On this day: 26 December

Selected events and births on 26 December, from Wikipedia’s “On this day”.

Events

• 1606 – The first known performance of King Lear, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare and based on the legend of Leir of Britain, took place before King James I. Read more: King Lear William Shakespeare Leir of Britain
• 1709 – The opera Agrippina, described as George Frideric Handel's first masterpiece, premiered in Venice. Read more: Agrippina (opera) George Frideric Handel
• 1723 – Johann Sebastian Bach directed the premiere of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, his first Christmas cantata composed in Leipzig. Read more: Johann Sebastian Bach Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40 Christmas cantata
• 1871 – Thespis, the first comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in London. Read more: Thespis (opera) Comic opera Gilbert and Sullivan
• 1898 – At the French Academy of Sciences, physicists Pierre and Marie Curie announced the discovery of a new element, naming it radium. Read more: French Academy of Sciences Pierre Curie Marie Curie
• 1919 – American baseball player Babe Ruth was sold by the Boston Red Sox to their rivals, the New York Yankees, beginning the 84-year-long "Curse of the Bambino". Read more: Babe Ruth Boston Red Sox New York Yankees
• 1996 – The Federation of Korean Trade Unions called on its 1.2 million members to refuse to work, beginning the largest organized strike in South Korean history. Read more: Federation of Korean Trade Unions 1996–1997 strikes in South Korea
• 2025 – Israel recognises Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so. Read more: Israel–Somaliland relations

Born on this day

• 1928 – Martin Cooper, American engineer, invented the mobile phone Read more: Martin Cooper (inventor) Mobile phone
• 1942 – Vinicio Cerezo, Guatemalan politician, 28th President of Guatemala Read more: Vinicio Cerezo President of Guatemala
• 1942 – Gray Davis, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 37th Governor of California Read more: Gray Davis Governor of California
• 1945 – John Walsh, American television host, producer, and activist, created America's Most Wanted Read more: John Walsh (television host) America's Most Wanted
• 1949 – José Ramos-Horta, East Timorese lawyer and politician, 2nd President of East Timor, Nobel Prize laureate Read more: José Ramos-Horta President of Timor-Leste Nobel Peace Prize
• 1950 – Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Pakistani businessman and politician, 17th Prime Minister of Pakistan Read more: Raja Pervez Ashraf Prime Minister of Pakistan
• 1953 – Leonel Fernández, Dominican lawyer and politician, 51st President of the Dominican Republic Read more: Leonel Fernández President of the Dominican Republic
• 1953 – Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Swedish-Estonian journalist and politician, 4th President of Estonia Read more: Toomas Hendrik Ilves President of Estonia
• 1955 – Evan Bayh, American lawyer and politician, 46th Governor of Indiana Read more: Evan Bayh Governor of Indiana
• 2001 – Aleksej Pokuševski, Serbian basketball player Read more: Aleksej Pokuševski
• 2002 – Josh Wilson-Esbrand, English footballer Read more: Josh Wilson-Esbrand
• 2004 – Leo Carlsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more: Leo Carlsson

Text from Wikipedia: Selected anniversaries / December 26 and the linked articles, via the Wikimedia “On this day” feed, under CC BY-SA 4.0. We leave out entries about wars, violence and disasters to keep this page family-friendly.