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Explore the historical events that shaped our world on December 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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Pope Leo III was elected on December 26, 795, the day his predecessor Pope Adrian I was buried, and Leo III was consecrated the following day, December 27, 795.
This rapid succession was likely a move by the Romans to quickly select a new leader and prevent potential interference in the papal election from Frankish King, Charlemagne.
King Charles I and the Scots reached a secret agreement in December 1647, known as the Engagement, where by the Scots promised to support his restoration in exchange for him accepting Presbyterianism in Scotland and imposing it in England for three years.
This pact led to the Second English Civil War in 1648. However, the Scottish army under the Earl of Hamilton was defeated by Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Preston. The loss ultimately contributed to Charles I's execution in January 1649.
President Wilson issues a declaration that he had nationalized the railroad system under the Federal Possession and Control Act. Wilson appointed his son-in-law, Treasury Secretary William McAdoo, as administrator for the United States Railroad Administration. After the end of WWI in the railroads became private property once again on March 2020.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs into law a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday ending the confusion that had taken place since 1939 when FDR had changed the official Thanksgiving to the second to last Thursday of the month.
Since there were five Thursdays and the last Thursday of the month was the last day of the month and there was a worry that it would shorten the Christmas shopping season. Only 32 states had issued similar proclamations while 16 states refused to accept the change creating confusion. More
The Sumatra-Andaman 9.3 Earthquake, strikes in the India Ocean off the coast of Sumatra. The massive under-sea quake triggered a Tsunami with waves up to 100 Feet (30 meters) affecting 14 countries, resulting in an estimated 230,000 fatalities and billions in material losses.
Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka experienced the highest death tolls, with the city of Banda Aceh in Indonesia being particularly hard-hit. It was the largest earthquake ever recorded in Asia and one of the largest worldwide and the tsunami, the deadliest tsunami in history. More
