✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 20th day of the year

January 20

A look at January 20 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Bill Maher and André-Marie Ampère, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♒ZodiacAquarius ◈BirthstoneGarnet ❀Birth flowerCarnation
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2009

    Iceland

    A protest movement in Iceland culminates as the 2009 Icelandic financial crisis protests start.

    Island country in the
  2. 1991

    Sudan

    Sudan's government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening the civil war between the country's Muslim north and Christian south.

    Country in Northeast Africa
  3. 1981

    Ronald Reagan

    Twenty minutes after Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States of America, Iran releases 52 American hostages.

    President of the United
  4. 1945

    Nazi Germany

    World War II: Germany begins the evacuation of 1.8 million people from East Prussia, a task which will take nearly two months.

    German state from 1933
  5. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: At the Wannsee Conference held in the Berlin suburb of Wannsee, senior Nazi German officials discuss the implementation of the "Final Solution to the Jewish question".

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1941

    Bucharest

    A German officer is killed in Bucharest, Romania, sparking a rebellion and pogrom by the Iron Guard, killing 125 Jews and 30 soldiers.

    Capital and largest city
  7. 1841

    Hong Kong Island

    Hong Kong Island is occupied by the British during the First Opium War.

    Second largest island in
  8. 1726

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    J. S. Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen (My sighs, my tears), BWV 13, for the second Sunday after Epiphany.

    German composer (1685–1750)
  9. 1356

    Edward Balliol

    Edward Balliol surrenders his claim to the Scottish throne to Edward III in exchange for an English pension.

    Claimant to the Scottish
  10. 1156

    Lalli

    Finnish peasant Lalli kills English clergyman Henry, the Bishop of Turku, on the ice of Lake Köyliö.

    12th-century apocryphal Finnish person
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Famous birthday twins

Born on January 20

Bill Maher

b. 1956

American comedian, political commentator, media critic, television host, and producer

André-Marie Ampère

b. 1775

French physicist and mathematician

Jason Richardson

b. 1981

American basketball player

Gordian III

b. 225

Roman emperor

David Lynch

b. 1946

American director, producer, and screenwriter

Buzz Aldrin

b. 1930

American colonel, pilot, and astronaut

Federico Fellini

b. 1920

Italian director and screenwriter

Nikki Haley

b. 1972

American accountant and politician, 116th Governor of South Carolina

Deaths

  • 2018Paul Bocuse, French chef
  • 1993Audrey Hepburn, British actress and humanitarian activist
  • 1973Lorenz Böhler, Austrian physician and surgeon
  • 1859Bettina von Arnim, German author, illustrator, and composer
  • 1189Emperor Shizong of Jin, Chinese emperor of Jin
  • 842Theophilos (emperor), Byzantine emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Armed Forces Day (Mali)
  • —Army Day (Laos)
  • —Christian feast day: Abadios
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Basil Moreau
  • —Christian feast day: Eustochia Smeralda Calafato
  • —Christian feast day: Euthymius the Great
  • —Christian feast day: Fabian
  • —Christian feast day: Manchán of Lemanaghan

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