1. On December 26, 1780, a group of settlers led by John Todd were attacked by Native Americans in what is now Clark County, Illinois. Todd was captured and later executed, while several other settlers were also killed in the attack.

2. In 1819, the Illinois Territorial Legislature met for the first time on December 26 in the town of Kaskaskia. The legislature was tasked with setting up a government for the territory and paving the way for Illinois to become a state in 1818.

3. On December 26, 1830, the first steamboat to reach Chicago, the Utica, arrived at port. The Utica opened up the Great Lakes to steamship traffic and helped to establish Chicago as a major transportation hub.

4. December 26, 1862 marked the beginning of the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou during the American Civil War. Union forces under General William T. Sherman attempted to take the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg, Mississippi, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

5. On December 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a massive tsunami that devastated coastal areas in several countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. The disaster had a global impact, as people from Illinois and other parts of the world donated funds and resources to aid in relief efforts.