January 26
January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 340 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Aquarius.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On January 26 the Sun's declination is approximately -19.0°. At this latitude the Sun is south of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere shorter days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a January 26.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Australia Day
- Republic Day (India)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1788 — Captain Arthur Phillip and the British First Fleet established a settlement at Sydney Cove — Australia Day. ↗(238 years ago)more
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and raising of the Union Flag of Great Britain by Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, a small bay on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour. The day is promoted by the Australia Day Council, an independent government owned company.
1837 — Michigan was admitted as the 26th U.S. state. ↗(189 years ago)more
Michigan is a peninsular state in the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, Indiana and Illinois to the southwest, Ohio to the southeast, and the Canadian province of Ontario to the east, northeast and north.
1905 — The 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found, was unearthed in South Africa. ↗(121 years ago)more
The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106 carats (621.20 g), discovered at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, on 26 January 1905. It was named after Thomas Cullinan, the owner of the mine.
1950 — India became a republic; the Constitution of India came into effect. ↗(76 years ago)more
Republic Day is a national holiday in India commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of India and the country's transition to a republic which came into effect on 26 January 1950.
Notable births
1880 — Douglas MacArthur, American five-star general. ↗(146 years ago)more
Douglas MacArthur was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army. He served with distinction in World War I; as chief of staff of the United States Army from 1930 to 1935; as Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area, from 1942 to 1945; as Supreme Commander for the Al...
1925 — Paul Newman, American actor and philanthropist. ↗(101 years ago)more
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, filmmaker, racecar driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He has been described as "one of the last of the great 20th-century movie stars". He was the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, seven Golden Globe Awards, an Actor Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Silver Bear for Be...
1958 — Ellen DeGeneres, American comedian and TV host. ↗(68 years ago)more
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American retired comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She began her career in stand-up comedy in the early 1980s, gaining national attention with a 1986 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She starred in the television sitcoms Ellen (1994–1998) and The Ellen Show (2001–2002).
Notable deaths
1823 — Edward Jenner, English physician who developed the smallpox vaccine. ↗(203 years ago)more
Edward Jenner was an English physician and scientist who pioneered the concept of vaccines and created the smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine. The terms vaccine and vaccination are derived from Variolae vaccinae, the term devised by Jenner to denote cowpox.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (26) | 2 × 13 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (340) | 2^2 × 5 × 17 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 26012026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -19.02° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 37 days |