Today in History for 26th May 2025
Historical Events
1796 – French garrison of Fort Charlotte on island of St Lucia surrenders to British forces, 2780 mostly black prisoners of war board ships to England
1930 – Supreme Court rules buying liquor does not violate the Constitution
1948 – South Africa elects a nationalist government under D. F. Malan with an apartheid policy
2012 – Pope Benedict XVI’s butler is arrested for allegedly leaking confidential documents
2014 – Protests across Thailand in response to military coup; General Prayuth warns of a crackdown in demonstrations continue
Famous Birthdays
1914 – Archie Duncan, Scottish actor (The Adventures of Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1979)
1925 – Alec McCowen, English actor (Never Say Never Again), born in Tunbridge Wells (d. 2017)
1926 – Miles Davis, American jazz musician, trumpeter and composer (Kinda Blue; Cookin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet; Sketches of Spain), born in Alton, Illinois (d. 1991)
1938 – Jaki Liebesit, German drummer (Can), born in Dresden, Germany (d. 2017)
1943 – John “Poli” Palmer, British Progressive rock keyboardist, and vibraphone player (Family -“In My Own Time”), born in Worcester, England
Famous Deaths
1946 – Friedrich German prince, last ruler of Waldeck and Pyrmont, dies at 81
1969 – Kathryn Minner (née White), American character actress (Little Old Lady from Pasadena), dies of a heart attack at 77
1978 – Cybele, Greek actress (b. 1887)
1993 – Carleton Morse, American radio dramatist (One Man’s Family), dies at 91
2010 – Jean Constantin, Romanian actor (b. 1928)
