On This Day in History — June 20

Highlights of June 20

• 2019 — Iranian aircraft shot down an American drone over the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between the two countries. Read more
• 2009 — Iranian student Neda Agha-Soltan was shot dead in Tehran during the presidential election protests; footage of her death was widely distributed over the Internet, making it "probably the most widely witnessed death in human history". Read more
• 1994 — A bomb explosion in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran, left at least 25 dead and more than 70 injured. Read more
• 1982 — The International Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide, the first major conference in genocide studies, opened despite Turkish attempts to cancel it due to the inclusion of presentations on the Armenian genocide. Read more
• 1979 — Bill Stewart, an American journalist, was executed by Nicaraguan Guardia forces. Read more
• 1975 — Steven Spielberg's film Jaws was released; it became a summer blockbuster and the first film to earn $100 million in U.S. theatrical rentals. Read more
• 1960 — The Mali Federation gained independence from France, but dissolved into Mali and Senegal two months later. Read more
• 1959 — The extratropical remnants of an Atlantic hurricane reached the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada, causing 22 fishing boats to capsize and killing 35 people. Read more
• 1947 — A Mafia hitman murdered gangster Bugsy Siegel, one of the driving forces in the development of the Las Vegas Strip, in Beverly Hills, California. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: The Royal Air Force began Operation Bellicose, a four-day shuttle-bombing mission that included raids on Germany and Italy and a refuelling and rearming stop in Algeria. Read more
• 1926 — Approximately 250,000 spectators attended the opening procession of the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in Chicago, United States. Read more
• 1921 — Workers at the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills in Madras, India, began a four-month strike. Read more
• 1921 — British Army officer Thomas Stanton Lambert was assassinated by the Irish Republican Army near Moydrum, Ireland. Read more
• 1900 — Boxer Rebellion: The Imperial Chinese Army began a 55-day siege of the Legation Quarter in Peking. Read more
• 1837 — Queen Victoria (pictured) acceded to the British throne, beginning a 63-year reign. Read more
• 1782 — The Congress of the Confederation adopted the Great Seal of the United States (obverse pictured), used to authenticate documents issued by the U.S. federal government. Read more

