March 26 in history — What Happened Today in History

The Biological Weapons Convention comes into force.

East Pakistan, then a province of Pakistan, declares its independence from Pakistan to form Bangladesh; the Bangladesh War of Independence begins.

South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu implements a land reform program to solve the problem of land tenancy.

Ten thousand people gather for one of many Central Park be-ins in New York City.

The United States Army launches Explorer 3.

The African Regroupment Party is launched at a meeting in Paris.

Pan Am Flight 845/26 ditches in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon, killing four.

Nuclear weapons testing: The Romeo shot of Operation Castle is detonated at Bikini Atoll. Yield: 11 megatons.

World War II: The Battle of Iwo Jima ends as the island is officially secured by American forces.

The Holocaust: The first female prisoners arrive at Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.

Spanish Civil War: Nationalists begin their final offensive of the war.

The United Kingdom driving test is introduced.

Swissair is founded as the national airline of Switzerland.

Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union is founded in Vietnam.

The German Social Democratic Party is founded in Poland.

World War I: First Battle of Gaza: British troops are halted after 17,000 Turks block their advance.

The Vancouver Millionaires win the 1915 Stanley Cup Final, the first championship played between the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the National Hockey Association.

First Balkan War: Bulgarian forces capture Adrianople.

An explosion at the Brunner Mine near Greymouth, New Zealand, kills 65 coal miners in the country's worst industrial accident.

The Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel begin the North-West Rebellion against Canada.

The elections of Commune council of the Paris Commune are held.

The first Henley Royal Regatta is held.

The Book of Mormon is published in Palmyra, New York.

An earthquake devastates Caracas, Venezuela.

A political cartoon in the Boston-Gazette coins the term "gerrymander" to describe oddly shaped electoral districts designed to help incumbents win reelection.

William Dampier is the first European to circumnavigate New Britain, discovering it is an island (which he names Nova Britannia) rather than part of New Guinea.

Safavid government troops take control of Basra.

The silver-loaded Spanish ship San José, pushed south by strong winds, is wrecked on the coast of southern Chile and its surviving crew members are killed by indigenous Cuncos.

Alison Van Uytvanck, Belgian tennis player

Paige VanZant, American mixed martial artist and model

Jed Wallace, English footballer

Marcela Zacarías, Mexican tennis player

Nina Agdal, Danish model

Stoffel Vandoorne, Belgian racing driver

Matt Davidson, American baseball player

Ramy Youssef, American actor and comedian

Choi Woo-shik, South Korean actor

Matteo Guidicelli, Filipino actor, model, singer and former kart racer

Patrick Ekeng, Cameroonian footballer (died 2016)

Yuya Takaki, Japanese idol, singer, dancer, model and actor

Xiumin, South Korean singer and actor

Tomas Tranströmer, Swedish poet, translator, and psychologist Nobel Prize laureate (born 1931)

Roger Birkman, American psychologist and author (born 1919)

Dick Guidry, American businessman and politician (born 1929)

Marcus Kimball, Baron Kimball, English politician (born 1928)

Tom Boerwinkle, American basketball player and sportscaster (born 1945)

Krzysztof Kozłowski, Polish journalist and politician, Polish Minister of Interior (born 1931)

Dave Leggett, American football player (born 1933)

Don Payne, American screenwriter and producer (born 1964)

Sisto Averno, American football player (born 1925)

Michael Begley, Irish carpenter and politician (born 1932)

Thomas M. Cover, American theorist and academic (born 1938)

David Craighead, American organist and educator (born 1924)

Manik Godghate, Indian poet and educator (born 1937)