Today in History for 26th July 2024

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

1803 - The Surrey Iron Railway, arguably the world's first public railway, opens in south London
1926 - Philippines government asks USA for a plebiscite on independence
1928 - In only his second and final defense of his world heavyweight boxing title, Gene Tunney scores an 11-round TKO win over Tom Heeney at Yankee Stadium, NYC
1959 - Chicago White Sox Larry Doby plays final MLB game; retires in 1962 after playing for the Chunichi Dragons in Japan
1967 - Twins beat Yanks 3-2 in 18
1990 - US President George H. W. Bush signs Americans With Disabilities Act

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Famous Birthdays

1891 - Jacques Pirenne, Belgian historian and honorary secretary of King Leopold III of Belgium, born in Ghent, Belgium (d. 1972)
1934 - Mauri, Spanish soccer midfielder (5 caps; Athletic Bilbao 246 games), born in Gernika, Spain (d. 2022)
1949 - Roger Taylor, English rock drummer (Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"), born in Norfolk, England
1950 - Nelinho, Brazilian soccer right back (21 caps; Cruzeiro EC 410 games; Atlético Mineiro), born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1953 - Robert Phillips, American classical guitarist, born in New York City
1980 - Lee Dong-gun, South Korean actor, born in Gangnam District, Seoul

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Famous Deaths

1667 - Michael Franck, German composer, poet and baker, dies at 58
1723 - Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, English statesman
1863 - Sam Houston, 1st President of Republic of Texas (1836-38, 1841-44) who helped bring Texas into the United States as a constituent state, dies at 70
1964 - Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe, British politician, naval officer and auto racer (1931 Le Mans), dies at 80
1977 - Hans-Otto Borgmann, German film score composer under the Third Reich, dies at 75
2021 - Joey Jordison, American drummer (Slipknot, 1995-2013 - "All Hope Is Gone"), dies at 46

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