From the archives
Classic headlineIraqi Head Seeks Arms
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Iraqi Head Seeks ArmsHall of Fame◆
- 2016Newly released bigoted texts from San Francisco police call cases into questionThe Guardian◆
- 2011Amazon profits fall as company spends on expansionThe Guardian◆
- 1803Thousands of meteor fragments fell over L'Aigle, France, becoming a milestone in the understanding of meteorites.Wikipedia◆
- 1478In a conspiracy to replace the Medici family as rulers of the Republic of Florence, the Pazzi family attacked Lorenzo de' Medici (pictured) and killed his brother Giuliano at Florence Cathedral.Wikipedia◆
- 1805First Barbary War: United States Marines capture Derne under the command of First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon.Wikipedia◆
- 1803Thousands of meteor fragments fall from the skies of L'Aigle, France; the event convinces European scientists that meteors exist.Wikipedia◆
- 1794Battle of Beaumont during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition.Wikipedia◆
- 1478The Pazzi family attack on Lorenzo de' Medici in order to displace the ruling Medici family kills his brother Giuliano during High Mass in Florence Cathedral.Wikipedia◆
- 2017The Shandong was launched for the People's Liberation Army Navy, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier.Wikipedia◆
- 1964Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania with Julius Nyerere as its first president.Wikipedia◆
- 1958Service ended on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Royal Blue Line, one of the first major electrified train lines in the U.S. (steam train pictured).Wikipedia◆
- 1915First World War: Britain, France and Russia signed a secret treaty promising territory to Italy if it joined the war on their side.Wikipedia◆
- Iraqi Head Seeks ArmsHall of Fame◆
- 2016Newly released bigoted texts from San Francisco police call cases into questionThe Guardian◆
- 2011Amazon profits fall as company spends on expansionThe Guardian◆
- 1803Thousands of meteor fragments fell over L'Aigle, France, becoming a milestone in the understanding of meteorites.Wikipedia◆
- 1478In a conspiracy to replace the Medici family as rulers of the Republic of Florence, the Pazzi family attacked Lorenzo de' Medici (pictured) and killed his brother Giuliano at Florence Cathedral.Wikipedia◆
- 1805First Barbary War: United States Marines capture Derne under the command of First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon.Wikipedia◆
- 1803Thousands of meteor fragments fall from the skies of L'Aigle, France; the event convinces European scientists that meteors exist.Wikipedia◆
- 1794Battle of Beaumont during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition.Wikipedia◆
- 1478The Pazzi family attack on Lorenzo de' Medici in order to displace the ruling Medici family kills his brother Giuliano during High Mass in Florence Cathedral.Wikipedia◆
- 2017The Shandong was launched for the People's Liberation Army Navy, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier.Wikipedia◆
- 1964Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania with Julius Nyerere as its first president.Wikipedia◆
- 1958Service ended on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Royal Blue Line, one of the first major electrified train lines in the U.S. (steam train pictured).Wikipedia◆
- 1915First World War: Britain, France and Russia signed a secret treaty promising territory to Italy if it joined the war on their side.Wikipedia◆
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William Shakespeare1564
26 April in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — April 26
1803 Oddly trueThousands of meteor fragments fell over L'Aigle, France, becoming a milestone in the understanding of meteorites.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1478 Oddly trueIn a conspiracy to replace the Medici family as rulers of the Republic of Florence, the Pazzi family attacked Lorenzo de' Medici (pictured) and killed his brother Giuliano at Florence Cathedral.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1805 First everFirst Barbary War: United States Marines capture Derne under the command of First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1803 Oddly true
Thousands of meteor fragments fall from the skies of L'Aigle, France; the event convinces European scientists that meteors exist.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1794 First everBattle of Beaumont during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2016The GuardianNewly released bigoted texts from San Francisco police call cases into questionOfficials to reevaluate evidence presented in 207 criminal cases after three officers repeatedly used racist, homopho…
Read on The Guardian →
2011The GuardianAmazon profits fall as company spends on expansionThe company made clear that it intends to keep sacrificing short-term profits in order to keep up expensive infrastru…
Read on The Guardian →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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When was “Thousands of meteor fragments fell over L'Aigle, France, becoming a milestone in the understanding of meteorites.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? Oddly true
Thousands of meteor fragments fell over L'Aigle, France, becoming a milestone in the understanding of meteorites.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1478 Oddly true
In a conspiracy to replace the Medici family as rulers of the Republic of Florence, the Pazzi family attacked Lorenzo de' Medici (pictured) and killed his brother Giuliano at Florence Cathedral.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1805 First ever
First Barbary War: United States Marines capture Derne under the command of First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 26 April — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
1
1564Birth
William Shakespeare born
William Shakespeare, playwright and poet, was born on this day in 1564. Widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
44 BCDeath
Julius Caesar dies
Julius Caesar, roman general/statesman, died on this day in 44 BC. Assassinated by Roman senators. Remembered as: Critical role in the demise of the Roman Republic.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Suicide
1994Death
Kurt Cobain dies
Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.
Suicide
1962Death
Marilyn Monroe dies
Marilyn Monroe, actress and model, died on this day in 1962. Barbiturate overdose. Remembered as: Iconic actress and sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s.
Assassinated
1948Death
Mahatma Gandhi dies
Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.
Famous birthdays
1 this weekToday · 26 April
- William ShakespeareEnglish playwright and poet (1564–1616)Born 1564 · 462 years ago today
Coming up this week
Nothing recorded for the next six days.
Day of Recognition26 April
World Intellectual Property Day
Highlights the role of patents, copyrights, and trademarks in encouraging innovation.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 26 April.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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