Events on Dec 26
- 0268St. Dionysius ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0418St. Zosimus ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0795St. Leo III begins his reign as Catholic Pope
- 1198French Bishop Odo van Sully condemns Zottenfeest
- 1481Battle at Westbroek: Dutch army beats Utrecht
- 14921st Spanish settlement in New World founded, by Columbus
- 1620Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts
- 1659Long Parliament reforms in Westminster
- 1748France and Austria signs treaty about Southern Netherlands
- 1773Expulsion of tea ships from Philadelphia
- 1776Battle of Trenton-major British defeat
- 1776George Washington defeats Hessians at Trenton
- 1799George Washington is eulogized by Col Henry Lee as "1st in war, 1st in peace & 1st in hearts of his countrymen"
- 1805France and Austria signs Peace of Pressburg
- 1805Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts established, Philadelphia
- 1809English invasionary troop leaves Vlissingen
- 1813Zamose, Modlin, Torgau surrenders to allied armies
- 1825Erie Canal opens
- 18481st gold seekers arrive in Panama en route to San Francisco
- 1848William and Ellen Craft escape from slavery in Georgia
- 1854Wood-pulp paper 1st exhibited, Buffalo
- 1860Maiden voyage of 1st steamship owned by 1 man (C Vanderbilt)
- 1860Major Robert Anderson, under cover of darkness, concentrated his small force at Ft Sumter
- 18621st US navy hospital ship enters service
- 186238 Santee Sioux Indians hanged in Mankato Minn, due to their uprising
- 1865James H Mason (Mass) patents 1st US coffee percolator
- 18724th largest snowfall in NYC history (18")
- 1877Socialist Labor Party of North America holds 1st National convention
- 18781st US store to install electric lights, Philadelphia
- 1890King Mwanga of Uganda signs contract with East Africa Company
Born on Dec 26
- 1194Frederick II: Lesi, Italy -- German Emperor (1212-1250) / King of Sicily
- 1618Elisabeth: Paltsgravin of Rhine / abbess
- 1633Charles E Biset: Flemish painter, baptised
- 1660Peter Schenck: German / Netherlands engraver / publisher, baptised
- 1687Johann Georg Pisendel: German violinist / composer
- 1716Thomas Gray: English poet (Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard)
- 1731Anthony Ziesenis: Architect / sculptor (Town Hall of Westzaan)
- 1738Thomas Nelson: Merchant, signer of Declaration of Independence
- 1762Franz Wilhelm Tausch: Composer
- 1770Pierre Earl de Cambronne: French General (Waterloo, Elba)
- 1771Heinrich J von Collin: Austria -- Dramatist / poet (Regulus)
- 1778Juan Lovera: Venezuela -- Artist
- 1792Charles Babbage: English inventor (calculating machine)
- 1793Franz Hunten: Composer
- 1797Hans Skramstad: Composer
- 1805Joseph-Leon Gatayes: Composer
- 1808Albert Grisar: Composer
- 1809William Nelson Pendleton: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1883
- 1812Wilhelm Volkmar: Composer
- 1815Israel Bush Richardson: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1862
- 1820Gustavus Adolphus Smith: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1885
- 1822Dion Boucicault: Irish / Us actor / playwright (Rip van Winkle)
- 1824Augustus Louis Chetlain: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1914
- 1826Franz Coenen: Composer
- 1837Adm George Dewey: American naval hero of Manila
- 1845Salvatore Auteri Manzocchi: Composer
- 1849Samuel E "Sam" van Beem: Actor (Fanfan la Tulipe)
- 1855Arnold Ludwig Mendelssohn: Composer
- 1859Johan F van Bemmelen: Dutch zoologist
- 1861Friedrich Engel: German mathematician (group theory)
Died on Dec 26
- 1476Galeazzo Maria Sforza: Duke of Milan, murdered
- 1530Zahir al-Din Mohammed Babur Shah: Founder Mogols-dynasty, dies at 47
- 1574Charles Guise: Archbishop / Cardinal of Reims, dies at 50
- 1624Simon Marius: Astronomer, dies in Bavaria at 54
- 1627Gonzaga: Italian Monarch of Mantua / Monferrato
- 1658Simon Guillain: French Sculptor (Castle of Blois / Sorbonne), dies at 78
- 1676Domenicus van Tol: Dutch painter
- 1679John van de Cappelle: Amsterdam landscape painter, dies at 53
- 1736Antonio Caldara: Composer
