January 26

1316

Edward the Bruce and Irish allies engage English forces at the Battle of Ardscull, Ireland

Ireland

In 1315, Edward the Bruce, brother of King Robert, landed in Ulster where he crowned himself King of Ireland and appealed to the common Celtic heritage of the two nations for a …

1699

The second session of William III's second Irish parliament ends on this date

Ireland

January 26–June 14 – the Parliament of Ireland meets and enacts legislation to levy duties on exported woolens; to encourage the construction of parsonages; to oblige landowners to …

1716

Lord George Sackville, soldier, politician and MP for Portarlington, born

Ireland

George Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville, PC (26 January 1716 – 26 August 1785), styled The Honourable George Sackville until 1720, Lord George Sackville from 1720 to 1770 and Lord …

1799

Thomas Charles Wright, officer in Bolivars army, is born in Drogheda, Co. Louth

Ireland

homas Charles Wright (1799–1868) was an Irish-born naval admiral. He was the founding-father of the Ecuadorian Navy, and a general in Simón Bolívar’s army. He is regarded as …

1861

One O'Clock gun fired for the first time from Edinburgh Castle

Ireland

The story goes that Edinburgh businessman John Hewitt heard the “little canon” on a visit to Paris in 1846 and campaigned for Edinburgh to start an equivalent. Fifteen years later …

1871

Sir Arthur du Cros, pioneer of pneumatic tyre industry, is born in Dublin

Ireland

Sir Arthur Philip Du Cros, 1st Baronet (26 January 1871 – 28 October 1955) was a British industrialist and politician. Du Cros was born in Dublin on 26 January 1871, the third of …

1878

Kirkpatrick McMillan, Scottish inventor of the bicycle, died

Scotland

Kirkpatrick Macmillan (2 September 1812 in Keir, Dumfries and Galloway – 26 January 1878 in Keir) was a Scottish blacksmith. He is generally credited with inventing the treadle …

1898

Colonel James Fitzmaurice, Irelands greatest aviator, is born in Dublin

Ireland

Colonel James Fitzmaurice was a notable Irish aviator who made significant contributions to the field of aviation during the early 20th century. He was born on January 26, 1898, in …

1904

Seán MacBride, IRA leader, politician, head of Amnesty International, born

Ireland

Seán MacBride (26 January 1904 – 15 January 1988) was an Irish Clann na Poblachta politician who served as Minister for External Affairs from 1948 to 1951, Leader of Clann na …

1907

Synges Playboy of the Western World is performed for the first time at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, riot ensues

Ireland

The Playboy of the Western World is a three-act play written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge, first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on 26 January 1907. It is set …

1908

The 1st Glasgow Scout troop was registered, the first to be formed

Ireland

The 1st Glasgow Scout Group in Scotland holds the earliest known registration certificate, dated 26 January 1908, issued by The Boy Scouts Association. The Group was formed from …