Events

• 2025 — The first EF5 tornado in 12 years occurs in Enderlin, North Dakota. Read more
• 2019 — Iran's Air Defense Forces shoot down an American surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions between the two countries. Read more
• 2011 — RusAir Flight 9605 crashes in Besovets during approach to Petrozavodsk Airport, killing 47. Read more
• 2008 — Twelve people are killed, including nine clubgoers and three police officers, during a crowd crush in Mexico City. Read more
• 2003 — The Wikimedia Foundation is founded in St. Petersburg, Florida. Read more
• 1996 — Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-78 to conduct life science and microgravity research aboard the Spacelab module. Read more
• 1994 — The 1994 Imam Reza shrine bomb explosion in Iran leaves at least 25 dead and 70 to 300 injured. Read more
• 1991 — The German Bundestag votes to move seat of government from the former West German capital of Bonn to the present capital of Berlin. Read more
• 1990 — Asteroid Eureka is discovered. Read more
• 1990 — The 7.4 Mw Manjil–Rudbar earthquake affects northern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), killing 35,000–50,000, and injuring 60,000–105,000. Read more
• 1988 — Haitian president Leslie Manigat is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Lieutenant General Henri Namphy. Read more
• 1982 — The International Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide opens in Tel Aviv, despite attempts by the Turkish government to cancel it, as it included presentations on the Armenian genocide. Read more
• 1982 — The Argentine Corbeta Uruguay base on Southern Thule surrenders to Royal Marine commandos in the final action of the Falklands War. Read more
• 1979 — ABC News correspondent Bill Stewart is shot dead by a Nicaraguan National Guard soldier under the regime of Anastasio Somoza Debayle during the Nicaraguan Revolution. The murder is caught on tape and sparks an international outcry against the regime. Read more
• 1975 — The film Jaws is released in the United States, becoming the highest-grossing film of that time and starting the trend of films known as "summer blockbusters". Read more
• 1973 — Snipers fire upon left-wing Peronists in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in what is known as the Ezeiza massacre. At least 13 are killed and more than 300 are injured. Read more
• 1973 — Aeroméxico Flight 229 crashes on approach to Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, killing all 27 people on board. Read more
• 1972 — Watergate scandal: An 18+1⁄2-minute gap appears in the tape recording of the conversations between U.S. President Richard Nixon and his advisers regarding the recent arrests of his operatives while breaking into the Watergate complex. Read more
• 1964 — A Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in the Shengang District of Taiwan, killing 57 people. Read more
• 1963 — Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Soviet Union and the United States sign an agreement to establish the so-called "red telephone" link between Washington, D.C., and Moscow. Read more
• 1960 — The Mali Federation gains independence from France (it later splits into Mali and Senegal). Read more
• 1959 — A rare June hurricane strikes Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence killing 35. Read more
• 1956 — A Venezuelan Super-Constellation crashes in the Atlantic Ocean off Asbury Park, New Jersey, killing 74 people. Read more
• 1948 — In Western Allied-occupied Germany, the Currency Reform of 1948 goes into effect, introducing the Deutsche Mark. The Soviet Military Administration in Germany responded by imposing the Berlin Blockade four days later. Read more
• 1945 — The United States Secretary of State approves the transfer of Wernher von Braun and his team of Nazi rocket scientists to the U.S. under Operation Paperclip. Read more
• 1944 — World War II: The Battle of the Philippine Sea concludes with a decisive U.S. naval victory. The lopsided naval air battle is also known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot". Read more
• 1944 — World War II: During the Continuation War, the Soviet Union demands unconditional surrender from Finland during the beginning of partially successful Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive. The Finnish government refuses. Read more
• 1944 — The experimental MW 18014 V-2 rocket reaches an altitude of 176 km, becoming the first man-made object to reach outer space. Read more
• 1943 — The Detroit race riot breaks out and continues for three more days. Read more
• 1943 — World War II: The Royal Air Force launches Operation Bellicose, the first shuttle bombing raid of the war. Avro Lancaster bombers damage the V-2 rocket production facilities at the Zeppelin Works while en route to an air base in Algeria. Read more
• 1942 — The Holocaust: Kazimierz Piechowski and three others, dressed as members of the SS-Totenkopfverbände, steal an SS staff car and escape from the Auschwitz concentration camp. Read more
• 1926 — The 28th International Eucharistic Congress begins in Chicago, with over 250,000 spectators attending the opening procession. Read more
• 1921 — Workers of Buckingham and Carnatic Mills in the city of Chennai, India, begin a four-month strike. Read more
• 1900 — Boxer Rebellion: The Imperial Chinese Army begins a 55-day siege of the Legation Quarter in Beijing, China. Read more
• 1900 — Baron Eduard Toll, leader of the Russian Polar Expedition of 1900, departs Saint Petersburg in Russia on the explorer ship Zarya, never to return. Read more
• 1895 — The Kiel Canal, crossing the base of the Jutland peninsula and the busiest artificial waterway in the world, is officially opened. Read more
• 1893 — Lizzie Borden is acquitted of the murders of her father and stepmother. Read more
• 1877 — Alexander Graham Bell installs the world's first commercial telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Read more
• 1863 — American Civil War: West Virginia is admitted as the 35th U.S. state. Read more
• 1862 — Barbu Catargiu, the Prime Minister of Romania, is assassinated. Read more
• 1840 — Samuel Morse receives the patent for the telegraph. Read more
• 1837 — King William IV dies, and is succeeded by his niece, Victoria. Read more
• 1819 — The U.S. vessel SS Savannah arrives at Liverpool, United Kingdom. It is the first steam-propelled vessel to cross the Atlantic, although most of the journey is made under sail. Read more
• 1791 — King Louis XVI, disguised as a valet, and the French royal family attempt to flee Paris during the French Revolution. Read more
• 1789 — Deputies of the French Third Estate take the Tennis Court Oath. Read more
• 1787 — Oliver Ellsworth moves at the Federal Convention to call the government the 'United States'. Read more
• 1782 — The U.S. Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States. Read more
• 1756 — A British garrison is imprisoned in the Black Hole of Calcutta. Read more
• 1685 — Monmouth Rebellion: James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth declares himself King of England at Bridgwater. Read more
• 1652 — Tarhoncu Ahmed Pasha is appointed Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. Read more
• 1631 — The Sack of Baltimore: The Irish village of Baltimore is attacked by Barbary slave traders. Read more
• 1622 — The Battle of Höchst takes place during the Thirty Years' War. Read more
• 1295 — The Treaty of Anagni, an attempt mediated by the papacy to end the War of the Sicilian Vespers, is signed by the crown of Aragon, the kingdom of France and kingdom of Naples. Read more
• 1210 — Michael I Komnenos Doukas, the first ruler of the despotate of Epirus, signs a treaty with the Republic of Venice and becomes their vassal. Read more
• 1180 — First Battle of Uji, starting the Genpei War in Japan. Read more
• 451 — Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius battles Attila the Hun. After the battle, which was inconclusive, Attila retreats. Despite suffering catastrophic losses that led to the collapse of their alliance with the Goths and the destruction of much of the Roman army, the Romans nevertheless proclaimed victory despite the lack of any clear military success. Read more

