On This Day for July 26 - Suez Canal seized, John Howard is born, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, [click here to view](. July 26 [John Winston Howard.] BORN ON THIS DAY 1939 John Howard [Liberal]( leader [John Howard]( born this day in 1939, became prime minister of [Australia]( in 1996, and his policies, including his strict immigration stance, proved popular with voters, who elected him to a fourth term in 2004. [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( [Cargo ship in the Suez Canal near Ismailia, Egypt.] ON THIS DAY 1956 Suez Canal seized On this day in 1956, Egyptian President [Gamal Abdel Nasser]( seized control of the [Suez Canal]( and nationalized it, sparking a [crisis]( that later resulted in French, British, and Israeli forces briefly occupying parts of Egypt. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( [Discover the NEW Britannica Kids! Click Here to Learn More!]( MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY [Clinton, Hillary] 2016: At the [Democratic]( National Convention, [Hillary Clinton]( was officially nominated [president]( becoming the first woman to top the presidential ticket of a major party in the [United States](. [Historical region of Darfur.] 2004: In response to an explosion of violence in the [Darfur]( region, the [European Union]( advocated that the [United Nations]( institute economic sanctions against [Sudan](. [Flag of Maldives] 1965: The [Republic of Maldives]( gained its independence from [Britain](. [Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side (2009).] 1964: American actress [Sandra Bullock]( for her charismatic energy and wit on-screen, especially as girl-next-door characters in romantic comedies—was born. [The Andrea Doria after colliding with the Stockholm off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, July 1956.] 1956: The Italian passenger liner [Andrea Doria]( sank after colliding with the Stockholm off the coast of [Nantucket]( in the [Atlantic Ocean]( 51 people were killed. [Fidel Castro, 1964] 1953: [Fidel Castro]( attacked the Moncada military fortress in Santiago de Cuba, and, although unsuccessful, the event later inspired the [26th of July Movement]( which culminated in the overthrow of [Fulgencio Batista]( regime in [Cuba](. [SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY]( ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1964 Sandra Bullock American actress and producer 1959 Kevin Spacey American actor 1945 Helen Mirren British actress 1928 Stanley Kubrick American director 1894 Aldous Huxley British author 1875 Carl Jung Swiss psychologist [SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY]( FOLLOW: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, [click here](. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2018 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( • [Help](