On This Day — April 20

🕰️ Notable Events on April 20

• 2015 — Ten people are killed in a bomb attack on a convoy carrying food supplies to a United Nations compound in Garowe in the Somali region of Puntland. Wikipedia ↗
• 2013 — A 6.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Lushan County, Ya'an, in China's Sichuan province, killing more than 150 people and injuring thousands. Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — One hundred twenty-seven people are killed when a plane crashes in a residential area near the Benazir Bhutto International Airport near Islamabad, Pakistan. Wikipedia ↗
• 2010 — The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill that would last six months. Wikipedia ↗
• 2008 — Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 becoming the first female driver in history to win an Indy car race. Wikipedia ↗
• 2007 — Johnson Space Center shooting: William Phillips with a handgun barricades himself in NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas before killing a male hostage and himself. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — Columbine High School massacre: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 people and injured 24 others before committing suicide at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Apollo 16, commanded by John Young, lands on the moon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — English politician Enoch Powell makes his controversial Rivers of Blood speech. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Failure of the Bay of Pigs Invasion of US-backed Cuban exiles against Cuba. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — The League of Nations officially dissolves, giving most of its power to the United Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: US troops capture Leipzig, Germany, only to later cede the city to the Soviet Union. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: Führerbunker: Adolf Hitler makes his last trip to the surface to award Iron Crosses to boy soldiers of the Hitler Youth. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Twenty Jewish children used in medical experiments at Neuengamme are killed in the basement of the Bullenhuser Damm school. Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — The Soviet government creates South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within Georgian SSR. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Manfred von Richthofen, a.k.a. The Red Baron, shoots down his 79th and 80th victims, his final victories before his death the following day. Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — The Chicago Cubs play their first game at Weeghman Park (currently Wrigley Field), defeating the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings. Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Nineteen men, women, and children die in the Ludlow Massacre during a Colorado coal-miner's strike. Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Opening day for baseball's Tiger Stadium in Detroit, and Fenway Park in Boston. Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Opening day of competition in the New South Wales Rugby League. Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Pierre and Marie Curie refine radium chloride. Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — President William McKinley signed a joint resolution to Congress for declaration of War against Spain, beginning the Spanish-American War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1884 — Pope Leo XIII publishes the encyclical Humanum genus. Wikipedia ↗
• 1876 — The April Uprising begins. Its suppression shocks European opinion, and Bulgarian independence becomes a condition for ending the Russo-Turkish War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — Astronomer Angelo Secchi demonstrates the Secchi disk, which measures water clarity, aboard Pope Pius IX's yacht, the L'Immaculata Concezion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard complete the experiment falsifying the theory of spontaneous generation. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1836 — U.S. Congress passes an act creating the Wisconsin Territory. Wikipedia ↗
• 1828 — René Caillié becomes the second non-Muslim to enter, and the first to return from, Timbuktu, following Major Gordon Laing. Wikipedia ↗
• 1826 — Major Gordon Laing becomes the first non-Muslim to enter Timbuktu. Wikipedia ↗
• 1818 — The case of Ashford v Thornton ends, with Abraham Thornton allowed to go free rather than face a retrial for murder, after his demand for trial by battle is upheld. Wikipedia ↗
• 1810 — The Governor of Caracas declares independence from Spain. Wikipedia ↗
• 1809 — Two Austrian army corps in Bavaria are defeated by a First French Empire army led by Napoleon at the Battle of Abensberg on the second day of a four-day campaign that ended in a French victory. Wikipedia ↗
• 1800 — The Septinsular Republic is established. Wikipedia ↗
• 1792 — France declares war against the "King of Hungary and Bohemia", the beginning of French Revolutionary Wars. Wikipedia ↗
• 1789 — George Washington arrives at Grays Ferry, Philadelphia while en route to Manhattan for his inauguration. Wikipedia ↗
• 1775 — American Revolutionary War: The Siege of Boston begins, following the battles at Lexington and Concord. Wikipedia ↗
• 1770 — The Georgian king, Erekle II, abandoned by his Russian ally Count Totleben, wins a victory over Ottoman forces at Aspindza. Wikipedia ↗
• 1752 — Start of Konbaung-Hanthawaddy War, a new phase in the Burmese Civil War (1740-57). Wikipedia ↗
• 1689 — Deposed monarch James II of England lays siege to Derry. Wikipedia ↗
• 1657 — Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish silver fleet under heavy fire at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Wikipedia ↗
• 1657 — Freedom of religion is granted to the Jews of New Amsterdam (later New York City). Wikipedia ↗
• 1653 — Oliver Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament. Wikipedia ↗
• 1535 — The sun dog phenomenon observed over Stockholm and depicted in the famous painting Vädersolstavlan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1534 — Jacques Cartier begins his first voyage to what is today the east coast of Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador. Wikipedia ↗
• 1453 — Three Genoese galleys and a Byzantine blockade runner fight their way through an Ottoman blockading fleet a few weeks before the fall of Constantinople. Wikipedia ↗
• 1303 — The Sapienza University of Rome is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on April 20

