✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 263rd day of the year

September 20

A look at September 20 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Jennifer Tour Chayes and Ernesto Teodoro Moneta, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2011

    Don't ask, don't tell

    The United States military ends its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time.

    1994–2011 US military LGBTQ
  2. 2008

    Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing

    A dump truck full of explosives detonates in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others.

    Suicide bombing at the
  3. 1977

    Vietnam

    Vietnam is admitted to the United Nations.

    Country in Southeast Asia
  4. 1971

    Hurricane Irene–Olivia

    Having weakened after making landfall in Nicaragua the previous day, Hurricane Irene regains enough strength to be renamed Hurricane Olivia, making it the first known hurricane to cross from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific.

    Category 3 Atlantic and
  5. 1920

    Irish War of Independence

    Irish War of Independence: British police known as "Black and Tans" burn the town of Balbriggan and kill two local men in revenge for an IRA assassination.

    1919–1921 war between Irish
  6. 1792

    Battle of Valmy

    French troops stop an allied invasion of France at the Battle of Valmy.

    1792 battle during the
  7. 1697

    Peace of Ryswick

    The Treaty of Ryswick is signed by France, England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and the Dutch Republic, ending the Nine Years' War.

    1697 peace treaties
  8. 1519

    Ferdinand Magellan

    Ferdinand Magellan sets sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda with about 270 men on his expedition which ultimately culminates in the first circumnavigation of the globe.

    Portuguese explorer (1480–1521)
  9. 1498

    1498 Meiō earthquake

    The Nankai tsunami washes away the building housing the Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in; it has been located outside ever since.

    8.6 Ms earthquake and
  10. 1260

    Prussian uprisings

    The Great Prussian Uprising among the old Prussians begins against the Teutonic Knights.

    13th-century revolts by Old
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Famous birthday twins

Born on September 20

Jennifer Tour Chayes

b. 1956

American mathematician and computer scientist

Ernesto Teodoro Moneta

b. 1833

Italian soldier and journalist, Nobel Prize laureate

Sophia Loren

b. 1934

Italian actress

Victor Ponta

b. 1972

Romanian jurist and politician, 63rd Prime Minister of Romania

Matthias Erzberger

b. 1875

German publicist and politician

Laura Dekker

b. 1995

Dutch sailor

Aaron Burkart

b. 1982

German race car driver

Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen

b. 1778

Russian admiral, cartographer, and explorer

Deaths

  • 2005Simon Wiesenthal, Austrian human rights activist, Holocaust survivor
  • 1993Erich Hartmann, German soldier and pilot
  • 1957Jean Sibelius, Finnish violinist and composer
  • 1863Jacob Grimm, German philologist and mythologist
  • 1840José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, Paraguayan lawyer and politician, Consul of Paraguay
  • 1241Conrad II of Salzwedel, German nobleman and bishop

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Agapitus (Western Christianity)
  • —Christian feast day: Eustace (Western Christianity)
  • —Christian feast day: Evilasius
  • —Christian feast day: Fausta of Cyzicus
  • —Christian feast day: Glycerius of Milan
  • —Christian feast day: Jean-Charles Cornay (one of Vietnamese Martyrs)
  • —Christian feast day: John Coleridge Patteson (commemoration, Anglicanism)
  • —Christian feast day: José Maria de Yermo y Parres

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