20 February

February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 314 days remain until the end of the year.

We have some interesting facts & historic events all about February 20^th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about February 20^th in history!

Table of Contents

1. Global Celebrations
2. Historic Events
3. Famous Birthdays
4. Heartbreaking Deaths

Global Celebrations

• National Love Your Pet Day
• National Cherry Pie Day
• National Handcuff Day

Historic Events

What Happened On This Day – February 20

1988: The Nagorno-Karabakh War is triggered by der Autonomous Oblast’s secession from Azerbaijan

Today, Nagorno-Karabakh is a de facto independent state, but the territory is still internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

1962: The first U.S. citizen to orbit the Earth lands safely in the Atlantic Ocean

John Glenn’s 5-hour spaceflight came almost a year after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth on April 12, 1961.

1944: U.S. bombers attack German aircraft manufacturing centers, in a bombing campaign that became known as the “Big Week”

The goal was to achieve air superiority to secure the invasion of Europe.

1913: Works to build Australia’s capital city commence

Canberra is an entirely planned city and was chosen as the Australian capital as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne.

1877: Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake” is premiered

It is one of the world’s best-known ballets.

1990: Barack Obama, a graduate of Harvard Law School ’91, is photographed on campus after being named head of the Harvard Law Review in 1990.

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1969: Michael Jackson in his childhood.

Famous Birthdays

Births On This Day, February 20

1988: Rihanna, Barbadian/American singer-songwriter, actress

1967: Kurt Cobain, American singer-songwriter, guitarist

1951: Gordon Brown, Scottish politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

1927: Sidney Poitier, American actor, director

1819: Alfred Escher, Swiss businessman, politician

Heartbreaking Deaths

Deaths On This Day, February 20

2005: Hunter S. Thompson, American journalist, author

1996: Toru Takemitsu, Japanese composer

1993: Ferruccio Lamborghini, Italian businessman, created Lamborghini

1961: Percy Grainger, Australian composer

1895: Frederick Douglass, American author, activist