What Happened on June 26

Historical Events

1925 – “The Gold Rush”, directed, starring and written by Charlie Chaplin, is released
1936 – 1st flight of Fw61 helicopter
1940 – End of USSR experimental calendar; Gregorian readopted 6/27
1964 – Moise Tsjombe forms government in Congo
1977 – Tim Severin aboard the Brendan reaches Newfoundland in attempt to prove sixth-century Irish monks could have voyaged across the Atlantic
2018 – Polio outbreak confirmed in New Guinea by WHO, 18 years after it was declared free of the disease

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Famous Birthdays

1893 – “Big” Bill Broonzy, American blues singer and guitarist (Blues by Broonzy), born in Scott, Mississippi (d. 1958)
1895 – George Hainsworth, Canadian ice hockey goaltender (first NHL goaltender to record 20 shutouts in one season; Montreal Canadiens), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 1950)
1895 – Jankel Adler, Polish painter and printmaker, born in Tuszyn, Łódź, Poland (d. 1949)
1915 – Willard “Home Run” Brown, American Baseball HOF outfielder (NgL World Series 1942; 6 x NgL All-Star Kansas City Monarchs; MLB: St. Louis Browns), born in Shreveport, Louisiana (d. 1996)
1920 – June Preisser, American acrobatic dancer and actress (Babes in Arms, Strike Up the Band), born in New Orleans, Louisiana (d. 1984)
1979 – Walter Herrmann, Argentinian basketball player (Olympic 2004 gold), born in Venado Tuerto, Santa Fe, Argentina

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Famous Deaths

1541 – Francisco Pizarro, Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire is assassinated in Lima by the son of his former companion and later antagonist, Diego Almagro the younger. Almagro is later caught and executed.
1922 – Albert H K, monarch of Monaco (1889-1922), dies at 73
1946 – Yosuke Matsuoka, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (b. 1880)
1982 – Sandy Powell, English comedian, dies at 82
1993 – Jack Bittner, entertainer, dies
2009 – Erhard Karkoschka, German composer, conductor (Contac-Ensemble), educator, and music scholar, dies at 86

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