Born on June 20

• 2003 — Hans Niemann, American chess player Read more
• 2003 — Marc Pubill, Spanish footballer Read more
• 2002 — Giulia Stabile, Spanish-Italian dancer and television presenter Read more
• 2002 — Hugo Ekitike, French footballer Read more
• 2001 — Nicolas Jackson, Senegalese footballer Read more
• 2001 — Gonçalo Ramos, Portuguese footballer Read more
• 1997 — Bálint Kopasz, Hungarian sprint canoeist Read more
• 1996 — Sam Bennett, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
• 1995 — Caroline Weir, Scottish footballer Read more
• 1995 — Carol Zhao, Canadian tennis player Read more
• 1994 — Leonard Williams, American football player Read more
• 1993 — Sead Kolašinac, Bosnian footballer Read more
• 1991 — Kalidou Koulibaly, Senegalese footballer Read more
• 1991 — Rick ten Voorde, Dutch footballer Read more
• 1990 — Ding Ning, Chinese table tennis player Read more
• 1990 — DeQuan Jones, American basketball player Read more
• 1990 — Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, Senegalese writer Read more
• 1989 — Christopher Mintz-Plasse, American actor Read more
• 1989 — Javier Pastore, Argentinian footballer Read more
• 1989 — Terrelle Pryor, American football player Read more
• 1987 — A-fu, Taiwanese singer and songwriter Read more
• 1987 — Carsten Ball, Australian tennis player Read more
• 1987 — Asmir Begović, Bosnian footballer Read more
• 1987 — Joseph Ebuya, Kenyan runner Read more
• 1986 — Jakub Štěpánek, Czech ice hockey player Read more
• 1986 — Dreama Walker, American actress Read more
• 1985 — Aurélien Chedjou, Cameroonian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Matt Flynn, American football player Read more
• 1985 — Caroline Polachek, American singer and songwriter Read more
• 1984 — Hassan Adams, American basketball player Read more
• 1983 — Josh Childress, American basketball player Read more
• 1983 — Darren Sproles, American football player Read more
• 1982 — Aleksei Berezutski, Russian footballer Read more
• 1982 — Vasili Berezutski, Russian footballer Read more
• 1982 — Example, English singer/rapper Read more
• 1981 — Brede Hangeland, Norwegian footballer Read more
• 1980 — Franco Semioli, Italian footballer Read more
• 1980 — Fabian Wegmann, German cyclist Read more
• 1979 — Charles Howell III, American golfer Read more
• 1978 — Quinton Jackson, American mixed martial artist and actor Read more

