On This Day — December 20

🕰️ Notable Events on December 20

• 2013 — China successfully launches the Bolivian Túpac Katari 1 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Wikipedia ↗
• 2007 — Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years, 7 months and 29 days. Wikipedia ↗
• 2007 — The Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904), by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, and O Lavrador de Café by Brazilian modernist painter Cândido Portinari, are stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — A gang of thieves steal £26.5 million worth of currency from the Donegall Square West headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, one of the largest bank robberies in British history. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — Macau is handed over to China by Portugal. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — NATO begins peacekeeping in Bosnia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — American Airlines Flight 965, a Boeing 757, crashes into a mountain 50 km north of Cali, Colombia killing 159. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — A Missouri court sentences the Palestinian militant Zein Isa and his wife Maria to death for the honor killing of their daughter Palestina. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — The United States invasion of Panama deposes Manuel Noriega. Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — In the worst peacetime sea disaster, the passenger ferry Doña Paz sinks after colliding with the oil tanker Vector in the Tablas Strait in the Philippines, killing an estimated 4,000 people (1,749 official). Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Pope John Paul II announces the institution of World Youth Day. Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — The Summit Tunnel fire is the largest underground fire in history, as a freight train carrying over 1 million liters of gasoline derails near the town of Todmorden, England, in the Pennines. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — The Prime Minister of Spain, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco, is assassinated by a car bomb attack in Madrid. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — The international aid organization Doctors Without Borders is founded by Bernard Kouchner and a group of journalists in Paris, France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — The Zodiac Killer kills Betty Lou Jenson and David Faraday in Vallejo, California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — A Pennsylvania Railroad Budd Metroliner exceeds 155 mph on their New York Division, also present day Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — The initial production version of the Boeing 707 makes its first flight. Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Cardiff is proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — A United States Air Force C-124 crashes and burns in Moses Lake, Washington killing 87. Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — The EBR-1 in Arco, Idaho becomes the first nuclear power plant to generate electricity. The electricity powered four light bulbs. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — The popular Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life is first released in New York City. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — World War II: Japanese air forces bomb Calcutta, India. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: First battle of the American Volunteer Group, better known as the "Flying Tigers" in Kunming, China. Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Adolf Hitler is released from Landsberg Prison Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Cheka, the first Soviet secret police force, is founded. Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — World War I: The battle of Verdun results in a French victory after more than 9 months of intense fighting. Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — World War I: The last Australian troops are evacuated from Gallipoli. Wikipedia ↗
• 1860 — South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1832 — HMS Clio under the command of Captain Onslow arrives at Port Egmont under orders to take possession of the Falkland Islands Wikipedia ↗
• 1808 — Peninsular War: The Siege of Zaragoza begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1803 — The Louisiana Purchase is completed at a ceremony in New Orleans. Wikipedia ↗
• 1606 — The Virginia Company loads three ships with settlers and sets sail to establish Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Wikipedia ↗
• 1522 — Siege of Rhodes: Suleiman the Magnificent accepts the surrender of the surviving Knights of Rhodes, who are allowed to evacuate. They eventually settle on Malta and become known as the Knights of Malta. Wikipedia ↗
• 1334 — Pope Benedict XII is elected. Wikipedia ↗
• 1192 — Richard I of England is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England after the Third Crusade. Wikipedia ↗
• 217 — Callixtus I is elected as the sixteenth pope, although Hippolytus of Rome is soon thereafter elected as a rival pope. Wikipedia ↗
• Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 20

