On This Day — February 20

🕰️ Notable Events on February 20

• 2016 — Six people are killed and two injured in multiple shooting incidents in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Wikipedia ↗
• 2015 — Two trains collide in the Swiss town of Rafz resulting in as many as 49 people injured and Swiss Federal Railways cancelling some services. Wikipedia ↗
• 2014 — Dozens of Euromaidan anti-government protesters died in Ukraine's capital Kiev, many reportedly killed by snipers. Wikipedia ↗
• 2010 — In Madeira Island, Portugal, heavy rain causes floods and mudslides, resulting in at least 43 deaths, in the worst disaster in the history of the archipelago. Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — Two Tamil Tigers aircraft packed with C4 explosives en route to the national airforce headquarters are shot down by the Sri Lankan military before reaching their target, in a kamikaze style attack. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — During a Great White concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island, a pyrotechnics display sets the Station nightclub ablaze, killing 100 and injuring over 200 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — American figure skater Tara Lipinski becomes the youngest gold-medalist at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — In the Albanian capital Tirana, a gigantic statue of Albania's long-time leader, Enver Hoxha, is brought down by mobs of angry protesters. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast votes to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia, triggering the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — The Soviet Union launches its Mir spacecraft. Remaining in orbit for 15 years, it is occupied for ten of those years. Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Earthquake cracks Sinila volcanic crater in Dieng Plateau, releases poisonous H2S gas and kills 149 villagers in Indonesian province of Central Java. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — The United States Emergency Broadcast System is accidentally activated in an erroneous national alert. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Ranger 8 crashes into the Moon after a successful mission of photographing possible landing sites for the Apollo program astronauts. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Mercury program: While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth, making three orbits in four hours, 55 minutes. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate. Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — The United States Merchant Marine Academy becomes a permanent Service Academy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Emmett Ashford becomes the first African-American umpire in organized baseball by being authorized to be a substitute umpire in the Southwestern International League. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: The "Big Week" began with American bomber raids on German aircraft manufacturing centers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: The United States takes Eniwetok Island. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — American movie studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor movies. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — The Saturday Evening Post publishes the first of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms in support of United States President Franklin Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union address theme of Four Freedoms. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Lieutenant Edward O'Hare becomes America's first World War II flying ace. Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Caroline Mikkelsen becomes the first woman to set foot in Antarctica. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — The Congress of the United States proposes the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution that will end Prohibition in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Adolf Hitler secretly meets with German industrialists to arrange for financing of the Nazi Party's upcoming election campaign. Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — The Congress of the United States approves the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge by the state of California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — King O'Malley drives in the first survey peg to mark commencement of work on the construction of Canberra. Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Publication of the Futurist Manifesto in the French journal Le Figaro. Wikipedia ↗
• 1901 — The legislature of Hawaii Territory convenes for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1877 — Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake receives its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Wikipedia ↗
• 1872 — The Metropolitan Museum of Art opens in New York City. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — End of the Uruguayan War, with a peace agreement between President Tomás Villalba and rebel leader Venancio Flores, setting the scene for the destructive War of the Triple Alliance. Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — American Civil War: Battle of Olustee: The largest battle fought in Florida during the war. Wikipedia ↗
• 1846 — Polish insurgents lead an uprising in Kraków to incite a fight for national independence. Wikipedia ↗
• 1835 — The 1835 Concepción earthquake destroys Concepción, Chile. Wikipedia ↗
• 1816 — Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville premieres at the Teatro Argentina in Rome. Wikipedia ↗
• 1813 — Manuel Belgrano defeats the royalist army of Pío de Tristán during the Battle of Salta. Wikipedia ↗
• 1810 — Andreas Hofer, Tirolean patriot and leader of rebellion against Napoleon's forces, is executed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1798 — Louis-Alexandre Berthier removes Pope Pius VI from power. Wikipedia ↗
• 1792 — The Postal Service Act, establishing the United States Post Office Department, is signed by United States President George Washington. Wikipedia ↗
• 1685 — René-Robert Cavelier establishes Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay thus forming the basis for France's claim to Texas. Wikipedia ↗
• 1547 — Edward VI of England is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. Wikipedia ↗
• 1472 — Orkney and Shetland are pawned by Norway to Scotland in lieu of a dowry for Margaret of Denmark. Wikipedia ↗
• 1339 — The Milanese army and the St. George's (San Giorgio) Mercenaries of Lodrisio Visconti clashed in the Battle of Parabiago. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on February 20

