Events on January 26 48
Year 1564
The Council of Trent establishes an official distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
Year 1564
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania defeats the Tsardom of Russia in the Battle of Ula during the Livonian War.
Year 1565
Battle of Talikota, fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Deccan sultanates, leads to the subjugation, and eventual destruction of the last Hindu kingdom in India, and the consolidation of Islamic rule over much of the Indian subcontinent.
Year 1699
For the first time, the Ottoman Empire permanently cedes territory to the Christian powers.
Year 1700
The Cascadia earthquake takes place off the west coast of North America, as evidenced by Japanese records.
Year 1788
The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on the continent. Commemorated as Australia Day.
Year 1808
The Rum Rebellion is the only successful (albeit short-lived) armed takeover of the government in Australia.
Year 1841
James Bremer takes formal possession of Hong Kong Island at what is now Possession Point, establishing British Hong Kong.
Year 1856
First Battle of Seattle. Marines from the USS Decatur drive off American Indian attackers after all day battle with settlers.
Year 1863
American Civil War: General Ambrose Burnside is relieved of command of the Army of the Potomac after the disastrous Fredericksburg campaign. He is replaced by Joseph Hooker.
Year 1863
American Civil War: Governor of Massachusetts John Albion Andrew receives permission from the Secretary of War to raise a militia organization for men of African descent.
Year 1885
Troops loyal to The Mahdi conquer Khartoum, killing the Governor-General Charles George Gordon.
Year 1905
The world's largest diamond ever, the Cullinan weighing 3,106.75 carats (0.621350 kg), is found at the Premier Mine near Pretoria in South Africa.
Year 1918
Finnish Civil War: A group of Red Guards hangs a red lantern atop the tower of Helsinki Workers' Hall to symbolically mark the start of the war.
Year 1920
Former Ford Motor Company executive Henry Leland launches the Lincoln Motor Company which he later sold to his former employer.
Year 1930
The Indian National Congress declares 26 January as Independence Day or as the day for Poorna Swaraj ("Complete Independence") which occurred 17 years later.
Year 1939
Spanish Civil War: Catalonia Offensive: Troops loyal to nationalist General Francisco Franco and aided by Italy take Barcelona.
Year 1942
World War II: The first United States forces arrive in Europe landing in Northern Ireland.
Year 1945
World War II: The Red Army begins encircling the German Fourth Army near Heiligenbeil in East Prussia, which will end in destruction of the 4th Army two months later.
Year 1945
World War II: Audie Murphy displays valor and bravery in action for which he will later be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Year 1949
The Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory sees first light under the direction of Edwin Hubble, becoming the largest aperture optical telescope (until BTA-6 is built in 1976).
Year 1950
The Constitution of India comes into force, forming a republic. Rajendra Prasad is sworn in as its first President of India. Observed as Republic Day in India.
Year 1952
Black Saturday in Egypt: rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses.
Year 1961
John F. Kennedy appoints Janet G. Travell to be the first woman Physician to the President.
Year 1962
Ranger 3 is launched to study the Moon. The space probe later misses the moon by 22,000 miles (35,400 km).
Year 1986
The Ugandan government of Tito Okello is overthrown by the National Resistance Army, led by Yoweri Museveni.
Year 1991
Mohamed Siad Barre is removed from power in Somalia, ending centralized government, and is succeeded by Ali Mahdi.
Year 1992
Boris Yeltsin announces that Russia will stop targeting United States cities with nuclear weapons.
Year 1998
Lewinsky scandal: On American television, U.S. President Bill Clinton denies having had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Year 2001
The 7.7 Mw Gujarat earthquake shakes Western India with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), leaving 13,805-20,023 dead and about 166,800 injured.
Year 2009
Rioting breaks out in Antananarivo, Madagascar, sparking a political crisis that will result in the replacement of President Marc Ravalomanana with Andry Rajoelina.
Year 2015
An aircraft crashes at Los Llanos Air Base in Albacete, Spain, killing 11 people and injuring 21 others.