• 1997 — Suzuka Nakamoto, Japanese singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Robeisy Ramírez, Cuban boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Ksenia Makarova, Russian-American figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Jillian Rose Reed, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Fabian Schär, Swiss footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — JoJo, American singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Leeson Ah Mau, New Zealand-Samoan rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Andrés Bottiglieri, Italian-Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Yutaka Otsuka, Japanese baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Gilbert Kirwa, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Nikolaos Karabelas, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Jonah Hill, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Darren Sammy, Saint Lucian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Mohammad Asif, Pakistani cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — David Cook, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Kasper Klausen, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — David Wright, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Royal Ivey, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Darya Pchelnik, Belarusian hammer thrower Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — James Shields, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Roy Williams, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Israel Castro, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Ashley Cole, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Anthony da Silva, French-Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Martín Demichelis, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Fitz Hall, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — David DeJesus, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Michael Rogers, Australian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Ramón Rodríguez, Puerto Rican-American actor and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Andrei Markov, Russian-Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Geremi Njitap, Cameroon footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Bouabdellah Tahri, French runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Kerem Kabadayı, Turkish drummer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Aubrey Huff, American baseball player and radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Adam Powell, Welsh game designer and businessman, co-founded Meteor Games Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Ramon Stoppelenburg, Dutch businessman and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Nenad Vučković, Croatian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Bartosz Bosacki, Polish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Die, Japanese guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Paul Linger, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Jacqui Oatley, British Sports presenter Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Maarja Kangro, Estonian author and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — David Nedohin, Canadian curler and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Cory Stillman, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Sarah Jones, British politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Anders Odden, Norwegian guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Anja Rücker, German sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Gen Urobuchi, Japanese writer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Roger J. Beaujard, American guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Grant Flower, Zimbabwean cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Alister McRae, Scottish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Jörg Schmidt, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Alain de Botton, Swiss-English philosopher and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Zahra Ouaziz, Moroccan runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Bobby Phills, American basketball player (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Joe Cornish, English actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Karl Wendlinger, Austrian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Matt Neal, English race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Veronica Pershina, Russian-American figure skater and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Chris Robinson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Robert Cavanah, Scottish actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Rich Gannon, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mark Coleman, American mixed martial artist and wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Mohammad Fouad, Egyptian singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Mike Keneally, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Freddie Spencer, American motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Nalo Hopkinson, Jamaican-Canadian author and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Kim Ki-duk, South Korean director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — George Coupland, Scottish scientist Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Hildegard Körner, German runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Jackie Fox, an American musician who played bass guitar for the pioneering all-girl teenage rock band the Runaways. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, Polish physicist and politician, 12th Prime Minister of Poland Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Trent Tucker, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Doug Nordquist, American high jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — James Thomson, American biologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Billy Bragg, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Anna Vissi, Cypriot singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Mike Watt, American singer-songwriter and bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritanian general and politician, President of Mauritania Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Guy Babylon, American keyboard player and songwriter (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Blanche Baker, American actress and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Junji Hirata, Japanese wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Andrew Mackenzie, Scottish geologist and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Anita Ward, American disco/R&B singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — David Breashears, American mountaineer, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Binali Yıldırım, Turkish lawyer and politician, Turkish Minister of Transport Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Martin Schulz, German politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Michael Badalucco, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Sandra Cisneros, American author and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Jenny Agutter, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Peter May, Scottish author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Nuala O'Loan, Baroness O'Loan, Northern Irish academic and police ombudsman Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Marta Russell, American author and activist (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Lynne Featherstone, English blogger and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Christopher Le Brun, English painter and sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Geoffrey Grimmett, English mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Arturo Márquez, Mexican-American composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Soumaïla Cissé, Malian engineer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Cecil Cooper, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Oscar Gamble, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Alan Parsons, English keyboard player and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Carol Smart, English sociologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Mitsuko Uchida, Japanese-British pianist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Roger Alton, English journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Gigliola Cinquetti, Italian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Bo Ryan, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Stevie Wright, English-Australian singer-songwriter (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Uri Geller, Israeli-English magician and psychic Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Lloyd Mumphord, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Sonny Perdue, American captain and politician, 81st Governor of Georgia Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Dick Wolf, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Peter Criss, American singer-songwriter, drummer, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Sivakant Tiwari, Indian-Singaporean lawyer and author (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Bobby Colomby, American drummer and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Ray Martin, Australian television host and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Rana Bhagwandas, Pakistani lawyer and judge, Chief Justice of Pakistan (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Bob Hayes, American sprinter and football player (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Michael P. Johnson, American sociologist Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Jean-Claude Trichet, French banker and economist Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Pat Chapman, English chef and author, founded The Curry Club Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Kathryn Joosten, American actress (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Kim Weston, American soul singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Khalid Ibadulla, Pakistani cricketer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Jean Carnahan, American author and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Olavi Salonen, Finnish runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Rik Van Looy, Belgian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — John Hillerman, American actor (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Mala Powers, American actress (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Michael Beaumont, 22nd Seigneur of Sark, English engineer and politician (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Charlie Callas, American actor and comedian (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Jim Simpson, American sportscaster (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Kim Young-sam, South Korean soldier and politician, 7th President of South Korea (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Geoffrey Howe, Welsh lawyer and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Otto Graf Lambsdorff, German lawyer and politician, German Federal Minister of Economics (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Benito Lorenzi, Italian footballer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Judy LaMarsh, Canadian soldier, lawyer, and politician, 42nd Secretary of State for Canada (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — George Roy Hill, American director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Beverly Pepper, American sculptor and painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Jean Marchand, Canadian trade union leader and politician, 43rd Secretary of State for Canada (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — David Bohm, American-English physicist, neuropsychologist, and philosopher (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Cahit Külebi, Turkish poet and author (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Audrey Totter, American actress (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Michel Chartrand, Canadian trade union leader and activist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Aziz Nesin, Turkish author and poet (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Harry F. Byrd, Jr., American lieutenant, publisher, and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Hortense Calisher, American author (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Vakkom Majeed, Indian journalist and politician (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Dennis Morgan, American actor and singer (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Paul Francis Webster, American soldier and songwriter (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Bill O'Reilly, Australian cricketer and sportscaster (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Spud Davis, American baseball player, coach, and manager (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Yevgenia Ginzburg, Russian author (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Prince George, Duke of Kent (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Sidney Hook, American philosopher and author (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1901 — Robert J. Van de Graaff, American physicist and academic, invented the Van de Graaff generator (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Lissy Arna, German film actress (d. 1964) Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Welsh preacher and physician (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Konstantinos Dovas, Greek general and politician, 156th Prime Minister of Greece (d. 1973) Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Irene Dunne, American actress and singer (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1894 — Robert Menzies, Australian lawyer and politician, 12th Prime Minister of Australia (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — Erik Almlöf, Swedish triple jumper (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Yvonne Arnaud, French pianist, actress and singer (d. 1958) Wikipedia ↗
• 1890 — Jaroslav Heyrovský, Czech chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 20 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on December 20

✡️ Religious Observances

• Jewish: Asara B’Tevet