What are the important events that happened on February 20? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
February 20: Facts & Myths About This Day
February 20 is the 51st day of the year 2024 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 315 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Tuesday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is February 7, 2024 – a Tuesday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 28,473,120 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 ‘pentacontahenagon’ day.
Ready for a new challenge? Try guessing my birthday in just 6 tries with this fun twist on Wordle! Let’s see if you can figure it out. 🎉🎂 Play the Birthday Challenge now! (Sponsored by MyBirthday.Ninja)
Pisces is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Amethyst is the modern birthstone for this month. Bloodstone is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 344 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 4,078 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
Do people and celebrities interest you? Discover all the February 20 famous birthdays who share your special day. Learn some fun facts about your birthday!
(Sponsored by MyBirthday.Ninja)
February 20 Historical Events
- 1339 –The Milanese army and the St. George’s (San Giorgio) Mercenaries of Lodrisio Visconti clashed in the Battle of Parabiago.
- 1472 –Orkney and Shetland are pawned by Norway to Scotland in lieu of a dowry for Margaret of Denmark.
- 1864 –American Civil War: Battle of Olustee occurs – the largest battle fought in Florida during the war.
- 1872 –In New York City the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens.
- 1920 –New Year’s Day in Chinese calendar. Start of the year of the Metal Monkey in Chinese astrology.
- 1942 –Lieutenant Edward O'Hare becomes America’s first World War II flying ace.
- 1943 –The Parícutin volcano begins to form in Parícutin, Mexico.
- 1944 –World War II: The “Big Week” began with American bomber raids on German aircraft manufacturing centers.
- 1959 –The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate.
- 1991 –A gigantic statue of Albania’s long-time leader, Enver Hoxha, is brought down in the Albanian capital Tirana, by mobs of angry protesters.
Who were born on February 20?
- 1757 –John ‘Mad Jack’Fuller, English philanthropist (d. 1834)
- 1844 –Joshua Slocum, Canadian seaman and adventurer (d. 1909)
- 1898 –Jimmy Yancey, American pianist (d. 1951)
- 1901 –Muhammad Naguib, President of Egypt (d. 1984)
- 1907 –Malcolm Atterbury, American actor (d. 1992)
- 1923 –Forbes Burnham, President of Guyana (d. 1985)
- 1924 –Gloria Vanderbilt, American socialite and clothing designer
- 1946 –Brenda Blethyn, English actress
- 1949 –Ivana Trump, Czech-born American socialite
- 1969 –Tommy Vardell, American football player
Who died on February 20?
- 1408 –Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, English statesman (b. 1342)
- 1524 –Tecún Umán, last leader of the K‘iche’(Quiché) Maya people
- 1626 –John Dowland, English composer and lutenist (b. 1563)
- 1905 –Jeremiah W. Farnham, American merchant captain
- 1972 –Walter Winchell, American journalist (b. 1897)
- 2000 –Anatoly Sobchak, Russian politician (b. 1937)
- 2003 –Maurice Blanchot, French author (b. 1907)
- 2005 –Hunter S. Thompson, American journalist and author (b. 1937)
- 2005 –Pam Bricker, American jazz singer and Thievery Corporation vocalist (b. 1954)
- 2010 –Alexander Haig, American soldier and politician (b. 1924)
Holy Toledo! Did you know that coffee and word games are an excellent combination to sharpen your vocabulary? Let’s give it a quick spin. Within 30 seconds, how many words can you think of from these letters LKAAXANQHOUM? Check your answers here: Make words with these letters LKAAXANQHOUM. (Sponsored by WordFinder.Cafe)