May 26 Birthdays

May 26 in History

After more than 50 years of struggle, South Sudan declares independence and becomes Africa's 54th state.

1521

Martin Luther's writings were banned by the Edict of Worms.

1868

President Andrew Johnson avoided conviction for impeachment charges of "high crimes and misdemeanors" by one vote.

1940

Allied troops began the massive naval evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, France, during World War II.

1959

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves before losing, 1–0, in the 13th.

1977

George Willig, "the human fly," scaled the World Trade Center in New York City by attaching himself to the window washer mechanism and walking straight up until falling into police custody when he reached the top. It took Willig three and a half hours to make the climb, and $1.10 in fines—a penny per floor.

1978

The first legal casino to be operated in the United States outside of Nevada was opened in Atlantic City.

2003

Rwandans voted to approve a new constitution that instituted a balance of power between Hutu and Tutsi.

2011

Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general responsible for the massacre of over 8,000 Muslims at Srebrenica in 1995, is found and arrested in Lazarevo, a farming town north of Belgrade, Serbia.