A Finnish man legally changed his name to 'Phillip Porras' because he lost a poker bet
After losing a drunken poker game, a man from Helsinki made good on his promise and officially changed his name at the local registry office. Finnish...
September 26 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
2001
1991
Eight people entered Biosphere 2 for a two-year isolation experiment
Four men and four women sealed themselves inside a 3.14-acre glass structure in Arizona, attempting to survive in a completely closed ecological syste...
1984
The UK and China signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, agreeing to return Hong Kong to China
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang signed the agreement that would return Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 19...
1983
A Soviet nuclear early warning system falsely detected incoming US missiles, but one officer's skepticism prevented World War III
MajorSoviet Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov was on duty when the system reported five incoming American nuclear missiles. Despite protocol demanding he report an...
1981
Baseball player Nolan Ryan pitched his fifth career no-hitter at age 34
Ryan became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to throw five no-hitters, breaking a record that had stood since 1875. Pitching for the...
1969
The Beatles released 'Abbey Road,' their final recorded album
MajorThough 'Let It Be' would be released later, 'Abbey Road' was the last album The Beatles recorded together, featuring the iconic medley on Side 2 and t...
1960
The first televised presidential debate took place between Kennedy and Nixon
MajorJohn F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon faced off in Chicago for the first-ever televised presidential debate, watched by 70 million Americans. Those who li...
1950
Indonesia was admitted to the United Nations
Just five years after declaring independence from the Netherlands, Indonesia became the 60th member of the United Nations. The admission recognized In...
1914
The Federal Trade Commission was established to protect consumers and prevent monopolies
President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Trade Commission Act, creating an independent agency to enforce antitrust laws and protect consumers from...
1907
New Zealand became the first country to adopt a statutory eight-hour working day
MajorThe Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act formally established the eight-hour workday across most industries in New Zealand. This made New Zeala...
1777
British troops occupied Philadelphia during the American Revolution
General William Howe led British forces into Philadelphia, forcing the Continental Congress to flee to York, Pennsylvania. Despite capturing the rebel...
1687
The Venetian army bombarded the Parthenon, destroying much of the ancient temple
During the Great Turkish War, Venetian forces besieged Athens and fired mortars at the Acropolis, where Ottoman Turks were using the 2,000-year-old Pa...
1580
Francis Drake completed the second circumnavigation of the world
MajorEnglish sea captain Francis Drake arrived back in Plymouth aboard the Golden Hinde after a three-year voyage around the globe. He was only the second...