- 1740Mauritius Louis II Earl of Nassau: Lieutenant General (12 children)
- 1776Johann Gottlieb Rall: Hessian Colonel / mercenary, dies in battle
- 1797John Wilkes: English journalist / Higher / Lower house leader, dies at 72
- 1827Jan David Holland: Composer, dies at 81
- 1836Hans Georg Nageli: Composer, dies at 63
- 1837Martinus van Marum: Chemist / physicist (giant salamander), dies at 87
- 1861Philip St George Cocke: Confederate Brigadier General, commits suicide at 52
- 186238 Santee Sioux indians, hanged in Mankato
- 1866Samuel Ryan Curtis: Union General Major, dies at 49
- 1879Jean Leonard Marie Poiseuille
- 1887Jules Francois Blasini: Curacaos pianist / composer, dies at 40
- 1890Heinrich Schliemann: German archaeologist (Trojan War), dies at 86
- 1916Bernhard Scholz: Composer, dies at 81
- 1918Bertram Luard-Selby: Composer, dies at 65
- 1933Lunatscharski: Writer
- 1937Ivor Gurney: Composer, dies at 47
- 1942Bosinier de la Chapelle: French murderer of Admiral Darlan, executed at 24
- 1950Emile Enthoven: Composer, dies at 47
- 1950James Stephens: Irish Poet (Crock of Gold), dies at 68
- 1952Pietro Pancrazi: Italian critic (Pegaso), dies at 59
- 1956Holmes Herbert: Actor (The Kiss), dies at 74
Historical events on December 27
- 0418[Etalius] begins his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0537St. Sofia-church in Constantinople, initiated
- 1437Albrecht II von Habsburg becomes King of Bohemia
- 1521"Zwickauer profeten" appear in Wittenberg
- 1679Dutch troops capture Madurees Prince Trunudjojo in Java
- 1703England and Portugal sign Methuen-Asiento-trade agreement
- 1741Prussian forces took Olmutz, Czechoslovakia
- 18251st public railroad using steam locomotive completed in England
- 1831Darwin begins his voyage on board HMS Beagle
- 1831HMS Beagle / Charles Darwin departs England for South America
- 1836Worst English avalanche kills 8 of 15 buried (Lewes Sussex)
- 1845Ether 1st used in childbirth in US - Jefferson, Georgia
- 1850Hawaiian Fire Department established
- 1862Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, MS (Chickasaw Bayou)
- 1862Battle of Elizabethtown, Kentucky
- 1887Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of Blue Carbuncle" (BG)
- 1892Foundation Stone of Cathedral of St. John laid (NYC)
- 1892N C Biddle beats Livingston 4-0 in 1st black college football game
- 1897Stanley Cup: Montreal Victorias beat Ottawa Capitals, 15-2
- 1903"Sweet Adaline, " a barbershop quartet favorite, is 1st sung
- 1904Duke of York Theatre opens in London (1st musical Peter Pan)
- 1905M A Noble scores 281 (369 mins, 21 fours) NSW vs. Victoria
- 19061st annual meeting of American Sociological Society, Providence, Rhode Island
- 1919Red Sox owner Harry Frazee announces they will deal any player except Harry Hooper, Hooper is sent to the White Sox after 1920 season
- 1923Unsuccessful attempt on prince-regent Hirohito of Japan
- 1926Depot Square in Bronx renamed Botanical Square
- 1926Latkin Square in Bronx named for 1st US Jewish soldier to die in WWI
- 1932Radio City Music Hall opens (NYC)
- 19341st youth hostel in US opens (Northfield, Massachusetts)
- 1934Shah of Persia declares Persia now Iran
Born on December 27
- 1555Johann Arndt: German Lutherian theologist
- 1645Giovanni Adb Viscardi: Switzerland -- Architect
- 1654Jean / Jacobus Bernouilli: Switzerland -- Mathematician
- 1709Pieter de Swart: Dutch architect (Royal Palace, Hague)
- 1721Franciscus "French" Hemsterhuis: Frisian philosopher
- 1748William Marshall: Composer
- 1752Johann Georg Anton Mederitsch-Gallus: Composer
- 1755Antons Klemens Theodor: King of Saksen (1827-36)
- 1761Michael A Barclay de Tolly: Scot / Russ Minister of War
- 1773George Cayley: England, United Kingdom -- Founder Science of Aerodynamics
- 1800John Goss: Composer
- 1801Guillaume L Baud: Dutch Minister of Colonies (1848-49)
- 1802Thomas Fearnley: Norway -- Landscape painter
- 1803John ACA van Nispen Sevenaer: Member of Dutch 2nd parliament (1848-75)
- 1814James Henry Carleton: Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1873
