This Day in History – May 26

May 26, 1942: The Battle of Midway Begins

The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific War during World War II. Fought from June 4-7, 1942, it was one of the most decisive naval battles in history. The battle resulted in a major victory for the United States Navy, which sank four Japanese aircraft carriers and inflicted heavy damage on the Japanese fleet. The victory at Midway marked the end of Japanese naval dominance in the Pacific and paved the way for the Allied victory in the war.

May 26, 1968: The Beatles Release “Hey Jude”

“Hey Jude” was written by Paul McCartney and released as a single by the Beatles on May 26, 1968. The song was originally written as a message of comfort to John Lennon’s son, Julian, after his parents’ divorce. However, it has since become one of the most popular and enduring songs of all time. “Hey Jude” was the Beatles’ last number-one hit in the United States and spent nine weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

May 26, 1972: The Equal Rights Amendment is Passed by Congress

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would have guaranteed equal rights for women. It was first introduced in Congress in 1923, but it was not until 1972 that it was passed by both houses of Congress. However, the ERA was never ratified by the required number of states and remains a controversial issue today.

May 26, 1997: The First Harry Potter Book is Published

The first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was published in the United Kingdom on June 26, 1997. The book was written by J.K. Rowling and tells the story of a young boy who discovers that he is a wizard and attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The book was a huge success and has since been translated into more than 80 languages and sold more than 500 million copies worldwide.

May 26, 2001: The Human Genome Project is Completed

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international scientific research project that was launched in 1990 with the goal of mapping and understanding all of the genes in the human genome. The project was completed in 2003 and has had a profound impact on our understanding of human health and disease. The HGP has also led to the development of new technologies for diagnosing and treating diseases.