This Day in History: October 26 Sees Last Naturally Occurring Case of Smallpox
This date spans the founding of the Football Association, the return of Uluru to its traditional owners and the last naturally occurring case of smallpox.
On October 26, 1977, a hospital worker in Somalia developed the rash that marked the world’s last known naturally occurring case of smallpox. Ali Maow Maalin survived, and health workers moved quickly to trace his contacts and prevent further infections. For centuries, smallpox had killed millions and left many survivors blind or permanently scarred. Its disappearance from natural circulation showed that coordinated vaccination, careful surveillance, and local cooperation could eliminate a human disease worldwide. The achievement still shapes public health: smallpox remains the only human infectious disease declared eradicated.
October 26 also connects the founding of modern football, changes in national sovereignty, a major Indigenous land-rights milestone, and a peace agreement in the Middle East. The events below follow their historical sequence.
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Major Historical Events
1863: The Football Association Is Founded
Representatives of English football clubs and schools met at the Freemasons’ Tavern in London on October 26, 1863, to establish the Football Association. At the time, football had no single accepted rulebook. Different groups disagreed about handling the ball, physical contact, and other basic features of play.
Over several meetings, the new association developed rules that helped distinguish association football from rugby. It did not invent every element of the game, but it provided a common framework that clubs could share. That standardization helped football spread internationally and become one of the world’s most widely played sports.
1905: Sweden Recognizes Norway’s Independence
Sweden formally recognized Norway as an independent kingdom on October 26, 1905, and King Oscar II relinquished his claim to the Norwegian throne. The two countries had shared a monarch since 1814, although Norway retained its own constitution and substantial domestic autonomy.
Disputes over foreign representation helped bring the union to an end. Norway’s parliament declared it dissolved in June, and a Norwegian referendum overwhelmingly supported separation. Negotiations then settled military and constitutional questions. The October recognition completed a largely peaceful separation, allowing both countries to develop as independent neighbors.
1947: Kashmir’s Ruler Signs an Instrument of Accession to India
Dated October 26, 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh’s Instrument of Accession committed the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir to India in specified areas, including defense and foreign affairs. The decision came during the upheaval following British India’s partition and an invasion by tribal forces from Pakistan.
India accepted the accession the following day and sent troops. Fighting developed into the first India-Pakistan war. The accession’s circumstances and the territory’s political future became subjects of lasting dispute. Kashmir remains divided among areas administered by India, Pakistan, and China, with competing claims continuing to influence regional relations.
1955: Austria Adopts Permanent Neutrality
Austria’s parliament approved a constitutional law declaring permanent neutrality on October 26, 1955. The country had recently regained full sovereignty after a decade of occupation by the four Allied powers following World War II.
The law committed Austria not to join military alliances or permit foreign military bases on its territory. Neutrality became a central part of its international identity, while Vienna developed as a venue for diplomacy and international organizations. October 26 is now Austria’s National Day.
1959: The Public Sees the Moon’s Far Side
The Soviet Union publicly released the first photographs of the Moon’s far side on October 26, 1959. Its Luna 3 spacecraft had taken the images earlier that month during a mission around the Moon.
Because the Moon keeps approximately the same face toward Earth, its far side had never been directly observed. Although the photographs were grainy, they revealed a landscape noticeably different from the familiar near side. The mission expanded lunar science and demonstrated the growing ability of robotic spacecraft to explore beyond Earth.
1977: Smallpox Reaches Its Last Natural Case
Maalin’s illness in the Somali port of Merca became a decisive moment in the smallpox eradication campaign. His case triggered intensive searches, monitoring, and vaccination around potential chains of infection.
No further naturally occurring cases were found. A fatal laboratory-associated infection occurred in Britain in 1978, so Maalin’s illness was not the final smallpox infection of any kind. The World Health Organization declared the disease eradicated in 1980. Maalin later worked in polio vaccination efforts before his death in 2013.
1985: Uluru Is Returned to Its Traditional Owners
On October 26, 1985, the Australian government handed title to Uluru and Kata Tjuta back to their Anangu traditional owners. The return recognized their enduring connection to a landscape of deep cultural and spiritual importance.
Under the arrangements, the land was leased back for use as a national park, with joint management involving Anangu representatives and Australian park authorities. The handover became an important milestone in Indigenous land rights and changed how the park’s cultural heritage was presented and protected.
1994: Israel and Jordan Sign a Peace Treaty
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordanian Prime Minister Abdelsalam al-Majali signed a peace treaty on October 26, 1994, in a ceremony attended by King Hussein and other international leaders.
The agreement formally ended the state of war between the countries and addressed borders, security, water, and diplomatic relations. Jordan became the second Arab country, after Egypt, to sign a peace treaty with Israel. Although the agreement did not resolve the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it established a lasting framework for relations between the two neighbors.
Notable Births
Domenico Scarlatti, born in 1685, became one of the great composers for keyboard instruments. His hundreds of sonatas, many written during his years on the Iberian Peninsula, expanded keyboard technique and blended formal composition with lively musical influences.
Ferdinand Georg Frobenius, born in 1849, was a German mathematician whose work helped establish important foundations of group theory and representation theory. These fields later became useful across mathematics and theoretical physics.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, born in 1919, ruled Iran as shah from 1941 until the 1979 revolution. His reign included major economic and social changes, close ties with Western powers, and authoritarian government. His overthrow transformed Iran’s political system and international relationships.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, born in 1947, served as a U.S. senator and secretary of state after her years as first lady. In 2016, she became the first woman nominated for president by a major American political party.
Sasha Cohen, born in 1984, became an American figure skater known for her flexibility and expressive performances. She won the women’s singles silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics and three World Championship medals.
Notable Deaths
Carlo Collodi died in 1890. The Italian writer created The Adventures of Pinocchio, whose wooden puppet became an internationally recognizable character. The story’s themes of responsibility, temptation, and growing up have inspired generations of adaptations.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton died in 1902. A leading American advocate for women’s rights, she helped organize the 1848 Seneca Falls convention and pressed for changes in voting rights, property law, education, and marriage.
Igor Sikorsky died in 1972. The Kyiv-born aviation engineer designed early large aircraft before emigrating to the United States. His later work helped make helicopters practical, supporting their use in transport, rescue, and other operations.
Across October 26, history moves between individual creativity and collective action.
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