- 1816Eliakim Parker Scammon: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1894
- 1822John Roberts: Composer
- 1825Reinhold Finsterbusch: Composer
- 1829James Clay Rice: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1864
- 1831Lucius Fairchild: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1896
- 1836Henricus Oort: Dutch theologist (Leidse translation)
- 1845Augusto de Oliviera Machado: Composer
- 1855Paul Ehrenreich: German etnologist / mythologist
- 1856Andre Gedalge: Composer
- 1859William Henry Hadow: Composer
- 1879Robert Greig: Australia -- Actor (Horse Feathers)
- 1879Sydney Greenstreet: Sandwich, England -- Actor (Maltese Falcon)
- 1884Bernard van Dieren: Composer
- 1890Maurice Schoemaker: Composer
- 1892Feliks Roderyk Labunski: Composer
Died on December 27
- 0418Zosimus: Greek Pope (417-8)
- 0975Balderik: Bishop of Utrecht (918-75)
- 1590Emmanuel-Philibert of Lalaing: Marquis of Renty, dies at 33
- 1595Pietro Pontio: Composer, dies at 63
- 1603Thomas Cartwright: English Presbyterian publicist, dies at about 68
- 1631John Pijnas: Dutch painter, buried at about 47
- 1805Belle van Zuylen: Netherlands / Swiss writer (Trois Femmes), dies at 65
- 1836Stephen Fuller Austin: Founder of state of Texas, dies at 43
- 1858Alexandre Pierre Francois Boely: Composer, dies at 73
- 1877Nikolai A Nekrasov: Russian Poet (Metshty into Zvuki), dies at 56
- 1880Alessandro Nini: Composer, dies at 75
- 1900William G Armstrong: Of Cragside, British const (hydr crane), dies at 90
- 1919Achilles Alferaki: Composer, dies at 73
- 1924William Archer: Scottish critic / playwright (Green Goddess), dies at 68
- 1925Louis Dosfel: Flemish lawyer / literary (Assault!), dies at 44
- 1931Peter Christian Lutkin: Composer, dies at 73
- 1931Walter Courvoisier: Composer, dies at 56
- 1936Hans von Seeckt: German General / advisor of Chiang Kai-shek, dies at 70
- 1938Emile Vandervelde: Belgian Secretary of State (BWP), dies at 72
- 1938O Mandelstam: Writer
- 1944Amy Marcy Cheney Beach: Composer, dies at 77
- 1950Max Beckmann: German Painter / graphic artist, dies at 66
- 1952Henri G Winkelman: Dutch Supreme Commander army / navy 1940, dies at 76
- 1957Alan Bridge: Actor (Hail the Conquering Hero), dies at 66
- 1959Alfonso Reyes: Mexican Poet / Historian / diplomat, dies at 70
- 1972Lester B Pearson: 14th Canadian Prime Minister (Nobel 1957), dies at 75
- 1974Amy Vanderbilt: US Author (Complete book of etiquette), dies at 66
- 1974Raymond Glenn: Actor (Raisin in the Sun, Carmen Jones), dies at 76
- 1978Bob de Lange: Dutch actor / director (Daniel), dies at 62
- 1978Chris Bell: Rock guitarist (Big Star), dies at 27 in car crash
Events on Dec 28
- 0418St. Boniface I begins his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0801Louis the Vrome occupies Barcelona
- 1065Westminister Abbey opens in London
- 1614Sperm whale beached at Noordwijk
- 1816American Colonization Society organizes
- 1821Naples: Gioacchini Rossini moves to Bologna
- 18286.8 earthquake strikes Echigo Japan, 30,000 killed
- 1832John Calhoun becomes 1st VP to resign (differences with President Jackson)
- 1836Spain recognizes independence of Mexico
- 1846Iowa becomes 29th state
- 1849M Jolly-Bellin discovers dry-cleaning, he accidentally upset lamp containing turpentine and oil on his clothing and sees cleaning effect
- 1850Rangoon Burma, destroyed by fire
- 1864Battle of Egypt Station, Mississippi
- 1869William Finley Semple of Mount Vernon, Ohio, patents chewing gum
- 1877John Stevens, applies for a patent for his flour rolling mill
- 1878Pope Leo XIII publishes encyclical Quod apostolici muneris (socialism)
- 1887Sir John Layton Jarvis, 1st British race horse trainer knighted
- 1893French lieutenant Boiteux annexes Tumbuktu
- 19021st indoor pro football game, Syracuse beats Philadelphia 6-0 (Madison Square Garden, NYC)
- 1902Trans-Pacific cable links Hawaii to US
- 1903Electric lamp sets fire to Iroquois theater in Chicago; 602 die
- 19041st daily wireless weather forecasts published (London)
- 1905Intercollegiate Athletic Association of US founded (becomes NCAA in 1910)
