On This Day for 5/26 - The Challenger Expedition concludes, Guyana gains its independence, and more

Don't miss an issue of On This Day! Simply add [customerservice@eb.com]( to your address book. On This Day May 26 Discover the Fastest Route to Britannica - [EB.com]( Biography of the Day [Sally Ride serving as mission specialist on the flight deck of the space shuttle orbiter …]( [Sally Ride]( In June 1983 astronaut [Sally Ride]( born on this day in 1951, became the first American woman to travel into outer space, 20 years after [Valentina Tereshkova]( of Russia had made history as the first woman to do so. Who else was born today? Find out with the newest version of [our best-selling software! >>]( On This Day [Martin Luther, oil on wood by Lucas Cranach the Elder.]( 1521: Martin Luther declared a heretic by the Edict of Worms Passed on this day in 1521, the [Edict of Worms]( banned the writings of [Martin Luther]( German cleric whose efforts to change the church led to the [Reformation]( declared him an outlaw and a heretic who was to be captured. Explore more key moments in history for just $39.95 [Learn more >>]( [Sign up now]( for our monthly newsletter, showcasing articles hand-picked by our editors! More Events On This Day 2008: [Sydney Pollack.]( director, producer, and actor [Sydney Pollack]( helmed a number of popular films, including The Way We Were (1973), Tootsie (1982), and [Out of Africa]( (1985)—died in Pacific Palisades, California. 1971: [animated characters from South Park]( screenwriter, actor, and producer [Matt Stone]( was best known as the cocreator, with [Trey Parker]( of the subversive animated television series [South Park]( born. 1966: a colony of the Dutch and later the British, [Guyana]( gained its independence. 1940: [British and other Allied troops waiting to be evacuated from the beach at Dunkirk, France, 1940.]( [World War II]( the British began to evacuate their troops from [Dunkirk]( France. 1926: [Miles Davis, 1969.]( musician [Miles Davis]( a trumpeter who was one of the major influences on jazz from the late 1940s, was born in Alton, Illinois. 1913: Actors' Equity Association, the [trade union]( for American performing artists, was founded. 1907: [John Wayne in True Grit (1969).]( actor [John Wayne]( was born in Winterset, Iowa. 1895: [Migrant Mother, photograph by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration, 1936.]( photographer [Dorothea Lange]( whose portraits of displaced farmers during the [Great Depression]( greatly influenced later documentary and journalistic photography, was born. 1886: [Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer (1927).]( Jolson]( a popular American singer and blackface comedian of the musical stage and motion pictures, was born Asa Yoelson in Srednike, Russia (now Seredžius, Lithuania). 1876: [Challenger docked in Bermuda]( [Challenger Expedition]( a groundbreaking oceanographic exploration cruise carried out by the British Admiralty and the [Royal Society]( concluded successfully. 1703: [Samuel Pepys, oil painting by John Hayls, 1666; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.]( diarist and naval administrator [Samuel Pepys]( celebrated for his Diary, died in London. 1583: Susanna, the elder daughter of [William Shakespeare]( and [Anne Hathaway]( was baptized. A Great Gift Idea from The Britannica Store [1768 Encyclopaedia Britannica Replica Set]( The handsome three-volume reproduction is so beautifully executed that it's almost indistinguishable from the 1768 original, right down to the natural age spots and watermarks on the pages. A must-have for collectors of history or vintage books, the set lends an unmistakable air of prestige to any home or office. [Get yours today]( Our Best-Selling Software! the world's most trusted and authoritative information for [only $39.95](. Britannica on Facebook a fan]( on Facebook and get updated Britannica content in your news feed! Britannica on Twitter @Britannica]( and enjoy daily tweets relating to the news stories of the day! [Home]( [Advocacy for Animals]( [Newsletters]( [Feedback]( [Help]( Please note that if you do not open or click on any On This Day email during any consecutive 30-day period, we reserve the right to remove your address from the active mailing list. This policy does not apply to RSS feeds. Share: Was this message forwarded to you? [Click here]( and we'll start sending you the On This Day newsletters. This message has been sent to {EMAIL}. To unsubscribe [click here](. To unsubscribe by postal mail, send your request to: Encyclopaedia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle St. - Suite 200 Chicago, IL 60654 US ATTN: Customer Service - On This Day © 2017 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. [Privacy Policy]( — [Help](