On This Day — November 20

🕰️ Notable Events on November 20

• 2015 — Following a hostage siege, at least 19 people are killed in Bamako, Mali. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — After the November 15 bombings, a second day of the 2003 Istanbul bombings occurs in Istanbul, Turkey, destroying the Turkish head office of HSBC Bank AS and the British consulate. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — A court in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan declares accused terrorist Osama bin Laden "a man without a sin" in regard to the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — The first module of the International Space Station, Zarya, is launched. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — A fire breaks out in an office building in Hong Kong, killing 41 people and injuring 81. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — The Angolan government and UNITA rebels sign the Lusaka Protocol in Zambia, ending 19 years of civil war. (Localized fighting resumes the next year.) Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Savings and loan crisis: The United States Senate Ethics Committee issues a stern censure of California senator Alan Cranston for his "dealings" with savings-and-loan executive Charles Keating. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — In England, a fire breaks out in Windsor Castle, badly damaging the castle and causing over £50 million worth of damage. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — An Azerbaijani MI-8 helicopter carrying 19 peacekeeping mission team with officials and journalists from Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is shot down by Armenian military forces in Khojavend District of Azerbaijan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Andrei Chikatilo, one of the Soviet Union's most prolific serial killers, is arrested; he eventually confesses to 56 killings. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Velvet Revolution: The number of protesters assembled in Prague, Czechoslovakia swells from 200,000 the day before to an estimated half-million. Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Microsoft Windows 1.0 is released. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Lake Peigneur drains into an underlying salt deposit. A misplaced Texaco oil probe had been drilled into the Diamond Crystal Salt Mine, causing water to flow down into the mine, eroding the edges of the hole. Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Grand Mosque seizure: About 200 Sunni Muslims revolt in Saudi Arabia at the site of the Kaaba in Mecca during the pilgrimage and take about 6000 hostages. The Saudi government receives help from Pakistani special forces to put down the uprising. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Egyptian President Anwar Sadat becomes the first Arab leader to officially visit Israel, when he meets Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and speaks before the Knesset in Jerusalem, seeking a permanent peace settlement. Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — The United States Department of Justice files its final anti-trust suit against AT&T Corporation. This suit later leads to the breakup of AT&T and its Bell System. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Vietnam War: The Plain Dealer publishes explicit photographs of dead villagers from the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Occupation of Alcatraz: Native American activists seize control of Alcatraz Island until being ousted by the U.S. Government on June 11, 1971. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — A total of 78 miners are killed in an explosion at the Consolidated Coal Company’s No. 9 mine in Farmington, West Virginia in the Farmington Mine disaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Cuban Missile Crisis ends: In response to the Soviet Union agreeing to remove its missiles from Cuba, U.S. President John F. Kennedy ends the quarantine of the Caribbean nation. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — The Declaration of the Rights of the Child is adopted by the United Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — The Princess Elizabeth marries Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, who becomes the Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey in London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Nuremberg trials: Trials against 24 Nazi war criminals start at the Palace of Justice at Nuremberg. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: Battle of Tarawa (Operation Galvanic) begins: United States Marines land on Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands and suffer heavy fire from Japanese shore guns and machine guns. Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — World War II: Hungary becomes a signatory of the Tripartite Pact, officially joining the Axis powers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — José Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the Falange, is killed by a republican execution squad. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — World War I: Battle of Cambrai begins: British forces make early progress in an attack on German positions but are later pushed back. Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Mexican Revolution: Francisco I. Madero issues the Plan de San Luis Potosí, denouncing Mexican President Porfirio Díaz, calling for a revolution to overthrow the government of Mexico, effectively starting the Mexican Revolution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1861 — American Civil War: A secession ordinance is filed by Kentucky's Confederate government. Wikipedia ↗
• 1845 — Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata: Battle of Vuelta de Obligado. Wikipedia ↗
• 1820 — An 80-ton sperm whale attacks the Essex (a whaling ship from Nantucket, Massachusetts) 2,000 miles from the western coast of South America. (Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick is in part inspired by this story.) Wikipedia ↗
• 1805 — Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, premieres in Vienna. Wikipedia ↗
• 1789 — New Jersey becomes the first U.S. state to ratify the Bill of Rights. Wikipedia ↗
• 1776 — American Revolutionary War: British forces land at the Palisades and then attack Fort Lee. The Continental Army starts to retreat across New Jersey. Wikipedia ↗
• 1739 — Start of the Battle of Porto Bello between British and Spanish forces during the War of Jenkins' Ear. Wikipedia ↗
• 1695 — Zumbi, the last of the leaders of Quilombo dos Palmares in early Brazil, is executed by the forces of Portuguese bandeirante Domingos Jorge Velho. Wikipedia ↗
• 1407 — A truce between John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans is agreed upon under the auspices of John, Duke of Berry. Orléans would be assassinated three days later by Burgundy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1194 — Palermo is conquered by Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor. Wikipedia ↗
• 762 — During the An Shi Rebellion, the Tang dynasty, with the help of Huihe tribe, recaptures Luoyang from the rebels. Wikipedia ↗
• 284 — Diocletian is chosen as Roman emperor. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on November 20

