| 1647 |
|
A
new law bans Catholic priests
from the colony of
Massachusetts. The penalty is
banishment or death for a
second offense. |
| 1670 |
|
Charles
II and Louis XIV sign a secret
treaty in Dover, England,
ending hostilities between
England and France. |
| 1691 |
|
Jacob
Leiser, leader of the popular
uprising in support of William
and Mary's succession to the
throne, is executed for
treason. |
| 1736 |
|
British
and Chickasaw forces defeat
the French at the Battle of
Ackia. |
| 1831 |
|
The
Russians defeat the Poles at
the Battle of Ostrolenska. |
| 1835 |
|
A
resolution is passed in the
U.S. Congress stating that
Congress has no authority over
state slavery laws. |
| 1864 |
|
The
territory of Montana is
organized. |
| 1865 |
|
The
last Confederate army
surrenders in Shreveport,
Louisiana. |
| 1868 |
|
President
Andrew Johnson is aquitted of
all charges of impeachment. |
| 1896 |
|
The
last czar of Russia, Nicholas
II, is crowned. |
| 1938 |
|
The
House Committee on Un-American
Activities begins its work of
searching for subversives in
the United States. |
| 1940 |
|
The
evacuation of Allied forces
from Dunkirk begins. |
| 1946 |
|
A
patent is filed in the United
States for the H-bomb. |
| 1958 |
|
Union
Square, San Francisco, becomes
a state historical landmark. |
| 1961 |
|
The
civil rights activist group,
Freedom Ride Coordinating
Committee, is established in
Atlanta. |
| 1961 |
|
A
U.S. Air Force bomber flies
across the Atlantic in a
record of just over three
hours. |
| 1969 |
|
Apollo
10 returns to Earth. |
| 1977 |
|
The
movie Star Wars debuts. |
Born on May 26 |
| 1667 |
|
Abraham
De Moivre, mathematician. |
| 1835 |
|
Edward
Porter Alexander, artillery
general during the American
Civil War. |
| 1883 |
|
Mamie
Smith, blues singer. |
| 1886 |
|
Al
Jolson, jazz singer and film
actor. |
| 1895 |
|
Dorothea
Lange, documentary
photographer. |
| 1903 |
|
Estes
Kefauver, Tennessee senator. |
| 1907 |
|
John
Wayne [Marion Michael
Morrison], American actor and
film icon. |
| 1919 |
|
Jay
Silverheels, actor (The
Lone Ranger). |
| 1920 |
|
Peggy
Lee, jazz singer. |
| 1923 |
|
James
Arness, actor (Gunsmoke). |
| 1951 |
|
Sally
Ride, astronaut, the first
American woman in space. |
