The Pazzi conspiracy, a failed attempt by the Pazzi family to overthrow the Medici family on April, 26, 1478 (Easter Sunday) in Florence by assassinating Lorenzo de Medici and his brother Giulianoto. Lorenzo survived the plot but Giulianoto de' Medici was killed. More
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On This Day in History: April 26
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on April 26th. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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President's Lincoln, assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was killed on April 26, 1865, at the end of a 12-day chase by Union soldiers after refusing to surrender to Federal troops.
The murder of President Abraham Lincoln was part of a pre-planned, coordinated attack on the president, Vice President Andrew Johnson and the Secretary of State. President Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865, after being shot by Booth the prior day. More
Large field trials for the Jonas Salk-developed polio vaccine began on April 26, 1954, at Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, Virginia. The trials involved 1.8 million children, who became known as the "Polio Pioneers." Almost a year later on April 12. 1955, the trial was deemed safe and effective, leading to a drastic reduction of polio cases in the US in a few years.
The worst nuclear accident in history occurs on April 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl nuclear site in Ukraine. The accident was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel who were running a poorly designed test.
About 350,000 people were evacuated as a result of the accident. The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation has concluded that, apart from some 5000 thyroid cancers (resulting in 15 fatalities), "there is no evidence of a major public health impact attributable to radiation exposure 20 years after the accident." More
Syria ends 29-year military presence in Lebanon on April 26, 2005, as the last of Syria's soldiers and intelligence agents leave Lebanon. Syria's chief of staff General Ali Habib declared that Damascus had fulfilled its obligations under a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon.