25 fun facts for July, 26

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
July 26th is packed with significant events, including the establishment of the US Postal Service in 1775, the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, and the first-ever Tour de France mountain stage in 1910. It is also the birthday of several important figures, such as Mick Jagger, Sandra Bullock, and George Bernard Shaw.
25 Fun facts
  1. In 1775, the United States Postal Service is established during the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin as its first Postmaster General. It is now one of the oldest organizations in the United States.
  2. Born on this day in 1856, Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw is the only person to have won both a Nobel Prize for Literature and an Oscar. His play Pygmalion inspired the popular musical My Fair Lady.
  3. July 26, 1891, marks the birth of Charles William Beebe, an American naturalist, and explorer. He is remembered for conducting deep-sea exploration, and holding the record for the world's deepest descent at the time in the Bathysphere.
  4. K-9 Veterans Day is observed on July 26 in Slovakia to honor military working dogs that served and protected their handlers and fellow soldiers. This day is an opportunity to reflect upon the selfless service these animals provided.
  5. On this day in 1925, William Jennings Bryan, an American orator and politician, passed away. He is significant for his campaigns for electoral reforms and support for the creation of the Federal Reserve System.
  6. July 26, 1943, marked the day when The Rolling Stones' singer Mick Jagger was born. He is considered one of the most influential frontmen in rock music history.
  7. On this day in 1948, US President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, desegregating the military. This was a crucial milestone in the Civil Rights movement of the era.
  8. Massachusetts celebrates their National Day on July 26. It is an annual observance, honoring the state's history and heritage, and a chance for residents to show pride in their local culture.
  9. Born on this day in 1964, British actress, comedian, and writer, Sandra Bullock, has starred in many blockbuster films, including Speed, Miss Congeniality, and The Blind Side, for which she won an Academy Award.
  10. In 1990, US President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law on July 26, prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life and providing them with equal opportunity.
  11. The first true mountain stage of the Tour de France race took place on July 26, 1910. The race featured a challenging climb up the Pyrenees Mountains and forever changed the event's difficulty and excitement levels.
  12. Irish novelist and poet, Aldous Huxley, was born on July 26, 1894. He is best known for his dystopian novel Brave New World, a classic piece of science fiction literature.
  13. On July 26, 1971, one of NASA's most iconic Apollo missions, Apollo 15, was launched. This mission included the first-ever rover vehicle used on the lunar surface, making it an important milestone in space exploration.
  14. Antarctica Day is celebrated on July 26 in Argentina, commemorating the 1904 opening of their first permanent station on the continent. It is a day for all Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) member countries to promote scientific research and peaceful cooperation.
  15. Born on this day in 1909, Vivian Vance was an American actress, best known for her role as Ethel Mertz on the groundbreaking television show I Love Lucy. She won an Emmy Award for her work on the series.
  16. On July 26, 1933, Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger published his seminal paper in which he introduced the world-famous Schrödinger's cat paradox. The thought experiment brought forth discussions on superposition and its implications in quantum mechanics.
  17. American astronaut Sally Ride’s birthday falls on July 26, 1951. As the first American female astronaut, Ride traveled to space in 1983, making her one of the most iconic figures for women in technology and science.
  18. Day of National Significance is a public holiday in Barbados, observed on July 26 to commemorate the 1937 labor rebellion. The revolt marked a crucial social event that eventually led to improved working conditions.
  19. Maldives' Independence Day falls on July 26, celebrating their separation from British rule in 1965. The day is filled with cultural celebrations, parades, and various other festivities to mark the occasion.
  20. July 26, 2016, marked Hillary Clinton's nomination as the first female presidential nominee representing a major American political party. Although losing the election, the nomination was evidence of the strides toward gender equality in politics.
  21. The first volume of Landmarks of Science series was published by Macmillan on July 26, 1959. The educational series was critical in outlining the history of modern science in the school curriculum.
  22. On July 26, 1796, navigator and cartographer George Vancouver passed away. Renowned for his expeditions in the Pacific Northwest, including charting various regions of Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington state, the city of Vancouver is named in his honor.
  23. On this day in 2008, the successful launch of the first SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket took place. This marked a significant achievement for private space exploration and the beginning of many other SpaceX missions.
  24. July 26, 1803, saw the birth of Adolphe Adam, a notable French composer and music critic. He is famed for composing the classic Christmas carol, "O Holy Night," among numerous other operas and ballets.
  25. In 2018, the "Blood Moon" Lunar Eclipse took place on July 26. It was the century's longest lunar eclipse, lasting around 1 hour and 43 minutes, and was visible to many people around the globe.

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