Historical Figures

What significant events happened in 1926?

1926 was marked by several significant events:

Politics:

- The Kellogg-Briand Pact: Several countries, including the US, France, and Germany, signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact to renounce war as a means of settling disputes.

- The Coal Strike in Britain: A labor dispute led to a prolonged coal strike in Britain that lasted for several months and significantly impacted the economy.

Arts and Culture:

- The publication of "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway: This novel, one of Hemingway's early works, became an instant success and influential work of modern American literature.

- Premiere of "Don Juan": Warner Bros. released the first synchronized-sound feature-length film, "Don Juan," starring John Barrymore.

Science and Technology:

- The First Public Television Broadcast: the first public broadcast happened in London by John Logie Baird.

- Robert Goddard's Rocket Launch: American rocket scientist Robert Goddard successfully launched a liquid-fueled rocket that rose 12.5 meters, pioneering rocketry technology.

Aviation and exploration:

- Amundsen's North Pole Flight: Roald Amundsen and his team were the first to complete the first flight over the North Pole, completing a daring expedition in an airship.

- MacRobertson's "Old Glory": The explorer George Hubert Wilkins and his crew on board "Old Glory" became the first to fly over Antarctica.

Sports:

- World Cup Debut: The inaugural FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay, where 13 countries competed, with Uruguay ultimately emerging as the first-ever world champion.

- Boxing's "Long Count": Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney faced off in a much-anticipated boxing match, remembered for the "long count" during the seventh round.

Disasters:

- The Mississippi River Flood: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 began to overflow its banks, causing devastating floods and displacing hundreds of thousands of people in the southern United States.

Other notable events:

- The Invention of the Quick-Freeze Method: Clarence Birdseye developed the quick-freezing process for food preservation, revolutionizing the food industry.

- The Great Gatsby Controversy: F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby," was met with mixed reviews initially, but it eventually became a classic of American literature.