This Day In History : March 26

1958 United States

US Army Launches "Explorer III" Satellite

On March 26, 1958, the US Army launched "Explorer III," America's third successful satellite. It was part of the Explorer program, which contributed significantly to space science by providing critical data on the Earth's radiation belts.

Also on This Day in History March 26

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

Births on This Day, March 26
  • 1913 Paul Erdös

    Hungarian mathematician, who was one of the century's top math experts and pioneered the fields of number theory and combinatorics.

  • 1817 Herman Haupt

    American civil engineer, manufacturer and inventor, known especially for his work on the Hoosac Tunnel in Massachusetts.

  • 1911 Bernard Katz

    German-born British physiologist who elucidated how nerve cells transmit signals to muscles.

  • 1516 Conrad Gessner

    Swiss physician, naturalist, and encyclopedist is best known for his monumental works. Gesner's aim was to survey all the world's recorded knowledge.

  • 1789 William Charles Redfield

    American meteorologist who observed the whirlwind character of tropical storms.

Deaths on This Day, March 26
  • 1865 Thomas Hancock

    English inventor and manufacturer who founded the British rubber industry.

  • 1932 Henry Martyn Leland

    American inventor and industrialist who founded Cadillac Motors (22 Aug 1902) to build the Cadillac, the first automobile with high-precision, fully-interchangeable parts.

  • 2011 Harry Coover

    American chemist and inventor who invented Super Glue™.

  • 1988 Arthur Martin Vineberg

    Canadian heart surgeon, noted chiefly for his development, in 1950, of a surgical procedure for correction of impaired coronary circulation.

  • 1996 David Packard

    American entrepreneur and electrical engineer who co-founded the Hewlett-Packard Co., a leading manufacturer computers, computer printers, and analytic and measuring equipment.

1885

First cremation in England

In 1885, the first cremation in England took place at Working, where a crematorium was built.
1859

Vulcan

In 1859, Lescarbault, a French medical doctor and amateur astronomer reported sighting a new planet in an orbit inside that of Mercury which he named Vulcan.
1951

United States Air Force Flag Approved

On March 26, 1951, the official flag of the United States Air Force was approved. The flag features the Air Force crest, 13 stars, and the Air Force coat of arms. It symbolizes the pride and heritage of the USAF, representing its mission and values.
1790

U.S. Congress Passes the Naturalization Act

On March 26, 1790, Congress passed the Naturalization Act, requiring a two-year residency for immigrants to become U.S. citizens. This act established the first rules for naturalized citizenship in the United States. The legislation aimed to create a structured process for granting citizenship.
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