1. In 1835, the first engagement of the Texas Revolution occurred on May 26 near Gonzales. Mexican troops attempted to take a cannon that the Texans had been given to defend themselves against Indian attacks. The Texans refused to relinquish the weapon, leading to a skirmish known as the Battle of Gonzales.

2. The University of Texas at Austin was established on May 26, 1883, and was originally named the "University of Texas," until additional campuses were established within the UT system. Today, it is one of the largest and most respected universities in the United States.

3. On May 26, 1894, the Supreme Court of Texas handed down its landmark decision in the case of San Antonio & A.P. Railway Company v. Uhlig, which established the doctrine of "res ipsa loquitur." This Latin phrase means "the thing speaks for itself" and refers to a legal presumption that negligence has occurred when an injury, accident, or other damaging event happens.

4. In 1941, the first flight of the B-25 Mitchell Bomber took place on May 26 at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. The B-25 played a key role in the Pacific Theater of World War II, including the famous Doolittle Raid on Japan in 1942.

5. May 26, 1954, marks the date of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision by the United States Supreme Court. The decision declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, paving the way for desegregation efforts throughout the country, including Texas.