The 1920s

1926 100 years ago

The 28 May 1926 coup d'état: Ditadura Nacional is established in Portugal to suppress the unrest of the First Republic

The 28 May 1926 coup d'état, sometimes called 28 May Revolution or, during the period of the corporatist Estado Novo, the National Revolution, was a military coup of a nationalist …

The 28 May 1926 coup d'état: Ditadura Nacional is established in Portugal to suppress the unrest of the First Republic

1926 100 years ago

Brazil leaves the League of Nations

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is also the world's fifth-largest country by area and the seventh-largest by popul…

Brazil leaves the League of Nations

1926 100 years ago

Fox Film buys the patents of the Movietone sound system for recording sound onto film.

The Fox Film Corporation was an American independent company that produced motion pictures and was formed in 1915 by the theater "chain" pioneer William Fox. It was the corporate s…

Fox Film buys the patents of the Movietone sound system for recording sound onto film.

1926 100 years ago

Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping.

Erik Weisz, known professionally as Harry Houdini, was an American escapologist, illusionist, and stunt performer noted for his escape acts.

Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping.

1926 100 years ago

Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

Gertrude Caroline Ederle was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and world record-holder in five events. On August 6, 1926, she became the first woman to swim across…

Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

1926 100 years ago

King Roger, an opera about Roger II of Sicily by Karol Szymanowski, is premiered at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw

King Roger is an opera in three acts by Karol Szymanowski to a Polish libretto by the composer himself and Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz, the composer's cousin. The score was finished in 1…

King Roger, an opera about Roger II of Sicily by Karol Szymanowski, is premiered at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw

1926 100 years ago

The 28th International Eucharistic Congress begins in Chicago, with over 250,000 spectators attending the opening proces

The 28th International Eucharistic Congress was held in Chicago, Illinois, United States from June 20 to 24, 1926. The event, held by the Catholic Church, was a eucharistic congres…

The 28th International Eucharistic Congress begins in Chicago, with over 250,000 spectators attending the opening proces

1926 100 years ago

Mercedes-Benz is formed by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz merging their two companies

Mercedes-Benz, commonly referred to simply as Mercedes and occasionally as Benz, is a German automotive brand that was founded in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG is based in Stuttgart, Bade…

Mercedes-Benz is formed by Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz merging their two companies

1926 100 years ago

Chiang Kai-shek accepts the post of commander-in-chief of the National Revolutionary Army, marking the beginning of…

Chiang Kai-shek was a Chinese military commander, revolutionary, and statesman who was the President of the Republic of China from 1948 to 1975 and the head of the Nationalist gove…

Chiang Kai-shek accepts the post of commander-in-chief of the National Revolutionary Army, marking the beginning of…

1926 100 years ago

First public screening using the Vitaphone process

Vitaphone was a sound film system used for feature films and nearly 1,000 short films made by Warner Bros. Pictures and its sister studio First National from 1926 to 1931. Vitaphon…

First public screening using the Vitaphone process

1926 100 years ago

Japan's public broadcasting company, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK) is established.

Public broadcasting is radio, television, and other electronic media whose primary mission is public service with a commitment to avoiding political and commercial influence. Publi…

Japan's public broadcasting company, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK) is established.

1926 100 years ago

A hurricane devastates Miami, Florida, killing 372 people.

The Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 was a large and intense tropical cyclone that devastated the Greater Miami area of Florida and caused catastrophic damage in the Bahamas and the U…

A hurricane devastates Miami, Florida, killing 372 people.

1926 100 years ago

Pierre Fabre, French pharmacist, founded Laboratoires Pierre Fabre (died 2013)

Pierre Jacques Louis Fabre was a French pharmaceutical and cosmetics executive and pharmacist, who founded Laboratoires Pierre Fabre in 1962. Fabre, a rugby enthusiast, was also th…

Pierre Fabre, French pharmacist, founded Laboratoires Pierre Fabre (died 2013)

1926 100 years ago

The first British Grand Prix was held at Brooklands.

The British Grand Prix is a Grand Prix motor racing event organised in the United Kingdom by Motorsport UK. First held by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in 1926, the British Grand…

The first British Grand Prix was held at Brooklands.

1926 100 years ago

Germany is admitted to the League of Nations.

The Weimar Republic was a historical period of the German state from 9 November 1918 to 23 March 1933, during which it was a constitutional republic for the first time in history. …

Germany is admitted to the League of Nations.

1926 100 years ago

Joan Lorring, British actress (died 2014)

Joan Lorring was an American actress and singer known for her work in film and theatre. For her role as Bessy Watty in The Corn Is Green (1945), Lorring was nominated for the Acade…

Joan Lorring, British actress (died 2014)

1926 100 years ago

Gerry McNeil, Canadian ice hockey player and manager (died 2004)

Joseph Gerald George McNeil was a professional ice hockey goaltender who won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens between 1947 and 1956.

Gerry McNeil, Canadian ice hockey player and manager (died 2004)

1926 100 years ago

Doug Insole, English cricketer (died 2017)

Douglas John Insole was an English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University, Essex and in nine Test matches for England, five of them on the 1956–57 tour of South Africa, whe…

Doug Insole, English cricketer (died 2017)

1926 100 years ago

Rawya Ateya, Egyptian captain and politician (died 1997)[citation needed]

Rawya Ateya[I] was an Egyptian woman who became the first female parliamentarian in the Arab world in 1957.

Rawya Ateya, Egyptian captain and politician (died 1997)[citation needed]

1926 100 years ago

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and her other realms (died 2022)

Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lif…

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and her other realms (died 2022)

1926 100 years ago

Arthur Rowley, English footballer, manager, and cricketer (died 2002)

George Arthur Rowley Jr., nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his explosive left-foot shot, was an English football player and cricketer. He holds the record for the most goals in th…

Arthur Rowley, English footballer, manager, and cricketer (died 2002)

1926 100 years ago

Charlotte Rae, American actress and singer (died 2018)

Charlotte Rae Lubotsky was an American comedic actress and singer whose career spanned 66 years.

Charlotte Rae, American actress and singer (died 2018)

1926 100 years ago

James Stirling, Scottish architect, designed the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart and Seeley Historical Library (died 1992)

Sir James Frazer Stirling was a British architect.

James Stirling, Scottish architect, designed the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart and Seeley Historical Library (died 1992)

1926 100 years ago

Rifaat el-Mahgoub, Egyptian politician (died 1990)

Rifaat El Mahgoub was an Egyptian politician who served as the 8th speaker of the People's Assembly of Egypt from 1984 until his assassination in 1990. He was a member of the then …

Rifaat el-Mahgoub, Egyptian politician (died 1990)