What happened this day in history February 20

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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