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, 28,473,120 minutes 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.
Do people and celebrities interest you? Discover all the February 20 famous birthdays who share your special day. Learn some fun facts about your birthday! (Sponsored link)
February 20 Historical Events
1798 –
Louis Alexandre Berthier removes Pope Pius VI from power.
1920 –
New Year’s Day in Chinese calendar. Start of the year of the Metal Monkey in Chinese astrology.
1933 –
Adolf Hitler secretly meets with German industrialists to arrange for financing of the Nazi Party’s upcoming election campaign.
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.
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.
1959 –
The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate.
1965 –
Ranger 8 crashes into the moon after a successful mission of photographing possible landing sites for the Apollo program astronauts.
1989 –
An IRA bomb destroys a section of a British Army barracks in Ternhill, England
1991 –
A gigantic statue of Albania’s long-time leader, Enver Hoxha, is brought down in the Albanian capital Tirana, by mobs of angry protesters.
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?
1898 –
Jimmy Yancey, American pianist (d. 1951)
1927 –
Ibrahim Ferrer, Cuban musician (Buena Vista Social Club) (d. 2005)
1936 –
Shigeo Nagashima, Japanese baseball player and coach
1943 –
Mike Leigh, British film director
1947 –
Peter Strauss, American actor
1960 –
Joel Hodgson, American comedian (Mystery Science Theater 3000)
1965 –
Ron Eldard, American actor
1967 –
Kurt Cobain, American musician (Nirvana) (d. 1994)
1973 –
Kimberley Davies, Australian actress
1988 –
Rihanna, Barbadian singer
Who died on February 20?
1408 –
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, English statesman (b. 1342)
1431 –
Pope Martin V (b. 1368)
1618 –
Philip William, Prince of Orange (b. 1554)
1626 –
John Dowland, English composer and lutenist (b. 1563)
1762 –
Tobias Mayer, German astronomer (b. 1723)
1806 –
Lachlan McIntosh, Scottish-born American military and political leader (b. 1725)
1871 –
Paul Kane, Irish-born painter (b. 1810)
1970 –
Sophie Treadwell, American playwright and journalist (b. 1885)
1983 –
Fritz Köberle, Austrian-Brazilian physician (b. 1910)
1999 –
Sarah Kane, English playwright (b. 1971)
What no one tells you about your first name’s personality. Are there hidden powers in your moniker? Check out Judith’s personality and get smart about names today. (Sponsored links)