What Happened on April 20?
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events
births
deaths
holidays
EVENTS ON APRIL 20
Explore the most important historical events that happened on April 20, featuring key moments that shaped the world.
Louis Pasteur
Year:
1862
Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard complete the experiment disproving the theory of spontaneous generation.
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American Civil War
Year:
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.
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Thaddeus S. C. Lowe
Year:
1861
Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, attempting to display the value of balloons, makes record journey, flying 900 miles from Cincinnati to South Carolina.
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United States Congress
Year:
1836
U.S. Congress passes an act creating the Wisconsin Territory.
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Angelo Secchi
Year:
1865
Astronomer Angelo Secchi demonstrates the Secchi disk, which measures water clarity, aboard Pope Pius IX's yacht, the L'Immaculata Concezion.
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April Uprising of 1876
Year:
1876
The April Uprising begins. Its suppression shocks European opinion, and Bulgarian independence becomes a condition for ending the Russo-Turkish War.
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New South Wales Rugby League
Year:
1908
Opening day of competition in the New South Wales Rugby League.
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Pierre Curie
Year:
1902
Pierre and Marie Curie refine radium chloride.
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BIRTHS ON APRIL 20
Discover famous people and historical figures born on April 20, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.
Ernie Stautner
Year of birth:
1925
Ernie Stautner, German-American football player and coach (died 2006)
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Elena Verdugo
Year of birth:
1925
Elena Verdugo, American actress (died 2017)
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Nina Foch
Year of birth:
1924
Nina Foch, Dutch-American actress (died 2008)
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K. Alex Müller
Year of birth:
1927
K. Alex Müller, Swiss physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (died 2023)
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Phil Hill
Year of birth:
1927
Phil Hill, American race car driver (died 2008)
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Napoleon III
Year of birth:
1808
Napoleon III, French politician, 1st President of France, Emperor of French Second Empire (died 1873)
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Bogoslav Šulek
Year of birth:
1816
Bogoslav Šulek, Croatian philologist, historian, and lexicographer (died 1895)
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Leslie Phillips
Year of birth:
1924
Leslie Phillips, English actor and producer (died 2022)
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DEATHS ON APRIL 20
Look back at notable individuals who passed away on April 20, and learn about their lasting influences on history.
Cosmo Duff-Gordon
Year of death:
1931
Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon, 5th Baronet, Scottish-English fencer and businessman (born 1862)
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Giuseppe Peano
Year of death:
1932
Giuseppe Peano, Italian mathematician and philosopher (born 1858)
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Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
Year of death:
1935
Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon, English fashion designer (born 1863)
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Prince Henry of Prussia (1862–1929)
Year of death:
1929
Prince Henry of Prussia (born 1862)
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Enrique Simonet
Year of death:
1927
Enrique Simonet, Spanish painter and educator (born 1866)
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Bram Stoker
Year of death:
1912
Bram Stoker, Anglo-Irish novelist and critic, created Count Dracula (born 1847)
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K. Ferdinand Braun
Year of death:
1918
Karl Ferdinand Braun, German-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1850)
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Jussi Merinen
Year of death:
1918
Jussi Merinen, Finnish politician (born 1873)
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HOLIDAYS ON APRIL 20
See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on April 20 around the world.
420 (cannabis culture)
420 (cannabis culture)
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Evacuee Flag Day
Evacuee Flag Day (Finland)
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April 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: April 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
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Agnes of Montepulciano
Christian feast day: Agnes of Montepulciano
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Beuno
Christian feast day: Beuno
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Johannes Bugenhagen
Christian feast day: Johannes Bugenhagen (Lutheran)
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UN Chinese Language Day
UN Chinese Language Day (United Nations)
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Theotimos (bishop of Tomi)
Christian feast day: Theotimos
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