July 26 in history — What Happened Today in History

The National Assembly of Quebec imposes the use of French as the official language of the provincial government.

Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis forms the country's first civil government after seven years of military rule.

Apollo program: Launch of Apollo 15 on the first Apollo "J-Mission", and first use of a Lunar Roving Vehicle.

Vietnam War: South Vietnamese opposition leader Trương Đình Dzu is sentenced to five years hard labor for advocating the formation of a coalition government as a way to move toward an end to the war.

Syncom 2, the world's first geosynchronous satellite, is launched from Cape Canaveral on a Delta B booster.

An earthquake in Skopje, Yugoslavia (present-day North Macedonia) leaves 1,100 dead.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development votes to admit Japan.

Explorer program: Explorer 4 is launched.

Carlos Castillo Armas, dictator of Guatemala, is assassinated.

Following the World Bank's refusal to fund building the Aswan Dam, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, sparking international condemnation.

Cold War: Fidel Castro leads an unsuccessful attack on the Moncada Barracks, thus beginning the Cuban Revolution. The movement took the name of the date: 26th of July Movement

Arizona Governor John Howard Pyle orders an anti-polygamy law enforcement crackdown on residents of Short Creek, Arizona, which becomes known as the Short Creek raid.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment repel a number of Chinese assaults against a key position known as The Hook during the Battle of the Samichon River, just hours before the Armistice Agreement is signed, ending the Korean War.

King Farouk of Egypt abdicates in favor of his son Fuad.

Walt Disney's 13th animated film, Alice in Wonderland, premieres in London, England, United Kingdom.

U.S. president Harry S. Truman signs Executive Order 9981, desegregating the military of the United States.

Cold War: U.S. president Harry S. Truman signs the National Security Act of 1947 into United States law creating the Central Intelligence Agency, United States Department of Defense, United States Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the United States National Security Council.

Aloha Airlines begins service from Honolulu International Airport.

The Labour Party wins the United Kingdom general election of July 5 by a landslide, removing Winston Churchill from power.

World War II: The Potsdam Declaration is signed in Potsdam, Germany.

World War II: HMS Vestal is the last British Royal Navy ship to be sunk in the war.

World War II: The USS Indianapolis arrives at Tinian with components and enriched uranium for the Little Boy nuclear bomb.

World War II: The Red Army enters Lviv, a major city in western Ukraine, capturing it from the Nazis. Only 300 Jews survive out of 160,000 living in Lviv prior to occupation.

World War II: Battle of Grand Harbour, British forces on Malta destroy an attack by the Italian Decima Flottiglia MAS. Fort St Elmo Bridge covering the harbour is demolished in the process.

World War II: In response to the Japanese occupation of French Indochina, the United States, Britain and the Netherlands freeze all Japanese assets and cut off oil shipments.

Spanish Civil War: End of the Battle of Brunete with the Nationalist victory.

Spanish Civil War: Germany and Italy decide to intervene in the war in support for Francisco Franco and the Nationalist faction.

King Edward VIII, in one of his few official duties before he abdicates the throne, officially unveils the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

Yurie Omi, Japanese announcer and news anchor

Sayaka Akimoto, Filipino–Japanese actress and singer

Anthony Smith, American Mixed Martial Artist

Panagiotis Kone, Greek footballer

Alec Martinez, American ice hockey player

Jordie Benn, Canadian ice hockey player

Fredy Montero, Colombian footballer

Monica Raymund, American actress

Leonardo Ulloa, Argentinian footballer

John White, English footballer

Marcus Benard, American football player

Gaël Clichy, French footballer

Audrey De Montigny, Canadian singer-songwriter

Bijoy Krishna Handique, Indian lawyer and politician, Indian Minister of Mines (born 1934)

Flora MacDonald, Canadian banker and politician, 10th Canadian Minister of Communications (born 1926)

Leo Reise, Jr., Canadian ice hockey player (born 1922)

Ann Rule, American police officer and author (born 1931)

Oleh Babayev, Ukrainian businessman and politician (born 1965)

Charles R. Larson, American admiral (born 1936)

Richard MacCormac, English architect, founded MJP Architects (born 1938)

Sergei O. Prokofieff, Russian anthropologist and author (born 1954)

Roland Verhavert, Belgian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1927)

Luther F. Cole, American lawyer and politician (born 1925)

Harley Flanders, American mathematician and academic (born 1925)

Sung Jae-gi, South Korean philosopher and activist (born 1967)

George P. Mitchell, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1919)