On This Day — July 20

🕰️ Notable Events on July 20

• 2017 — O.J. Simpson is granted parole to be released from prison after serving nine years of a 33-year sentence after being convicted of armed robbery in Las Vegas. Wikipedia ↗
• 2015 — A huge explosion in the mostly Kurdish border town of Suruç, Turkey, targeting the Socialist Youth Associations Federation, kills at least 31 people and injures over 100. Wikipedia ↗
• 2015 — The United States and Cuba resume full diplomatic relations after five decades. Wikipedia ↗
• 2013 — Seventeen government soldiers are killed in an attack by FARC revolutionaries in the Colombian department of Arauca. Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — James Holmes opened fire at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 and injuring 70 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Canada legalized same-sex marriage, being the fourth country in the world to do so.
• 1999 — The Chinese Communist Party begins a persecution campaign against Falun Gong, arresting thousands nationwide. Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — The fully restored USS Constitution (a.k.a. Old Ironsides) celebrates its 200th birthday by setting sail for the first time in 116 years. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Václav Havel resigns as president of Czechoslovakia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Burma's ruling junta puts opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest. Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — The government of Aruba passes legislation to secede from the Netherlands Antilles. Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings: The Provisional IRA detonates two bombs in Hyde Park and Regent's Park in central London, killing eight soldiers, wounding forty-seven people, and leading to the deaths of seven horses. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — The Central Intelligence Agency releases documents under the Freedom of Information Act revealing it had engaged in mind-control experiments. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — A flash flood hits Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on this day in 1977, killing 84 people and causing millions of dollars in damages.
• 1976 — The American Viking 1 lander successfully lands on Mars. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Turkish occupation of Cyprus: Forces from Turkey invade Cyprus after a coup d'état, organised by the dictator of Greece, against president Makarios. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Apollo program: Apollo 11's crew successfully makes the first manned landing on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon (July 21 UTC). Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — A cease fire is announced between Honduras and El Salvador, six days after the beginning of the "Football War". Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — The first International Special Olympics Summer Games are held at Soldier Field in Chicago, with about 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Vietnam War: Viet Cong forces attack the capital of Định Tường Province, Cái Bè, killing 11 South Vietnamese military personnel and 40 civilians (30 of whom are children). Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — French military forces break the Tunisian siege of Bizerte. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) elects Sirimavo Bandaranaike Prime Minister, the world's first elected female head of government. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — The Polaris missile is successfully launched from a submarine, the USS George Washington, for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Germany: Otto John, head of West Germany's secret service, defects to East Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — King Abdullah I of Jordan is assassinated by a Palestinian while attending Friday prayers in Jerusalem. Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Cold War: In Philadelphia, Harry Gold pleads guilty to spying for the Soviet Union by passing secrets from atomic scientist Klaus Fuchs. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Israel and Syria sign a truce to end their nineteen-month war. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Adolf Hitler survives an assassination attempt led by German Army Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Soviet leader Joseph Stalin consolidates the Commissariats of Home Affairs and National Security to form the NKVD and names Lavrentiy Beria its chief. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Denmark leaves the League of Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — California opens its first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway. Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — The United States Department of Justice files suit in New York City against the motion picture industry charging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act in regards to the studio system. The case would eventually result in a break-up of the industry in 1948. Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — The Montreux Convention is signed in Switzerland, authorizing Turkey to fortify the Dardanelles and Bosphorus but guaranteeing free passage to ships of all nations in peacetime. Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Switzerland: A Royal Dutch Airlines plane en route from Milan to Frankfurt crashes into a Swiss mountain, killing thirteen. Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Labor unrest in the U.S.: Police in Minneapolis fire upon striking truck drivers, during the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934, killing two and wounding sixty-seven. Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — West Coast waterfront strike: In Seattle, police fire tear gas on and club 2,000 striking longshoremen. The governor of Oregon calls out the National Guard to break a strike on the Portland docks. Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — In the Preußenschlag ("Prussian coup"), German President Paul von Hindenburg dissolves the government of Prussia Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — In Washington, D.C., police fire tear gas on World War I veterans, part of the Bonus Expeditionary Force, who attempt to march to the White House. Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — The League of Nations awards mandates of Togoland to France and Tanganyika to the United Kingdom. Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — The Greek Army takes control of Silivri after Greece is awarded the city by the Paris Peace Conference; by 1923 Greece effectively lost control to the Turks. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — World War I: The Corfu Declaration, which leads to the creation of the post-war Kingdom of Yugoslavia, is signed by the Yugoslav Committee and Kingdom of Serbia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — The Ford Motor Company ships its first automobile. Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — The Football Association legalizes professionalism in association football under pressure from the British Football Association. Wikipedia ↗
