February 26 has witnessed numerous significant events, notable births and deaths, and various observances worldwide. Here's a detailed overview:
Historical Events:
1616: The Roman Inquisition delivers an injunction to Galileo Galilei, demanding he abandon his support for heliocentrism, the view that the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun.
1815: Napoléon Bonaparte escapes from exile on the island of Elba, marking the beginning of the Hundred Days leading up to his final defeat at Waterloo.
1919: The U.S. Congress establishes Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, recognizing it as a national treasure.
1935: RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) is first demonstrated by Robert Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins in Daventry, England, revolutionizing detection and navigation.
1991: During the Gulf War, coalition forces bomb Iraqi troops retreating from Kuwait, resulting in the infamous 'Highway of Death'.
1993: A bomb explodes in the parking garage beneath the World Trade Center in New York City, killing six people and injuring over a thousand.
Notable Birthdays:
1802: Victor Hugo, French novelist and poet, best known for works like "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame".
1829: Levi Strauss, German-born American businessman, founder of the first company to manufacture blue jeans.
1932: Johnny Cash, influential American singer-songwriter known for his deep voice and somber tone.
1953: Michael Bolton, American singer and songwriter, recognized for his powerful ballads.
Notable Deaths:
1154: Roger II, the first King of Sicily, who established a strong and prosperous kingdom.
1903: Richard Gatling, American inventor best known for creating the Gatling gun, one of the first rapid-fire weapons.
2010: Wendy Richard, English actress famed for her role in the British soap opera "EastEnders".
Observances:
Kuwait: Liberation Day, commemorating the country's liberation from Iraqi occupation during the Gulf War in 1991.
Azerbaijan: Khojaly Massacre Remembrance Day, honoring the victims of the 1992 tragedy during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
These events and observances highlight the diverse historical and cultural significance of February 26 across the globe.