• 1994 — Elseid Hysaj, Albanian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Kyle Turner, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Giovanni Kyeremateng, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Angelique van der Meet, Dutch tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Antonio Pedroza, English-Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Jocelyn Rae, English-Scottish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Hidilyn Diaz, Filipino weightlifter Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Ciro Immobile, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Hiphop Tamizha Adhi, Indian Tamil Musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Daly Cherry-Evans, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Kealoha Pilares, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Ki Bo-bae, South Korean archer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Rihanna, Barbadian-American singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Luke Burgess, English rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Miles Teller, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Ryan Sweeney, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Julia Volkova, Russian singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Brian McCann, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Trevor Noah, South African comedian, actor, and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ramzee Robinson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Jose Morales, Puerto Rican-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Justin Verlander, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Jason Hirsh, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Tony Hibbert, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Fred Jackson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Imanol Harinordoquy, French rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Luis Gabriel Rey, Colombian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Lauren Ambrose, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Stephon Marbury, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Gail Kim, Canadian professional wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Liván Hernández, Cuban baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Brian Littrell, American singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Niclas Wallin, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Karim Bagheri, Iranian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Neil Primrose, Scottish drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Calpernia Addams, American actress, author, and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Jari Litmanen, Finnish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Joost van der Westhuizen, South African rugby player (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Kjell Ove Hauge, Norwegian school principal and track and field athlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Siniša Mihajlović, Serbian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Danis Tanović, Bosnian director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Paul Accola, Swiss alpine skier Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Kurt Cobain, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — David Herman, American comedian and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Andrew Shue, American actor and activist, founded Do Something Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Lili Taylor, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Tom Waddle, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Cindy Crawford, American model and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Willie Garson, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Tom Harris, Scottish journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Jeff Maggert, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — French Stewart, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Charles Barkley, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Ian Brown, English singer-songwriter and musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Joakim Nystrom, Swedish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou, Greek lawyer and politician, Greek Minister of Health Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Dwayne McDuffie, American author, screenwriter, and producer, co-founded Milestone Media (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Steve Lundquist, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Joel Hodgson, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Cándido Muatetema Rivas, Equatoguinean politician and diplomat, Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Scott Brayton, American race car driver (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — David Corn, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Bill Gullickson, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Glen Hanlon, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Jon Brant, American bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Anthony Head, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Patty Hearst, American actress and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Poison Ivy, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Edward Albert, American actor (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Gordon Brown, Scottish historian and politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Randy California, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Phil Neal, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Walter Becker, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Peter Marinello, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Tony Wilson, English journalist and businessman (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Eddie Hemmings, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Ivana Trump, Czech-American socialite and model Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Pierre Bouchard, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Jennifer O'Neill, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Peter Osgood, English footballer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Peter Strauss, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Brenda Blethyn, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Sandy Duncan, American actress, singer, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — J. Geils, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Alan Hull, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Robert de Cotret, Canadian economist and politician, 56th Secretary of State for Canada (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Lew Soloff, American trumpet player, composer, and actor (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Willem van Hanegem, Dutch footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Antonio Inoki, Japanese wrestler, mixed martial artist, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Mike Leigh, English