May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 225 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about May 20th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about May 20th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- World Metrology Day
- World Bee Day
- World meditation Day
- National Pick Strawberries Day
- National Be a Millionaire Day
- Weights and Measures Day
- National Quiche Lorraine Day
- International Clinical Trials Day
- National Bike to Work Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – May 20
1983: In South Africa, a car bomb planted by anti-Apartheid activists kills 19
The Church Street Bombing was carried out by the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC). It was one of the bloodiest chapters in the ANC’s long and difficult struggle against racial segregation and oppression in South Africa.
1940: The first prisoners arrive at Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz was the biggest extermination camp during World War II. From 1940 to 1945, the Nazi regime murdered at least 1.1 million people here.
1927: Charles Lindbergh takes off on the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight
He departed from Long Island in the United States and arrived in Paris, France at 22:22 on the next day.
1873: Blue jeans are patented
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis invented the garment, which today represents one of the most popular types of trousers worldwide.
1970: Ms Charlotte H. Pownell showing a salmon dinner cooked in a dishwasher in Los Angeles, 1970
1947: Royal Greek soldiers during the Greek Civil War, 1947
1944: A group of officers from the German Army attempted an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler by exploding a bomb in his headquarters during a staffing meeting in 1944.
1936: Japanese murderer Sada Abe shortly after being arrested by police. She had murdered her lover via erotic asphyxiation before cutting off his penis and testicles and carrying them around in her kimono. She also reportedly had sex with the severed genitals, on May 20, 1936
1932: Painting The Eiffel Tower – 1932
1927: Britain recognizes the independence of Saudi Arabia in 1927.
1927: Charles Lindbergh began the first nonstop trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Paris in 1927.
1910: 9 European Monarchs pose for a photograph at the funeral of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom on 20 May 1910. It was the largest gathering of European royalty ever to take place.
1860: Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1860, was the first portrait taken of him after he had received the nomination for president at the Republican National Convention in Chicago
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, May 20
1971: Tony Stewart, American race car driver
1946: Cher, American singer-songwriter, actress, producer, director
1944: Joe Cocker, English singer-songwriter
1915: Moshe Dayan, Israeli general, politician, 5th Minister of Foreign Affairs for Israel)
1799: Honoré de Balzac, French author, playwright
Timothy Olyphant was born.
N. T. Rama Rao Jr. was born.
John Stuart Mill was born.
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, May 20
2012: Robin Gibb, English singer-songwriter, producer
2002: Stephen Jay Gould, American paleontologist
1896: Clara Schumann, German pianist, composer
1834: Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, French general
1506: Christopher Columbus, Italian explorer, discovered the Americas
Christopher Columbus died.
Randy Savage died.
Barbara Hepworth died.