Births on December 26

René Bazin, French author and academic (d. 1932)

René François Nicolas Marie Bazin (26 December 1853 – 20 July 1932) was a French novelist.

4 Jan

Twelve Years a Slave
After having been kidnapped and sold into slavery in the American South, Solomon Northup regains his freedom; his memoir Twelve Years a Slave later becomes a national bestseller.
19 Jan

Il trovatore
Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il trovatore receives its premiere performance in Rome.
14 Jul

Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations
Opening of the first major US world's fair, the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York City.
4 Oct

Crimean War
The Ottoman Empire declares war on the Russian Empire.
30 Nov

Battle of Sinop
Crimean War: Battle of Sinop: The Imperial Russian Navy under Pavel Nakhimov destroys the Ottoman fleet under Osman Pasha at Sinop, a sea port in northern Turkey.