✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 140th day of the year

May 20

A look at May 20 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including José Mujica and Honoré de Balzac, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♉ZodiacTaurus ◈BirthstoneEmerald ❀Birth flowerLily of the Valley
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2022

    Russo-Ukrainian war

    Russo-Ukrainian war: Russia claims full control of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol after a nearly three-month siege.

    Ongoing conflict since 2014
  2. 2016

    Singapore

    The government of Singapore authorises the controversial execution of convicted murderer Kho Jabing for the murder of a Chinese construction worker despite international pleas for clemency, notably from Amnesty International and the United Nations.

    Island country in Southeast
  3. 2012

    2012 Northern Italy earthquakes

    At least 27 people are killed and 50 others injured when a 6.0-magnitude earthquake strikes northern Italy.

    Severe earthquakes centered in
  4. 1943

    Luttra Woman

    The Luttra Woman, a bog body from the Early Neolithic period (radiocarbon-dated c. 3928–3651 BC), is discovered near Luttra, Sweden.

    Neolithic bog body from
  5. 1927

    Treaty of Jeddah (1927)

    Treaty of Jeddah: The United Kingdom recognizes the sovereignty of King Ibn Saud in the Kingdoms of Hejaz and Nejd, which later merge to become the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Treaty between Great Britain
  6. 1902

    Cuba

    Cuba gains independence from the United States. Tomás Estrada Palma becomes the country's first President.

    Country in the Caribbean
  7. 1875

    Metre Convention

    Signing of the Metre Convention by 17 nations leading to the establishment of the International System of Units.

    1875 international standardization treaty
  8. 1862

    Abraham Lincoln

    U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act into law, opening eighty-four million acres (340,000 km2) of public land to settlers.

    President of the United
  9. 1714

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata for Pentecost, Erschallet, ihr Lieder, BWV 172, at the chapel of Schloss Weimar.

    German composer (1685–1750)
  10. 325

    First Council of Nicaea

    The First Council of Nicaea is formally opened, starting the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church.

    Council of Christian bishops
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Famous birthday twins

Born on May 20

José Mujica

b. 1935

Uruguayan guerrilla leader and politician, 40th President of Uruguay

Honoré de Balzac

b. 1799

French novelist and playwright

Iker Casillas

b. 1981

Spanish footballer

David Paterson

b. 1954

American lawyer and politician, 55th Governor of New York

Cher

b. 1946

American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress

Eduard Buchner

b. 1860

German chemist, zymologist, and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Leo Franco

b. 1977

Argentinian footballer

John Stuart Mill

b. 1806

English economist, civil servant, and philosopher

Deaths

  • 2011Randy Savage, American wrestler and actor
  • 1949Damaskinos of Athens, Greek archbishop and politician, 137th Prime Minister of Greece
  • 1947Philipp Lenard, Slovak-German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1917Philipp von Ferrary, Italian stamp collector
  • 1648Władysław IV Vasa, Polish son of Sigismund III Vasa
  • 1506Christopher Columbus, Italian explorer, early European explorer of the Americas

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Abercius and Helena
  • —Christian feast day: Alcuin of York
  • —Christian feast day: Aurea of Ostia
  • —Christian feast day: Austregisilus
  • —Christian feast day: Baudilus
  • —Christian feast day: Bernardino of Siena
  • —Christian feast day: Columba of Rieti
  • —Christian feast day: Lydia of Thyatira

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