Sunday · September 27, 2026
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American history, reported as it happened
Made for the 250th
On this day › July 26

What happened on July 26 in American history

July 26 is the 207th day of the year (the 208th in leap years). Patriot Compass has published 6 stories from July 26 spanning 1775 to 1945. Among them: in 1775, Congress cuts the cord to London's mail: Franklin named postmaster general; and in 1788, New York ratifies the Constitution, 30 to 27.

1775

Congress cuts the cord to London's mail: Franklin named postmaster general

A line of posts is ordered from Falmouth to Savannah, and the emerging nation gets its own way to talk to itself.
1788Member story · 1776 Club

New York ratifies the Constitution, 30 to 27

Hamilton, Madison and Jay had spent months making the case in the newspapers; the Poughkeepsie convention barely came around.
1861

Five days after Bull Run, Lincoln hands his broken army to McClellan

The thirty-four-year-old general inherits a demoralized force and calls the deference of Lincoln, the Cabinet, and Scott a 'strange operation of magic'.
1908Member story · 1776 Club

Bonaparte quietly builds a federal police force Congress just told him he couldn't have

Barred from borrowing Secret Service men, the Attorney General hires his own investigators instead.
1941

Washington cuts off Japan's oil; London and the Dutch follow within days

Tokyo's push into southern Indochina triggers an embargo that erases four-fifths of Japan's oil supply.
1945Member story · 1776 Club

Allies warn Japan: surrender now or face prompt and utter destruction

Stalin sits out the ultimatum since Moscow is not yet at war with Tokyo, but promises to sign on once it is.