On This Day - What Happened On April 26 - Encyclopedia Britannica

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1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident A devastating environmental catastrophe occurred early this morning in 1986 when an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine released large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere.\ © Viktor Yatsuk/Dreamstime.com

Featured Biography

Ma Rainey American singer bornApril 26, 1886Columbus, GeorgiadiedDecember 22, 1939 (aged 53)Rome, GeorgiaArchive Photos 1963 Jet Li Chinese actor 1933 Carol Burnett American comedian and actress 1894 Rudolf Hess German Nazi leader 1889 Ludwig Wittgenstein British philosopher 1798 Eugène Delacroix French artist See All Biographies On This Day

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2018 Amid numerous allegations of sexual assault, American comedian and actor Bill Cosby was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman, and he later received a sentence of 3 to 10 years in prison; his conviction, however, was overturned in 2021.Peter Morgan—Reuters/© Archive Photos 2007 Jack Valenti—the longtime president of the Motion Picture Association of America who created the film-rating system that assigns labels for audience suitability (G, PG, PG-13, R, or NC-17)—died at age 85. Test your knowledge of filmJames Hill/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library 1989 Actress Lucille Ball—a longtime comedy star of American television, best remembered for her classic comedy series I Love Lucy—died at the age of 77. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about actorsPhotofest 1964 With the merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanzania was founded, and Julius Nyerere served as its first president. How much do you know about African leaders?Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1954 Kurosawa Akira's Seven Samurai was released in Japan, and it is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential films ever made. Take our movie quiz© Toho Pictures 1937 During the Spanish Civil War, the Condor Legion of the German air force, supporting the Nationalists, bombed the Basque city of Guernica, an event memorialized in Pablo Picasso's painting Guernica. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about European historyBruce Bennett—Getty Image News/Thinkstock 1933 Hermann Göring formed the Gestapo, the political police of Nazi Germany that ruthlessly eliminated opposition and was involved in the roundup of Jews throughout Europe for deportation to extermination camps. Take our quiz about Nazi officialsHeinrich Hoffmann, Munich 1865 Twelve days after assassinating U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth was killed at a Virginia farm either by a Federal soldier or by his own hand. Learn more about John Wilkes Booth and other infamous assassinsCopyright © 2008 by Dover Publications, Inc. Electronic image © 2008 Dover Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. 1785 John James Audubon, an American ornithologist who became well known for his drawings and paintings of North American birds, was born in Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue, West Indies (now in Haiti). Test your knowledge of birds© Everett Historical/Shutterstock.com 1777 Sixteen-year-old Sybil Ludington rode some 40 miles (65 km) around Putnam county, New York, alerting residents of approaching British troops during the American Revolution. Watch an overview of the American Revolutionary War 1768 The prestigious English Royal Academy of Arts, led by its first president, Joshua Reynolds, hosted its first art opening. Take our ultimate art quizRoyal Academy of Arts, London 1607 The first permanent English settlers in North America landed at Cape Henry, Chesapeake Bay, and they later formed Jamestown. Test your knowledge of early American historyDennis MacDonald— AGE fotostock 1478 The Pazzi family of Florence led an unsuccessful plot to overthrow the ruling Medici family.Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1943.4.92 SIGN UP FOR History's Biggest Headlines Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors. SIGN UP Thanks for signing up for Today in History. Your first newsletter will arrive soon! SIGN UP By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.