September 26 in history

On September 26:

1580 Sir Francis Drake completed his circumnavigation of the world.

1888 US poet & playwright T.S. (Thomas Stearns) Eliot was born.

Drawing of Eliot by Simon Fieldhouse

1898 composer George Gershwin was born.

 1907 Elnglish art historian & Soviet spy Anthony Blunt was born.

1907 Sir Joseph Ward proclaimed New Zealand’s dominion status.

1932 Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was born.

 1933 Donna Douglas, US actress who played Ely May Clampet in the Beverly Hillbillies, was born.

1936 South African activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was born.

1945 English singer Bryan Ferry was born.

1947 US country singer Lynn Anderson was born.

1948 English-born Australian singer Olivia Newton John was born.

1949 US novelist Jane Smiley was born.

1949 English crime writer Minette Walters was born.

1962 The Yemen Arab Republic was proclaimed.

1964 English singer Nicki French was born.

 

 

1973 Concorde made its first Trans Atlantic flight in record time.

 

1981 US tennis player Serena Williams was born.