<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>424B3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d424b3.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRO/SUPP  AMENDMENT #26
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                                                Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                           File Number 333-56406

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 26

                                  $829,823,000

                               DANAHER CORPORATION

                     LIQUID YIELD OPTION (TM) NOTES DUE 2021
                             (ZERO COUPON -- SENIOR)
                                       AND
                           COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON
                             CONVERSION OF THE LYONS

     This prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus dated March 16, 2001
of Danaher Corporation, as supplemented March 20, 2001, April 17, 2001, May 2,
2001, May 23, 2001, June 21, 2001, July 9, 2001, July 17, 2001, July 30, 2001,
August 14, 2001, August 27, 2001, August 28, 2001, October 10, 2001, October 23,
2001, November 6, 2001, November 27, 2001, December 11, 2001, January 2, 2002,
January 17, 2002, March 1, 2002, March 27, 2002, April 25, 2002, May 13, 2002,
May 23, 2002, August 21, 2002 and August 28, 2002 relating to the sale by
certain of our securityholders (including their pledgees, donees, assignees,
transferees, successors and others who later hold any of our securityholders'
interests) of up to $829,823,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of LYONs
and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the LYONs. You should read this
prospectus supplement in conjunction with the prospectus, and this prospectus
supplement is qualified by reference to the prospectus, except to the extent
that the information in this prospectus supplement supersedes the information
contained in the prospectus. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus
supplement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings specified in the
prospectus.

     The table of Selling Securityholders contained in the prospectus is hereby
amended to add the entities who are named below as selling securityholders.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Aggregate
                                        Principal Amount               Number of Shares
                                         at Maturity of   Percentage   of Common Stock    Percentage of
                                         LYONs That May    of LYONs       That May be      Common Stock
Name                                        be Sold       Outstanding       Sold(1)       Outstanding(2)
----                                    ----------------  -----------  ----------------  ---------------
<S>                                     <C>               <C>          <C>               <C>
Hartford Life Insurance Company             $36,344,000        4.4%          264,133            *
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

Additionally, the following represents updated information regarding the selling
securityholders listed in the Selling Securityholder table in the prospectus:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Aggregate
                                        Principal Amount               Number of Shares
                                         at Maturity of   Percentage   of Common Stock    Percentage of
                                         LYONs That May    of LYONs       That May be      Common Stock
Name                                        be Sold       Outstanding       Sold(1)       Outstanding(2)
----                                    ----------------  -----------  ----------------  ---------------
<S>                                     <C>               <C>          <C>               <C>
All other holders of LYONs or
future transferees, pledgees,
donees, assignees or successors
of any such holders (3)(4)                 $223,127,000       26.9%        1,621,597           1.1%
</TABLE>

----------------
*  Less than one percent (1%).
(1)  Assumes conversion of all of the holder's LYONs at a conversion rate of
     7.2676 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount at maturity of
     the LYONs. This conversion rate is subject to adjustment, however, as
     described under "Description of the LYONs--Conversion Rights." As a result,
     the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the LYONs
     may increase or decrease in the future.
(2)  Calculated based on Rule 13d-3(d)(i) of the Exchange Act, using 150,909,505
     shares of common stock outstanding as of March 25, 2002. In calculating
     this amount for each holder, we treated as outstanding the number of shares
     of common stock issuable upon conversion of all of that holder's LYONs, but
     we did not assume conversion of any other holder's LYONs.
(3)  Information about other selling securityholders will be set forth in
     prospectus supplements, if required.
(4)  Assumes that any other holders of LYONs, or any future pledgees, donees,
     assignees, transferees or successors of or from any such other holders of
     LYONs, do not beneficially own any shares of common stock other than the
     common stock issuable upon conversion of the LYONs at the initial
     conversion rate.

     Investing in the LYONs involves risks that are described in the "Risk
Factors Relating to the LYONs" section beginning on page 12 of the prospectus.

     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities
commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

          The date of this prospectus supplement is November 20, 2002.

(TM)Trademark of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>