March 26th celebrates Purple Day as well as Make Up Your Own Holiday Day.
We made it to day 85 of the year and there’s 280 days left to go until we reach the new year.
But don’t count this day off too quickly, be sure to check out all the events that occurred on March 26 including births, deaths, discoveries and so much more.
Did you know that on this day in 1872, the fire extinguisher was patented by Thomas J. Martin? His invention is still listed in the US Patent Office.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about March 26th in history!
What Events Happened On March 26 In History?
2019 Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming” surpassed 10 million copies sold after four months of circulation.
2019 A Dutch art investigator recovered Pablo Picasso’s stolen “Buste de Femme” painting. It had been missing for 20 years.
2013 Ariana Grande released her first single, “The Way.”
It made it to 6th on BIllboard's Hot 100 and went Triple Platinum, selling over 3 million copies.
2012 James Cameron dove into the deepest point of the Marianas Trench, Challenger Deep.
Challenger Deep is around 36,300 ft (10,902 meters) deep. Cameron was the second person to reach such depths, and it took 2 hours and 36 minutes to get to the bottom.
1985 Pope John Paul II proclaimed the day as the first-ever World Youth Day.
1971 East Pakistan declared its independence from Pakistan, forming Bangladesh.
The declaration began an eight-month-long war between Pakistan and the newly-formed state of Bangladesh. As many as three million people lost their lives in the conflict.
1945 The battle of Iwo Jima was won by the US after a month and a week of fighting.
The US captured the island of Iwo Jima from Japan at the cost of approximately 25,000 military personnel.
1934 Driving tests were introduced in the UK for the first time.
The change came after roughly 7,000 people died in car accidents each year.
1886 Sir Henry Thompson conducted the UK’s first cremation on the corpse of Mrs. Jeannette C. Pickersgill.
The Times described her as "a well-known figure in literary and scientific circles."
1872 Thomas J Martin patented the fire extinguisher.
1840 The first photo of the moon was taken by John Draper in New York City.
1830 The first edition of the Book of Mormon was published in Palmyra, New York.
The Book of Mormon is the leading religious text in the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. It was written by Joseph Smith, the leader of the Mormon church at the time. There were just 5,000 copies made in the first edition, which the publisher charged Smith $3,000 for.
1812 Up to 20,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Caracas, Venezuela.
The 7.7 magnitude earthquake occurred at 16:37 local time, with two additional aftershocks within 30 minutes. The disaster caused "incalculable" damage.
Famous People Born On March 26
Is today your birthday? If so, you share this special day with Diana Ross! Check out more famous people born on this day below.
1944 Diana Ross
American Singer
- Age:
- 78 years old
- Born In:
- Michigan, USA
1985 Keira Knightley
English Actress
- Age:
- 37 years old
- Born In:
- England, UK
1881 Guccio Gucci
Italian Businessman
- Died On:
- Jan 2, 1953 (Age 71)
- Born In:
- Florence, Italy
1972 Leslie Mann
American Actress
- Age:
- 50 years old
- Born In:
- California, USA
Famous People Who Died On This Day
1770 - 1827 Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer born on December 16, 1770. He died on this day in 1827, at age 56 in Vienna, Austria.
Special Holidays On March 26
If you’re looking for something to do today, maybe these special holidays might just help to cure your boredom!
Purple Day
More than 50 million people around the world live with epilepsy, and for many of them, their life is a constant uphill battle. Purple Day is all about raising awareness for these very people - you can take part by wearing something purple today and donating to your local epilepsy charity!
Read More
Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
Open your mind and get your creative juices flowing; it’s Make Up Your Own Holiday Day! Have some fun today by imagining your very own holiday, and try to convince others it’s real. There are so many silly holidays these days; you’d be surprised how many people you can convince!
THe Fact Site's
Fun Fact Of The Day
Vernor’s Ginger Ale is the oldest soda still being sold. It was created by Detroit pharmacist James Vernor in 1866.
March 26 Birthday Facts, Zodiac & Birthstone
People who were born on March 26th share the Aries star sign.
If you are an Aries, just know that it’s a good idea sometimes to slow down. Being supercharged gives you many advantages in life, but take time to play with your energy and find some balance.
For those of you born in March, you have the Aquamarine birthstone. The ancient Greeks and Romans used aquamarine to protect their sailors. They brought the sea-green crystals on board to ensure safe passage to their destinations.
If you were born on this day, you were likely conceived on the week of July 3rd in the previous year.
A baby that is conceived on this day will likely be due around December 17, 2023.