• 1995 — Jean Marie Dongou, Cameroonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Kristian Álvarez, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Marko Meerits, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Luhan, Chinese singer, actor and ex-member of Korean boy band EXO (band). Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Carlos Valdes, Colombian-American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Brandon Belt, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Curt Hawkins, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Brent Seabrook, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Nelson Évora, Ivorian-Portuguese triple jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Edixon Perea, Colombian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Jenna Shoemaker, American triathlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Danny Granger, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Miranda Kerr, Australian model Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Jacqueline Govaert, Dutch singer-songwriter and pianist Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Dario Knežević, Croatian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Gunta Baško, Latvian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Ludovic Magnin, Swiss footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Nate Marquardt, American mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Aldo Bobadilla, Paraguayan footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Shay Given, Irish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Chris Mason, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Urmas Paet, Estonian journalist and politician, 26th Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Lamond Murray, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Lê Huỳnh Đức, Vietnamese footballer, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Carmen Electra, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Željko Joksimović, Serbian singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Stephen Marley, American singer, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Carla Geurts, Dutch swimmer, physiologist, and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Allan Houston, American basketball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Nikos Kyzeridis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Sarantuya, Mongolian soprano Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Avishai Cohen, Israeli singer-songwriter and bassist Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Shemar Moore, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Felix Baumgartner, Austrian skydiver and BASE jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Will Hodgman, Australian politician, 45th Premier of Tasmania Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Yelena Välbe, Russian skier and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Roman Virastyuk, Ukrainian shot putter Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Mike Portnoy, American drummer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Raymond van Barneveld, Dutch darts player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — David Chalmers, Australian philosopher and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — David Filo, American businessman, co-founded Yahoo! Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Vincent Riendeau, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Kostis Chatzidakis, Greek politician, Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Adrián Fernández, Mexican race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Crispin Glover, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Andy Serkis, English actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Rosalynn Sumners, American figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Maurício Gugelmin, Brazilian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Rachel Whiteread, English sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Don Mattingly, American baseball player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Debbie Flintoff-King, Australian hurdler and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Viacheslav Fetisov, Russian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Beatrice Ask, Swedish politician, Swedish Minister for Justice Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Kakha Bendukidze, Georgian economist and politician, Georgian Minister of Economy (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Donald Pettit, American engineer and astronaut Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Sebastian Faulks, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Louka Katseli, Greek economist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Božidar Maljković, Serbian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Eric Pickles, English politician, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Luther Vandross, American singer-songwriter and producer (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Steve Erickson, American author and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Alexander Lebed, Russian general and politician (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — N. Chandrababu Naidu, Indian politician, 13th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Veronica Cartwright, English-American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Toller Cranston, Canadian-Mexican figure skater and painter (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Massimo D'Alema, Italian journalist and politician, 76th Prime Minister of Italy Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Jessica Lange, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Gregory Itzin, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Matthias Kuhle, German geographer and academic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Rita Dionne-Marsolais, Canadian economist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — David Leland, English actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Viktor Suvorov, Russian intelligence officer, historian, and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Andrew Tobias, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Sandro Chia, Italian painter and sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Tommy Hutton, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Julien Poulin, Canadian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Gordon Smiley, American race car driver (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Michael Brandon, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Alistair Cooke, Baron Lexden, English historian and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Thein Sein, Burmese general and politician, 8th President of Burma Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Steve Spurrier, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Naftali Temu, Kenyan runner (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Toivo Aare, Estonian journalist and author (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Alan Beith, English academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — John Eliot Gardiner, English conductor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Edie