• 2000 — Connie Talbot, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Andrew Dawber, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Junior Paulo, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Sumire Satō, Japanese singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Maiha Ishimura, Japanese singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Gaku Matsuda, Japanese actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Anthony Knockaert, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Tim Simona, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Mark Christian, Manx cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Agon Mehmeti, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Sergei Polunin, Ukrainian ballet dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Dušan Tadić, Serbian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Max Pacioretty, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Ashley Fink, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Özer Hurmacı, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Oliver Sykes, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Juan Cruz Álvarez, Argentinian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Tashard Choice, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Jeremy Jordan, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ferdinando Monfardini, Italian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Justin Hoyte, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Future, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Carlos Boozer, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Sam Fuld, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — İbrahim Toraman, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Kimberley Walsh, English singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Andrea Riseborough, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — James Chambers, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Eiko Koike, Japanese actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Maree Bowden, New Zealand netball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Joseph Hallman, American composer and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Jacob Pitts, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Freya Lim, Taiwanese-Malaysian singer and radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Nadine Velazquez, American actress and model Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Rudy Charles, American wrestling referee Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Daniel Svensson, Swedish drummer and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Josh Turner, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Laura Harris, Canadian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Dierks Bentley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Ryan Bowen, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — J. D. Drew, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Davey Havok, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Taavi Veskimägi, Estonian businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Angelica Bridges, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Neil Hodgson, English motorcycle racer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Amani Alhakim, Syrian actress and voice actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Sheema Kalbasi, Iranian poet and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Joey Galloway, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Joel McHale, American comedian, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Dion Nash, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Marco Oppedisano, American guitarist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Matt Blunt, American lieutenant and politician, 54th Governor of Missouri Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Delia Gonzalez, American boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Geoffrey Keezer, American pianist and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Sabrina Lloyd, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Chris Harris, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Dabo Swinney, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Callie Thorne, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Meredith Whitney, American financial anaylst Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Tommy Asinga, Surinamese runner and veterinarian Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Robin Canup, American astrophysicist and astronomer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Jeff Tarango, American tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Chris Childs, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Tarique Rahman, Bangladeshi businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Martin Walkyier, Singer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Jill Thompson, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Kevin Gilbert, American singer-songwriter and musician (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Jimmy Vasser, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Boris Dežulović, Croatian journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Sophie Fillières, French director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Doug Ford, Jr., Canadian businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — John MacLean, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mark Taylor, English footballer and physiotherapist Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Tim Gavin, Australian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Timothy Gowers, English mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Ming-Na Wen, Macanese-American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Jim Brickman, American singer-songwriter and pianist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Tim Harvey, English race car driver and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Larry Karaszewski, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Dave Watson, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Marc Labrèche, Canadian actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Orlando Figes, English historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — James McGovern, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Sean Young, American actress and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Rickson Gracie, Brazilian mixed martial artist and choreographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Stefan Bellof, German race car driver (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Mike Craven, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — John Eriksen, Danish footballer (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Gareth Chilcott, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Bo Derek, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Mark Gastineau, American football player and boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Natasha Vlassenko, Russian-Australian pianist and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Berit Andnor, Swedish politician, Swedish Minister of Social Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Frank Marino, Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — John Van Boxmeer, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Rodger Bumpass, American actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — David Walters, American businessman and politician, 24th Governor of Oklahoma Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Jeff Dowd, American film producer and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Thelma Drake, American politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — John R. Bolton, American lawyer and diplomat, 25th United States Ambassador to the United Nations Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Park Chul-soo, South Korean director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Barbara Hendricks, American-Swedish soprano and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Richard Masur, American actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Gunnar Nilsson, Swedish race car driver (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Joe Walsh, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Peter Mellor, English goalkeeper Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Duane Allman, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Greg Cook, American football player and sportscaster (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Patriarch Kirill of Moscow Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Judy Woodruff, American journalist and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Samuel E. Wright, American actor, voice actor and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Paul Langford, English historian and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Rick Monday, American baseball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Louie Dampier, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Donald DiFrancesco, American lawyer and politician, 51st Governor of New Jersey Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Mike Vernon, English record producer, founded Blue Horizon Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Joe Biden, American lawyer and politician, 47th Vice President of the United States Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Bob Einstein, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Norman Greenbaum, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Meredith Monk, American composer and choreographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Haseena Moin, Pakistani screenwriter and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Helma Sanders-Brahms, German director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Ediz Hun, Turkish actor and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Dick Smothers, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Rhys Isaac, South African-Australian historian and author (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Ruth Laredo, American pianist and educator (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Eero Mäntyranta, Finnish skier (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Viktoriya Tokareva, Russian author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Don DeLillo, American novelist, essayist, and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Charles R. Larson, American admiral (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Imre Makovecz, Hungarian architect (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Richard Dawson, English-American actor and game show host (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Bernard Horsfall, English-Scottish actor (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Curly Putman, American country music songwriter (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Penelope Hobhouse, Irish gardener, author, and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Don January, American golfer and architect Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Aleksey Batalov, Russian actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Franklin Cover, American actor (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Ed Freeman, American soldier and pilot, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Estelle Parsons, American actress and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — John Gardner, English soldier and author (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Terry Hall, English ventriloquist and actor (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Tôn Thất Đính, Vietnamese general (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — June Christy, American singer (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Robert F. Kennedy, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 64th United States Attorney General (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Maya Plisetskaya, Russian-Lithuanian ballerina, choreographer, actress, and director (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Kaye Ballard, American actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — George Barris, American engineer and car designer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Benoit Mandelbrot, Polish-American mathematician and economist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Henk Vredeling, Dutch agronomist and politician, Dutch Minister of Defence (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Danny Dayton, American actor and director (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Nadine Gordimer, South African novelist, short story writer, and activist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Jim Garrison, American lawyer and judge (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Lucilla Andrews, Egyptian-Scottish nurse and author (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Alan Brown, English race car driver (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Phyllis Thaxter, American actress (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Corita Kent, American nun, illustrator, and educator (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Robert Byrd, American lawyer and politician (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Bobby Locke, South African golfer (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Michael J. Ingelido, American general (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on November 20 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on November 20

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Black Awareness Day (BR) · Dia Nacional de Zumbi e da Consciência Negra (BR)

✡️ Religious Observances

• Islamic: Urs of Muhammad Bābā as-Samasi ق