What are the important events that happened on February 20? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
February 20: Facts & Myths About This Day
February 20 is the 51st day of the year 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 315 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Tuesday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is February 7, 2024 – a Tuesday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 1,708,387,200 seconds has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.
Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘pentacontahenagon’ day.
Pisces is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Amethyst is the modern birthstone for this month. Bloodstone is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 344 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.
The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,078 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
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February 20 Historical Events
1685 –
René-Robert Cavelier establishes Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay thus forming the basis for France’s claim to Texas.
1792 –
The Postal Service Act, establishing the United States Post Office Department, is signed by President George Washington.
1909 –
Publication of the Futurist Manifesto in the French journal Le Figaro.
1943 –
The Parícutin volcano begins to form in Parícutin, Mexico.
1944 –
World War II: The United States takes Eniwetok Island.
1959 –
The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate.
1985 –
New Year’s Day in Chinese calendar. Start of the year of the Wood Ox in Chinese astrology.
1987 –
Unabomber: In Salt Lake City, a bomb explodes in a computer store.
1988 –
The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast votes to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia, triggering the Nagorno-Karabakh War.
2003 –
During a Great White concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island, a pyrotechnics display sets the club ablaze, killing 100 and injuring over 200 others.
Who were born on February 20?
1850 –
Nérée Beauchemin, Canadian physician and poet (d. 1931)
1901 –
Cecil Harmsworth King, English newspaper owner (d. 1987)
1929 –
Amanda Blake, American actress (d. 1989)
1937 –
Roger Penske, American racing driver, race team owner and entrepreneur
1943 –
Antonio Inoki, Japanese professional wrestler
1945 –
Annu Kapoor, Indian actor
1951 –
Edward Albert, American actor (d. 2006)
1954 –
Billy Pontoni, Colombian musician
1973 –
Rohan Alexander, Jamaican-born cricketer
1975 –
Brian Littrell, American singer (Backstreet Boys)
Who died on February 20?
1893 –
P.G.T. Beauregard, American Confederate general (b. 1818)
1961 –
Percy Grainger, Australian composer (b. 1882)
1963 –
Jacob Gade, Danish composer(b. 1879)
1974 –
David Monrad Johansen, Norwegian composer (b. 1888)
1992 –
Roberto D'Aubuisson, Salvadoran politician (b. 1944)
1996 –
Solomon Asch, American psychologist (b. 1907)
2001 –
Donella Meadows, American scientist (b. 1941)
2003 –
Orville L. Freeman, American politician (b. 1918)
2005 –
Pam Bricker, American jazz singer and Thievery Corporation vocalist (b. 1954)
2008 –
Emily Perry, English actress (b. 1907)
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