Sedgwick, American model and actress (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Giles Henderson, English lawyer and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Arto Paasilinna, Finnish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Ryan O'Neal, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — James Gammon, American actor (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Peter S. Beagle, American author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norwegian physician and politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Norway Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Johnny Tillotson, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Betty Cuthbert, Australian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Manfred Kinder, German runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Peter Snow, British historian and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Eszter Tamási, Hungarian actress (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Jiří Dienstbier, Czech journalist and politician, Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Antonios Kounadis, Greek discus thrower Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Harvey Quaytman, American painter and educator (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — George Takei, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Pauli Ellefsen, Faroese technician, surveyor, and politician, 6th Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Pat Roberts, American captain, journalist, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Christopher Robinson, English organist and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Michael Allenby, 3rd Viscount Allenby, English lieutenant and politician (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — John Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles, English businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Dwight Gustafson, American composer and conductor (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Antony Jay, English director and screenwriter (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Harry Agganis, American baseball and football player (d. 1955) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Bobby Hollander, American film director, actor, and magazine publisher (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Robert Byrne, American chess player and author (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Johnny Gavin, Irish footballer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Bud Cullen, Canadian judge and politician, 1st Canadian Minister of Employment and Immigration (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Phil Hill, American race car driver (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — K. Alex Müller, Swiss physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Ernie Stautner, German-American football player and coach (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Elena Verdugo, American actress (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Nina Foch, Dutch-American actress (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Leslie Phillips, English actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Guy Rocher, Canadian sociologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Mother Angelica, American nun and broadcaster, founded Eternal Word Television Network (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Irene Lieblich, Polish-American painter and illustrator (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Tito Puente, American drummer and producer (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Frances Ames, South African neurologist, psychiatrist, and human rights activist (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Clement Isong, Nigerian banker and politician, Governor of Cross River State (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Ronald Speirs, American colonel (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — John Paul Stevens, American lawyer and jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Richard Hillary, Australian lieutenant and pilot (d. 1943) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Kai Siegbahn, Swedish physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Nasiba Zeynalova, Azerbaijani actress (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Joseph Wolpe, South African-American psychotherapist and physician (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Betty Lou Gerson, American actress (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Mimis Fotopoulos, Greek actor and poet (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Willi Hennig, German biologist and entomologist (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Roger Rochard, French runner (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, Turkish diplomat and politician (d. 1961) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Lionel Hampton, African-American vibraphone player, pianist, bandleader, and actor (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Miran Bux, Pakistani cricketer (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Augoustinos Kantiotes, Greek bishop (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Bruce Cabot, American actor (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Alan Arnett McLeod, Canadian lieutenant, Victoria Cross recipient (d. 1918) Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Wop May, Canadian captain and pilot (d. 1952) Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Emile Christian, American trombonist and composer (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Henry de Montherlant, French essayist, novelist, and dramatist (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Harold Lloyd, American actor, comedian, and producer (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Joan Miró, Spanish painter and sculptor (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — Dave Bancroft, American baseball player and manager (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Maurice Duplessis, Canadian lawyer and politician, 16th Premier of Quebec (d. 1959) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Adolf Schärf, Austrian soldier and politician, 6th President of Austria (d. 1965) Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — Albert Jean Amateau, Turkish rabbi, lawyer, and activist (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — Prince Erik, Duke of Västmanland (d. 1918) Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — Marie-Antoinette de Geuser, French mystic (d. 1918) Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — Adolf Hitler, Austrian-German soldier and politician, Chancellor of Germany (d. 1945) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on April 20 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on April 20

✡️ Religious Observances

• Islamic: Birth of Sharafuddin ad-Daghestani (ق)

🏀 Sports

• NBA: Portland Trail Blazers @ San Antonio Spurs — 01:00
• NHL: Utah Mammoth @ Vegas Golden Knights — 02:22
• MLB: Detroit Tigers @ Boston Red Sox — 15:10
• Serie A: Fiorentina @ Lecce — 18:45
• Premier League: West Ham United @ Crystal Palace — 19:00
• MLB: Houston Astros @ Cleveland Guardians — 22:10