August 26: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was certified, granting American women the right to vote — a milestone now celebrated as Women's Equality Day.
About August 26
August 26 is a day defined by declarations of rights and journeys into the unknown. In 1789, France's National Constituent Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a foundational document of modern human rights that proclaimed that men are born and remain free and equal. Exactly 131 years later, the United States certified the 19th Amendment, enshrining women's suffrage into the Constitution — a hard-won victory now commemorated annually as Women's Equality Day.
The date also marks extraordinary firsts in exploration. In 1542, Francisco de Orellana completed a grueling year-and-a-half journey from the Pacific coast of South America to reach the mouth of the Amazon River on the Atlantic, becoming the first European known to navigate the entire length of the world's mightiest river. In 1768, Captain James Cook departed England aboard HMS Endeavour on a voyage that would take him to Tahiti, New Zealand, and the eastern coast of Australia.
In 1978, the Catholic world was stunned when Cardinal Albino Luciani was elected Pope John Paul I — a warm, pastoral figure who would serve only 33 days before his sudden death. And in 2009, a remarkable story of survival emerged when kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard was found alive in California after being held captive for more than 18 years.
Holidays & Observances on August 26
- Herero Day (Namibia)
- Heroes' Day (Namibia)
- International Dog Day, an observance promoting dog adoption and animal welfare (2004).
- Repentance Day (Papua New Guinea)
- Women's Equality Day (United States)
Fun & National Days on August 26
- National Cherry Popsicle Day — Grab a frozen cherry treat and savor the last sweet days of summer.
- Make Your Own Luck Day — Take initiative today — fortune favors the bold, so create your own opportunity.
- National Toilet Paper Day — Pause to appreciate the everyday household essential we all took for granted in 2020.
- Musical Yoga Day — Roll out your mat, crank your favorite playlist, and flow to the rhythm.
- National Got Checked Day
- National McChicken Day
- National WebMistress Day
- Willing-To-Lend-A-Hand Wednesday
On This Day in History
- 1346 — At the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War, a smaller English force decisively routed a French army roughly twice its size.
- 1542 — Francisco de Orellana reached the Atlantic mouth of the Amazon River after an epic 18-month overland trek across South America from Guayaquil.
- 1768 — Captain James Cook departed England aboard HMS Endeavour, beginning his first great voyage of Pacific exploration and discovery.
- 1778 — The first recorded ascent of Triglav was achieved, summiting what remains the highest peak in Slovenia and a national symbol.
- 1789 — France's National Constituent Assembly approved the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a cornerstone of modern human rights.
- 1791 — John Fitch received a United States patent for the steamboat, helping launch the era of mechanized river transportation in America.
- 1863 — A Swedish-language newspaper in Helsinki proposed the now-iconic blue-and-white cross design as the official flag of Finland.
- 1914 — The German colony of Togoland surrendered to Allied forces, becoming the first German colonial territory to fall in World War I.
- 1920 — The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was certified, officially granting American women the right to vote nationwide.
- 1944 — Charles de Gaulle made his triumphant entry into Paris, symbolizing the liberation of the French capital from Nazi occupation.
- 1972 — The Summer Olympics opened in Munich, West Germany — Games that would later be overshadowed by a devastating terrorist attack.
- 1978 — Cardinal Albino Luciani was elected pope, taking the name John Paul I in a surprise conclave outcome that bridged two historic papacies.
Famous Birthdays on August 26
- 1743 — Antoine Lavoisier, French chemist widely regarded as the father of modern chemistry for his work on combustion and conservation of mass.
- 1819 — Albert, Prince Consort, Husband of Queen Victoria and a key cultural and scientific patron who helped shape Victorian Britain.
- 1873 — Lee de Forest, American inventor whose Audion vacuum tube made practical radio broadcasting and long-distance telephony possible.
- 1880 — Guillaume Apollinaire, French poet and critic who coined the term surrealism and championed the avant-garde literary movement.
- 1910 — Mother Teresa, Albanian-Indian nun and missionary who founded the Missionaries of Charity and received the Nobel Peace Prize.
- 1918 — Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician whose orbital calculations were critical to America's first crewed spaceflights, later celebrated in Hidden Figures.
- 1970 — Melissa McCarthy, American actress and comedian known for her breakout on Mike & Molly and scene-stealing film roles in Bridesmaids and Spy.
- 1980 — Macaulay Culkin, American actor who became a global childhood icon starring as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone.
- 1980 — Chris Pine, American actor best known for portraying Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboot film series.
- 1993 — Keke Palmer, American actress and singer who rose to fame on Nickelodeon and earned acclaim in Jordan Peele's Nope.