This Day In History : July 26

2016 United States

Solar Impulse 2 becomes the first solar powered aircraft to circumnavigate the Earth

Solar Impulse 2 made history on July 26, 2016, when it completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth by a solar-powered aircraft. The journey began on March 9, 2015, when Solar Impulse 2 departed from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Piloted by Swiss explorers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg in alternating shifts, the aircraft flew a total distance of approximately 42,000 kilometers (26,000 miles) over the course of 17 legs, crossing four continents and three oceans.

Also on This Day in History July 26

Discover what happened on July 26 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, July 26
  • 1875 Carl Jung

    Swiss Psychiatrist (founded analytic psychology)

  • 1925 Joseph F. Engelberger

    American engineer who, with George Devol, developed the first industrial robot in the United States

  • 1919 James Ephraim Lovelock

    British scientist and environmentalist (Gaia hypothesis)

  • 1799 Isaac Babbitt

    American goldsmith who invented babbitt's metal for bearings

  • 1863 Paul Walden

    Latvian chemist (Walden inversion, room-temperature ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate)

Deaths on This Day, July 26
  • 1984 George Gallup

    American mathematician and statistician who founded the Gallup Company who became famous for their public opinion polls

  • 2022 James E. Lovelock

    British scientist and environmentalist (Gaia hypothesis)

  • 2004 William A. Mitchell

    American food scientist who invented Pop Rocks candy, Cool Whip, the orange drink mix Tang, and quick-set Jell-O Gelatin

  • 1977 Oskar Morgenstern

    German-American economist and mathematician who popularized “game theory”

  • 1941 Henri Lebesgue

    French mathematician (Lebesgue integration)

1847

Liberia declares its independence

On July 26, 1847, Liberia declared its independence from the American Colonization Society, becoming the first African republic to achieve independence. The Liberian Declaration of Independence was heavily influenced by the principles of the United States Declaration of Independence, reflecting the country's ties to America.
1990

U.S. President George H.W. Bush signs into law The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

On July 26, 1990, U.S. President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. This landmark legislation aimed to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in various areas, including employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications.
1788

New York becomes the 11th State of the United States

New York's admission to the Union as the 11th state followed the ratification of the United States Constitution on July 26, 1788. This event marked a significant moment in American history, as New York played a crucial role in the formation of the new nation.
1958

Army launches 4th US successful satellite, Explorer IV

On July 26, 1958, the United States Army successfully launched the Explorer IV satellite, marking the fourth successful launch in the Explorer program. Explorer IV was a significant achievement in the early space exploration efforts of the United States, contributing valuable data and insights to our understanding of space and the Earth's upper atmosphere.
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