What are the important events that happened on April 20? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
April 20: Facts & Myths About This Day
April 20 is the 111st day of the year 2020 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 255 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Monday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is April 7, 2020 – a Monday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 1,587,340,800 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 ‘hectadecahenagon’ day.
Hey! How’s your lovelife today? Get a free love reading
with the most frank answers. Start to seize love opportunities in your life! Did I mention it’s F-R-E-E?
(Sponsored link; 18+ only)
Aries is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Diamond is the modern birthstone for this month. Opal is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 298 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 2,677 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
Do people and celebrities interest you? Discover all the April 20 famous birthdays who share your special day. Learn some fun facts about your birthday! (Sponsored link)
April 20 Historical Events
- 1453 –The last naval battle in Byzantine history occurs, as three Genoese galleys escorting a Byzantine transport fight their way through the huge Ottoman blockade fleet and into the Golden Horn.
- 1792 –France declares war on Austria, the beginning of French Revolutionary Wars.
- 1861 –American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.
- 1862 –Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard complete the first pasteurization tests.
- 1902 –Pierre and Marie Curie refine radium chloride.
- 1939 –Billie Holiday records the first Civil Rights song “Strange Fruit”.
- 1945 –World War II: Fuehrerbunker: Adolf Hitler makes his last trip to the surface to award Iron Crosses to boy soldiers of the Hitler Youth.
- 1964 –BBC Two launches with a power cut because of the fire at Battersea Power Station.
- 1978 –Korean Air Flight 902 is shot down by the Soviet Union.
- 1998 –German terrorist group the Red Army Faction announces their dissolution after 28 years.
Who were born on April 20?
- 1924 –Nina Foch, Dutch-born American actress (d. 2008)
- 1927 –Phil Hill, American race car driver (d. 2008)
- 1931 –John Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles, British businessman and peer
- 1938 –Johnny Tillotson, American singer and songwriter
- 1946 –Julien Poulin, French Canadian actor
- 1949 –Massimo D'Alema, 76th Prime Minister of Italy
- 1954 –Gilles Lupien, French-Canadian ice hockey player
- 1972 –Željko Joksimović, Serbian singer, songwriter and producer
- 1975 –Benjamin Butler (artist), painter
- 1976 –Aldo Bobadilla, Paraguayan football player
Who died on April 20?
- 1887 –Muhammad Sharif Pasha, Egyptian statesman (b. 1826)
- 1912 –Bram Stoker, Irish author (b. 1847)
- 1932 –Giuseppe Peano, Italian mathematician (b. 1858)
- 1945 –Erwin Bumke, German jurist (b. 1874)
- 1964 –Eddie Dyer, American baseball player (b. 1899)
- 1982 –Archibald MacLeish, American poet and Librarian of Congress (b. 1892)
- 1991 –Don Siegel, American film director (b. 1912)
- 1993 –Cantinflas, Mexican comedian and actor (b. 1911)
- 2003 –Ruth Hale, American playwright and actress (b. 1908)
- 2007 –Andrew Hill, American jazz composer and pianist (b. 1931)
What no one tells you about your first name’s personality. Are there hidden powers in your moniker? Check out Toni’s personality and get smart about names today. (Sponsored links)