April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 255 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about April 20th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about April 20th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- Volunteer Recognition Day
- Chinese Language Day
- National Banana Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – April 20
2010: The Deepwater Horizon oil rig explodes
The explosion of the British Petroleum (BP) platform operated by Transocean killed 11 workers and led to the largest accidental marine oil spill in history.
1999: 15 die in the Columbine High School massacre
A further 24 victims were injured when two teenagers opened fire on students and teachers in the high school south of Denver.
1978: Soviet air defense shoots down Korean Air Lines Flight 902
The Boeing 707’s crew had miscalculated their route, taking them into Soviet airspace at the height of the Cold War. The jet made an emergency landing on a frozen lake. Two passengers were killed in the incident.
1951: A human organ is surgically replaced for the first time
Romanian surgeon Dan Gavriliu used a section of the stomach to bypass the esophagus.
1902: Pierre and Marie Curie discover the radioactive element radium
In 1903, the French couple received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering research.
1999: Taken on 4/20/1999. These were the last photo of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris who perpetrated the Colombians High School Massacre.
1945: German policemen of Post-war administration. 1945.
1942: French soldiers coming back from their victory at Bir Hakeim, Lybia 1942
1902: Marie and Pierre Curie isolate the radioactive compound radium chloride in 1902.
1862: First pasteurization test was completed by Frenchmen Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard in 1862.
1611: First known performance of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth at the Globe Theatre, London, recorded by Simon Forman in 1611.
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, April 20
1969: Felix Baumgartner, Austrian skydiver
1939: Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norwegian physician, politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Norway
1893: Joan Miró, Spanish painter
1889: Adolf Hitler, Austrian/German politician, Chancellor of Germany
1808: Napoleon III, French politician, 1st President of France
Adolf Hitler was born.
Napoleon III was born.
Sheemar Moore was born.
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, April 20
1993: Cantinflas, Mexican actor, screenwriter, producer
1991: Don Siegel, American film director
1991: Steve Marriott, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actor
1918: Karl Ferdinand Braun, German/American physicist, Nobel Prize laureate
1521: Zhengde Emperor, of China
Avicii died.
Rubin Carter died.
Bram stroker died.
