What are the important events that happened on January 20? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
January 20: Facts & Myths About This Day
January 20 is the 20th day of the year 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 346 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Saturday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is January 7, 2024 – a Saturday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 28,428,480 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 ‘icosagon’ day.
Capricorn is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Garnet is the modern birthstone for this month. Emerald is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 21 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 4,047 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
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January 20: This Day In History
In the ancient astronomy, it was the cusp day between Capricorn and Aquarius. In some years it is Aquarius, but others Capricorn. It depends on the year.
January 20 Historical Events
- 250 –Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Pope Fabian is martyred.
- 1265 –In Westminster, the first English parliament conducts its first meeting held by Simon de Montfort in the Palace of Westminster, now also known colloquially as the “Houses of Parliament”.
- 1320 –Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek becomes king of Poland.
- 1356 –Edward Balliol abdicates as King of Scotland.
- 1502 –The present-day location of Rio de Janeiro is first explored.
- 1801 –John Marshall is appointed the Chief Justice of the United States.
- 1885 –L.A. Thompson patents the roller coaster.
- 1921 –The first Constitution of Turkey is adopted, making fundamental changes in the source and exercise of sovereignty by consecrating the principle of national sovereignty.
- 1934 –Fujifilm, the photographic and electronics company, is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- 2006 –Witnesses report seeing a bottlenose whale swimming in the River Thames, the first time the species had been seen in the Thames since records began in 1913.
Who were born on January 20?
- 1894 –Walter Piston, American composer (d. 1976)
- 1896 –George Burns, American actor, comedian (d. 1996)
- 1926 –Qurratulain Hyder, Indian and Pakistani novelist (d. 2007)
- 1940 –Krishnam Raju, Indian actor and politician
- 1945 –Robert Olen Butler, American writer
- 1956 –Maria Larsson, Swedish politician
- 1966 –Stacey Dash, American actress
- 1973 –Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant
- 1979 –Shang Yi, Chinese footballer
- 1983 –Paula Taylor, English-Thai actress, model and presenter
Who died on January 20?
- 1156 –Bishop Henry, patron saint of Finland
- 1612 –Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 1552)
- 1891 –King Kalākaua, of Hawaiʻi (b. 1836)
- 1900 –John Ruskin, English art critic (b. 1819)
- 1913 –José Guadalupe Posada, Mexican engraver and illustrator (b. 1852).
- 1944 –James McKeen Cattell, American psychologist (b. 1860)
- 1980 –William Roberts, British painter (b. 1895)
- 1984 –Johnny Weissmuller, American swimmer and actor (b. 1904)
- 2004 –Guinn Smith, American athlete (b. 1920)
- 2005 –Parveen Babi, Indian Actress and Model (b. 1949)
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