autobiographical stories and social commentary.
1956 | 56 years old
Writer -
Evan Bayh
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Teachers
- Famous Capricorns
Evan Bayh
Educator, Lawyer, Governor, U.S. Representative / 1955 -
As Indiana governor, Evan Bayh was the first Democrat in 20 years to be elected to that office, and, at 33, was the youngest governor in the United States.
1955 | 57 years old
Educator, Lawyer, Governor, ...
December 26
Died on This Day
-
Dian Fossey
- In these groups:
- Mysterious Deaths
- Daring Female Adventurers
- Famous Capricorns
Dian Fossey
Zoologist / 1932 - 1985
Dian Fossey was a zoologist best known for researching the endangered gorillas of the Rwandan mountain forest from the 1960s to the '80s, and for her mysterious murder.
Died: December 26, 1985
Age: 53 years old
Place: Volcanoes National Park , Rwanda
Occupation: Zoologist -
Percy Sutton
- In these groups:
- Famous Military Veterans
- Eagle Scouts
- Famous Sagittarians
Percy Sutton
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer / 1920 - 2009
Percy Sutton was a Freedom Rider, civil rights activist and prominent African-American lawyer best known for representing Malcolm X.
2009 | 89 years old
Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer -
Gerald Ford
- In these groups:
- Failed Assassinations
- Eagle Scouts
- Famous Lefties
Gerald Ford
Lawyer, U.S. President, U.S. Vice President, U.S. Representative / 1913 - 2006
Gerald Ford became the 38th president of the United States following Richard Nixon's resignation, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal.
2006 | 93 years old
Lawyer, U.S. President, ... -
Jack Benny
- In these groups:
- Name Changers
- Famous Aquarians
- Famous Actors
Jack Benny
Film Actor, Television Actor, Radio Personality / 1894 - 1974
For more than 50 years, comedian Jack Benny was a star of radio, the stage and screen. His radio show, The Jack Benny Program, was a forerunner of the sitcom genre.
Died: December 26, 1974
Age: 80 years old
Place: Beverly Hills, California , United States
Occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor, ... -
Harry S. Truman
- In these groups:
- Failed Assassinations
- Famous Military Veterans
- Famous Lefties
Harry S. Truman
U.S. President / 1884 - 1972
Sworn in as the 33rd president after Franklin Delano Roosevelt's sudden death, Harry S. Truman presided over the end of WWII and dropped the atomic bomb on Japan.
1972 | 88 years old
U.S. President -
Curtis Mayfield
- In these groups:
- Soul Train Guests
- Studio 54 Patrons
- Famous Geminis
Curtis Mayfield
Singer / 1942 - 1999
Curtis Mayfield was a singer-songwiter known for his racially conscious soul and funk who had a number one album with his score for the film Superfly.
1999 | 57 years old
Singer
Email Updates
Quiz
about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play Nowprofile name: Phil Spector profile occupation: Murderer, Musician
profile id: 9181628
profile name: Steve Allen profile occupation: Actor, Songwriter, Talk Show Host, ...
profile id: 9193834
profile name: Charles Babbage profile occupation: Mathematician, Inventor
profile id: 9398142
profile name: Mao Tse-tung profile occupation: Military Leader, Political Leader
profile id: 39460
profile name: David Sedaris profile occupation: Writer
profile id: 354514
profile name: Evan Bayh profile occupation: Educator, Lawyer, Governor, ...
profile id: 9299545
profile name: Dian Fossey profile occupation: Zoologist
profile id: 528650
profile name: Percy Sutton profile occupation: Civil Rights Activist, Lawyer
profile id: 9298683
profile name: Gerald Ford profile occupation: Lawyer, U.S. President, ...
profile id: 9207709
profile name: Jack Benny profile occupation: Film Actor, Television Actor, ...
profile id: 9511121
profile name: Harry S. Truman profile occupation: U.S. President
profile id: 9542244
profile name: Curtis Mayfield profile occupation: Singer
profile id: 9355980
profile name: Jack Johnson profile occupation: Boxer
profile id: 9188800
profile name: Edwin Armstrong profile occupation: Engineer
profile id: 9497402
profile name: Barbra Streisand profile occupation: Singer
profile id: 9305913
profile name: Indira Gandhi profile occupation: Prime Minister
profile id: 9480323
profile name: William Shakespeare profile occupation: Poet
profile id: 9248164
profile name: Winston Churchill profile occupation: Prime Minister
profile id: 9379045
profile name: John Lennon profile occupation: Songwriter
profile id: 9390850
profile name: Paul McCartney profile occupation: Animal Rights Activist
profile id: 11291314
profile name: Linda Blair profile occupation: Animal Rights Activist
profile id: 9542388
profile name: Ellen Burstyn profile occupation: Actress
profile id: 38125
profile name: Ernesto Zedillo profile occupation: World Leader
profile id: 37152
profile name: Venustiano Carranza profile occupation: World Leader
profile id: 38006
profile name: Elizabeth profile occupation: Empress
profile id: 38058
profile name: Al Smith profile occupation: Governor
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Upcoming Birthdays
-
Ernesto Zedillo
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous People Born in 1951
- Famous Mexicans
Ernesto Zedillo
Economist, World Leader / 1951 -
Ernesto Zedillo was president of Mexico 1994–2000. He made a major effort to restore public confidence damaged by the scandals of the Salinas administration.
December 27, 1951
World Leader -
Venustiano Carranza
- In these groups:
- Fantastic Facial Hair
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Military Leaders
Venustiano Carranza
Military Leader, World Leader / 1859 - 1920
Venustiano Carranza was a revolutionary during Mexico's civil war and became the Mexican Republic's first president in 1917.
December 28, 1859
World Leader -
Elizabeth
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Empresses
- Famous People Named Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Empress / 1709 - 1762
After taking the throne by force, Empress Elizabeth (1709–1762) founded Russia's first university and forged strong ties in Europe.
December 29, 1709
Empress -
Al Smith
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous People Named Al
- Famous People Named Smith
Al Smith
Governor / 1873 - 1944
U.S. politician Al Smith was a four-time Democratic governor of New York, and the first Roman Catholic to run for the American presidency (1928).December 30, 1873
Governor
Famous Capricorns
-
Larry Clark
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Photographers
- Famous Film Directors
Larry Clark
Photographer, Director / 1943 -
American photographer and film director Larry Clark is known for his images and movies, like Kids, that graphically depict unconventional teenage activities.
January 19, 1943
Photographer, Director -
Don Shula
- In these groups:
- Famous Capricorns
- Famous Coaches
- Famous People Named Don
Don Shula
Coach / 1930 -
Don Shula was the head coach of the NFL's Miami Dolphins from 1970 to 1996, leading the team to a Super Bowl championship and an undefeated season.January 4, 1930
Coach