Died on June 20

• 2024 — Donald Sutherland, Canadian actor and producer (born 1935) Read more
• 2024 — Taylor Wily, American actor, sumo wrestler and mixed martial artist (born 1968) Read more
• 2022 — Caleb Swanigan, American basketball player (born 1997) Read more
• 2017 — Prodigy, American music artist (born 1974) Read more
• 2015 — Angelo Niculescu, Romanian footballer and manager (born 1921) Read more
• 2015 — Miriam Schapiro, Canadian-American painter and sculptor (born 1923) Read more
• 2013 — Ingvar Rydell, Swedish footballer (born 1922) Read more
• 2012 — Judy Agnew, Second Lady of the United States. (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — LeRoy Neiman, American painter (born 1921) Read more
• 2012 — Heinrich IV, Prince Reuss of Köstritz (born 1919) Read more
• 2012 — Andrew Sarris, American critic (born 1928) Read more
• 2011 — Ryan Dunn, American television personality (born 1977) Read more
• 2010 — Roberto Rosato, Italian footballer (born 1943) Read more
• 2010 — Harry B. Whittington, English palaeontologist and academic (born 1916) Read more
• 2005 — Larry Collins, American journalist, historian, and author (born 1929) Read more
• 2005 — Jack Kilby, American physicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1923) Read more
• 2004 — Jim Bacon, Australian politician, 41st Premier of Tasmania (born 1950) Read more
• 2002 — Erwin Chargaff, Austrian-American biochemist and academic (born 1905) Read more
• 2002 — Tinus Osendarp, Dutch runner (born 1916) Read more
• 1999 — Clifton Fadiman, American game show host, author, and critic (born 1902) Read more
• 1997 — Cahit Külebi, Turkish poet and author (born 1917) Read more
• 1995 — Emil Cioran, Romanian-French philosopher and educator (born 1911) Read more
• 1984 — Estelle Winwood, English actress (born 1883) Read more
• 1978 — Mark Robson, Canadian-American director and producer (born 1913) Read more
• 1975 — Suzanne Comhaire-Sylvain, Haitian anthropologist (born 1898) Read more
• 1974 — Horace Lindrum, Australian snooker player (born 1912) Read more
• 1969 — Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Indian artist, painter, actor, dancer, writer, music composer and politician (born 1909) Read more
• 1966 — Georges Lemaître, Belgian priest, physicist, and astronomer (born 1894) Read more
• 1965 — Bernard Baruch, American financier and politician (born 1870) Read more
• 1963 — Raphaël Salem, Greek-French mathematician and academic (born 1898) Read more
• 1958 — Kurt Alder, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1902) Read more
• 1952 — Luigi Fagioli, Italian race car driver (born 1898) Read more
• 1947 — Bugsy Siegel, American mobster (born 1906) Read more
• 1945 — Bruno Frank, German author, poet, and playwright (born 1878) Read more
• 1929 — Emmanouil Benakis, Greek merchant and politician, 35th Mayor of Athens (born 1843) Read more
• 1925 — Josef Breuer, Austrian physician and psychologist (born 1842) Read more
• 1909 — Friedrich Martens, Estonian-Russian historian, lawyer, and diplomat (born 1845) Read more
• 1906 — John Clayton Adams, English painter (born 1840) Read more
• 1888 — Johannes Zukertort, Polish-English chess player (born 1842) Read more
• 1876 — John Neal, American writer, critic, editor, lecturer, and activist (born 1793) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Adalbert of Magdeburg; Christian feast day: Blessed Dermot O'Hurley; Christian feast day: Florentina; Christian feast day: John of Matera; Christian feast day: Blessed Margareta Ebner; Christian feast day: Methodius of Olympus; Christian feast day: Pope Silverius; Christian feast day: June 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of the National Flag (Argentina); Gas Sector Day (Azerbaijan); Martyrs' Day (Eritrea); West Virginia Day (West Virginia); World Refugee Day (International)

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