1. On October 26, 1776, American forces led by General Horatio Gates defeated British troops led by General John Burgoyne in the Battle of Saratoga. This victory marked a turning point in the Revolutionary War and helped convince France to formally ally with America.

2. In 1810, the Green Mountain Boys, a militia group from Vermont, raided and captured the British brigantine HMS Gaspee, which was conducting illegal searches of American ships in the waters off the coast of Rhode Island.

3. On October 26, 1834, the first railroad in Vermont opened between Burlington and Charlotte. The line, which was known as the Champlain and Connecticut River Railroad, was later extended to other parts of the state and played a major role in Vermont's economic growth.

4. In 1868, St. Johnsbury Academy, a private boarding school in northeastern Vermont, was founded on October 26. Today, the school is known for its strong academic program and diverse student body.

5. On October 26, 1978, the first issue of the weekly newspaper Seven Days was published in Burlington. The paper, which is still in circulation, covers local news, arts and culture, and politics in the Burlington area.