1) On January 26, 1789, the first successful presidential election was held in New York City. George Washington, who would become America's first president, was elected unanimously by the electoral college.

2) In 1837, on January 26, Michigan was admitted as the 26th state of the United States. This event played a significant role in the national debate over the expansion of slavery, as Michigan's constitution banned slavery within its borders.

3) January 26, 1861 marked the day that the New York State Legislature passed a law allowing enslaved individuals to be set free if their owners voluntarily manumitted them. This was a significant step toward the eventual abolition of slavery in the state.

4) On January 26, 1925, the world's largest opera house, the Metropolitan Opera House, opened in New York City. With a seating capacity of 4,000, the Met has been home to many of the world's greatest opera performances and performers.

5) January 26, 1979 saw the death of Nelson Rockefeller, who was a governor of New York and the Vice President of the United States under Gerald Ford. Rockefeller was a significant figure in New York politics and played an instrumental role in the creation of the State University of New York system.