• 1871 — British Columbia joins the confederation of Canada. Wikipedia ↗
• 1866 — Austro-Prussian War: Battle of Lissa: The Austrian Navy, led by Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, defeats the Italian Navy near the island of Vis in the Adriatic Sea. Wikipedia ↗
• 1864 — American Civil War: Battle of Peachtree Creek: Near Atlanta, Georgia, Confederate forces led by General John Bell Hood unsuccessfully attack Union troops under General William T. Sherman. Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — The first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, a two-day event, concludes. Wikipedia ↗
• 1810 — Citizens of Bogotá, New Granada declare independence from Spain. Wikipedia ↗
• 1807 — Nicéphore Niépce is awarded a patent by Napoleon for the Pyréolophore, the world's first internal combustion engine, after it successfully powered a boat upstream on the river Saône in France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1799 — Tekle Giyorgis I begins his first of six reigns as Emperor of Ethiopia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1738 — Canadian explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye reaches the western shore of Lake Michigan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1592 — During the first Japanese invasion of Korea, Japanese forces led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi captured Pyongyang, although they were ultimately unable to hold it. Wikipedia ↗
• 1402 — Ottoman-Timurid Wars: Battle of Ankara: Timur, ruler of Timurid Empire, defeats forces of the Ottoman Empire sultan Bayezid I. Wikipedia ↗
• 1398 — The Battle of Kellistown was fought on this day between the forces of the English led by Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March against the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles under the command of Art Óg mac Murchadha Caomhánach, the most powerful Chieftain in Leinster. Wikipedia ↗
• 1225 — Treaty of San Germano is signed at San Germano between Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX. A Dominican named Guala is responsible for the negotiations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1189 — Richard I of England officially invested as Duke of Normandy. Wikipedia ↗
• 911 — Rollo lays siege to Chartres. Wikipedia ↗
• 792 — Kardam of Bulgaria defeats Byzantine Emperor Constantine VI at the Battle of Marcellae. Wikipedia ↗
• Siege of Jerusalem: Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, storms the Fortress of Antonia north of the Temple Mount. The Roman army is drawn into street fights with the Zealots. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on July 20

• 1996 — Ben Simmons, Australian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Moses Leota, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Steven Adams, New Zealand basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Chiyoshōma Fujio, Mongolian sumo wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Ryan James, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Philipp Reiter, German mountaineer and runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Merxat, Chinese actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Lars Unnerstall, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Javier Cortés, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Cristian Pasquato, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Julianne Hough, American singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Stephen Strasburg, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Nicola Benedetti, Scottish violinist Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Niall McGinn, Irish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Osric Chau, Canadian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — John Francis Daley, American actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — David Mundy, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Alexi Casilla, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Matt Gilroy, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Antoine Vermette, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Viktoria Ladõnskaja, Estonian journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Tesfaye Bramble, English-Montserratian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Gisele Bündchen, Brazilian model, fashionista, and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Miklós Fehér, Hungarian footballer (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Charlotte Hatherley, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — David Ortega, Spanish swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Pavel Datsyuk, Russian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Will Solomon, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Elliott Yamin, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Ieva Zunda, Latvian runner and hurdler Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Kiki Musampa, Congolese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Yves Niaré, French shot putter (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Alessandro Santos, Brazilian-Japanese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Erica Hill, American journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Debashish Mohanty, Indian cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Andrew Stockdale, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Alex Yoong, Malaysian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Ray Allen, American basketball player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Judy Greer, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Erik Hagen, Norwegian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Birgitta Ohlsson, Swedish journalist and politician, 5th Swedish Minister for European Union Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Jason Raize, American singer and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Yusuf Şimşek, Turkish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Omar Epps, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Peter Forsberg, Swedish ice hockey player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Nixon McLean, Caribbean cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Roberto Orci, Mexican-American screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Claudio Reyna, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Jamie Ainscough, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Jozef Stümpel, Slovak ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Erik Ullenhag, Swedish jurist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Vitamin C, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Charles Johnson, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Sandra Oh, Canadian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Josh Holloway, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Kreso Kovacec, Croatian-German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Giovanni Lombardi, Italian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Tobi Vail, American singer and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Jimmy Carson, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Hami Mandıralı, Turkish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Carlos