director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Phil Esposito, Canadian ice hockey player, coach, and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Mitch McConnell, American lawyer, and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Claude Miller, French director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Lim Kit Siang, Malaysian lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Buffy Sainte-Marie, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Richard Beymer, American actor, director, and cinematographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Wiley W. Hilburn, American journalist and academic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — David Ackles, American singer-songwriter and actor (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Robert Huber, German biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Roger Penske, American race car driver and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Robert Evans, Australian minister and amateur astronomer Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Nancy Wilson, American singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Marj Dusay, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Larry Hovis, American actor and singer (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Shigeo Nagashima, Japanese baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Ellen Gilchrist American novelist, short story writer, and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Bobby Unser, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Adrian Cristobal, Filipino journalist and author (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — John Milnor, American mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Amanda Blake, American actress (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Roy Face, American baseball player and carpenter Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Jean Kennedy Smith, American diplomat, 25th United States Ambassador to Ireland Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Roy Cohn, American lawyer and political activist (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Ibrahim Ferrer, Cuban singer and musician (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Sidney Poitier, Bahamian-American actor, director, and diplomat Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Matthew Bucksbaum, American businessman and philanthropist, co-founded General Growth Properties (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Gillian Lynne, English ballerina, choreographer, and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Richard Matheson, American author and screenwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — María de la Purísima Salvat Romero, Spanish Roman Catholic nun; later canonized (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Robert Altman, American director and screenwriter (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Tochinishiki Kiyotaka, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 44th Yokozuna (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Gloria Vanderbilt, American actress and fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Victor G. Atiyeh, American businessman and politician, 32nd Governor of Oregon (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Forbes Burnham, Guyanese lawyer and politician, 2nd President of Guyana (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Rena Vlahopoulou, Greek actress (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Buddy Rogers, American wrestler (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Karl Albrecht, German businessman, co-founded Aldi (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — James O'Meara, English soldier and pilot (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Leonore Annenberg, American businesswoman and diplomat (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Jean Erdman, American dancer and choreographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — John Charles Daly, South African-American journalist and game show host (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Tommy Henrich, American baseball player and sportscaster (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Pierre Boulle, French soldier and author (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Gale Gordon, American actor (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Alexei Kosygin, Russian soldier and politician, 8th Premier of the Soviet Union (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1901 — René Dubos, French-American biologist and author (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1901 — Louis Kahn, American architect, designed the Salk Institute, the Kimbell Art Museum and the Bangladesh Parliament Building (d. 1974) Wikipedia ↗
• 1901 — Muhammad Naguib, Egyptian general and politician, 1st President of Egypt (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1901 — Ramakrishna Ranga Rao of Bobbili, Indian lawyer and politician, 6th Chief Minister of Madras Presidency (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, American businessman and philanthropist (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1895 — Louis Zborowski, English race car driver and engineer (d. 1924) Wikipedia ↗
• 1893 — Elizabeth Holloway Marston, American psychologist and author (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — Hulusi Behçet, Turkish dermatologist and physician (d. 1948) Wikipedia ↗
• 1888 — Georges Bernanos, French soldier and author (d. 1948) Wikipedia ↗
• 1887 — Vincent Massey, Canadian lawyer and politician, 18th Governor General of Canada (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1880 — Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen, French author and poet (d. 1923) Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — Hod Stuart, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1907) Wikipedia ↗
• 1874 — Mary Garden, Scottish-American soprano and actress (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1870 — Jay Johnson Morrow, American engineer and politician, 3rd Governor of the Panama Canal Zone (d. 1937) Wikipedia ↗
• 1867 — Louise, Princess Royal of England (d. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 1866 — Carl Westman, Swedish architect, designed the Stockholm Court House and Röhsska Museum (d. 1936) Wikipedia ↗
• 1857 — A. P. Lucas, English cricketer (d. 1923) Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — E. H. Harriman, American businessman and philanthropist (d. 1909) Wikipedia ↗
• 1844 — Ludwig Boltzmann, Austrian physicist and philosopher (d. 1906) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on February 20 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on February 20

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Mùng bốn Tết Nguyên Đán (VN) · 休息日（由 2026-02-14 调休） (CN) · 農曆除夕（補假） (TW)