- 1905New South Wales all out for 805 vs. Victoria, win by innings and 253
- 1906Ecuador adopts its constitution
- 1908Earthquake strikes Messina, Italy; 80,000 die
- 1908Messina, Italy struck by an earthquake (nearly 80,000 died)
- 1912National Council of Young Israel convenes
- 1912San Francisco Municipal Railway starts operation at Geary Street
- 1915San Francisco City Hall dedicated by Mayor James Rolph
Born on Dec 28
- 1484Joachim Vadianus [von Watt]: Switzerland -- Physician / Mayor of Sankt Gallen
- 1631Ludolf Backhuysen: Dutch seascape painter / cartoonist
- 1694Ceslav Vanura: Composer
- 1731Christian Cannabich: German composer / royal chaplain master
- 1738Thaddaus Ferdinand Lipowsky: Composer
- 1751Josef Blazej Smrcek: Composer
- 1753Johan Wikmanson: Composer
- 1783Robert Gallenberg: Composer
- 1787Hermanus J Abbring: Dutch writer / engineer on Curacao
- 1801James Barnes: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1869
- 1805Tomas Genoves y Lapetra: Composer
- 1812Julius Reitz: Composer
- 1822William Booth Taliaferro: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1898
- 1823Thomas Alexander Scott: Assistant Secretary of War (Union), died in 1881
- 1826Conrad Busken Huet: Dutch vicar / literary (Country of Rubens)
- 1827Robert Latimer McCook: Volunteers Brigadier General (Union), died in 1862
- 1828Karl L Kahlbaum: German psychiatrist (katatonie)
- 1833Charles Miller Shelley: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1907
- 1835Archibald Geikie: British geologist
- 1837Benjamin Johnson Lang: Composer
- 1842Calixa Lavallee: Composer
- 1845Homer Newton Bartlett: Composer
- 1849Herbert von Bismarck: German politician / Son of Otto of Bismarck
- 1859Gerard Brucken Fock: Composer
- 1859John W Fortescue: Military historian
- 1860Alexander von Fielitz: Composer
- 1880Christian DFL Leipoldt: South African Physician / writer / poet
- 1882Arthur Eddington: England, United Kingdom -- Astrophysicist / cosmologist / mathematician
- 1883A Wolfenstein: Writer
- 1884Joseph Pholien: Belgian Premier (1950-52) / communist hunter
Died on Dec 28
- 1542Albert Pigge [Pighius]: Dutch Theologist / astronomer, dies at about 52
- 1673Joan Blaeu: Dutch cartographer / publisher (Atlas Major), dies at 77
- 1706Pierre Bayle: French Theologist (History of Criticism), dies at 59
- 1772Ernst J Earl van / of Biron: Russian Duke of Courland, dies at 82
- 1775Peter A van de Parra: Governor-General of (Netherlands Indies), dies at 61
- 1779Gennaro Manna: Composer, dies at 64
- 1793Louis Earl of Bylandt: Dutch Admiral, dies at about 75
- 1830Adrien-Joseph van Helmont: Composer, dies at 83
- 1859Thomas Babington Macaulay: English essayist / historian
- 1860Cornelius Broere: Dutch RC clergyman / poet, dies at 57
- 1862Joaquim Casimiro Junior: Composer, dies at 54
- 1870Peter van Schendel: Dutch painter, dies at 64
- 1878Jose Bernardo Alcedo: Composer, dies at 90
- 1884Gerben Colmjon: Frisian linguist / publisher, dies at 56
- 1891Alfred Cellier: Composer, dies at 47
- 1903George [Robert] Gissing: English Novelist, dies at 46
- 1915Gerrit Jan van Heek: Dutch textile manufacturer / politician, dies at 78
- 1916Eduard Strauss: Austrian Composer (318 dances), dies at 81
- 1918George H White: Last post Reconstruction congressman (Penn)
- 1923Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel: Engineer (Eiffel Tower), dies at 91
- 1935Clarence Day: Writer (Life with Father)
- 1937Maurice J Ravel: Swiss / French Composer (Bolero), dies in Paris at 62
- 1938Florence Lawrence: Silent screen actress (Confidence), dies at 48
- 1945Theodore Dreiser: Novelist (An American Tragedy), dies at 74
- 1946Carrie Jacobs Bond: American Composer (I Love You Truly), dies at 85
- 1947Victor Emmanuel III: King of Italy (1900-46) / Ethiopia, dies at 78
- 1948Mahmud Nokrashy Pasha: Prime Minister of Egypt (19..-48), assassinated
- 1949Jack Lovelock: NZ / US surgeon / athlete (1936 Olympics - Gold Medalist), dies at 39
- 1949W Hervey Allen: US writer / Poet (Anthony Adverse), dies at 60
- 1956Roelof Kranenburg: Dutch Social Democratic Party-chairman, dies at 76