Saldanha, Brazilian-American director, screenwriter, and voice actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Kool G Rap, American hip-hop artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Courtney Taylor-Taylor, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Stone Gossard, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexican lawyer and politician, 57th President of Mexico Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Jess Walter, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Chris Cornell, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Terri Irwin, American-Australian zoologist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Bernd Schneider, German race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Frank Whaley, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Carlos Alazraqui, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Giovanna Amati, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Julie Bindel, English journalist, author, and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Óscar Elías Biscet, Cuban physician and activist, founded the Lawton Foundation Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Claudio Langes, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Prvoslav Vujčić, Serbian-Canadian poet and philosopher Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Sudesh Berry, Indian actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Radney Foster, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Mick MacNeil, Scottish keyboard player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Paul Cook, English drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Thomas N'Kono, Cameroonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Jim Prentice, Canadian lawyer and politician, 16th Premier of Alberta (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Desmond Douglas, Jamaican-English table tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — René-Daniel Dubois, Canadian actor and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Jem Finer, English banjo player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Moira Harris, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Jay Jay French, American guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Dave Evans, Welsh-Australian singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Thomas Friedman, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Marcia Hines, American-Australian singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Jeff Rawle, English actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Edward Leigh, English lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Muse Watson, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Gerd Binnig, German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Carlos Santana, Mexican-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Randal Kleiser, American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Kim Carnes, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Larry Craig, American soldier and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — John Lodge, English singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Bo Rein, American football player and coach (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Mel Daniels, American basketball player and coach (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Olivier de Kersauson, French sailor Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — T. G. Sheppard, American country music singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Chris Amon, New Zealand race car driver (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Bob McNab, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Adrian Păunescu, Romanian poet, journalist, and politician (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Wendy Richard, English actress (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Pete Hamilton, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Don Chuy, American football player (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Periklis Korovesis, Greek author and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Kurt Raab, German actor, screenwriter, and production designer (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Judy Chicago, American painter and sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Deniz Baykal, Turkish lawyer and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Roger Hunt, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Tony Oliva, Cuban-American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Diana Rigg, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Natalie Wood, American actress (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Alistair MacLeod, Canadian novelist and short story writer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Barbara Mikulski, American social worker and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Peter Palumbo, Baron Palumbo, English businessman and art collector Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Buddy Knox, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Cormac McCarthy, American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Rex Williams, English snooker player Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Nam June Paik, American artist (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Otto Schily, German lawyer and politician, German Minister of the Interior Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Tony Marsh, English race car driver (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Giannis Agouris, Greek journalist and author (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Chuck Daly, American basketball player and coach (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — William H. Goetzmann, American historian and author (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Sally Ann Howes, English-American singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Hazel Hawke, Australian social worker and pianist, 23rd Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Mike Ilitch, American businessman, co-founded Little Caesars (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Rajendra Kumar, Pakistani-Indian actor and producer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — David Tonkin, Australian politician, 38th Premier of South Australia (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Józef Czyrek, Polish economist and politician, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Belaid Abdessalam, Prime Minister of Algeria Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Barbara Bergmann, American economist and academic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Heather Chasen, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Michael Gielen, Austrian conductor and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Ian P. Howard, English-Canadian psychologist and academic (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on July 20 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on July 20

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Declaration of Independence (CO) · Día de la Independencia (CO) · Marine Day (JP) · 海の日 (JP)