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On This Day in History — March 20
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Highlights of March 20
- 2014 — Taliban militants killed nine civilians in a mass shooting at the Kabul Serena Hotel in Afghanistan. Read more
- 2010 — Eyjafjallajökull (pictured) in Iceland began a series of volcanic events, later disrupting air travel across Europe. Read more
- 1993 — The Troubles: Two children were killed by the second of two bomb attacks by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Warrington, England. Read more
- 1987 — The antiretroviral drug zidovudine became the first treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for HIV/AIDS. Read more
- 1944 — World War II: U.S. Marines made a landing on Emirau Island in the Bismarck Archipelago to develop an airbase as part of Operation Cartwheel. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: After being forced to flee the Philippines for Australia, US Army general Douglas MacArthur announced: "I came through and I shall return." Read more
- 1939 — Germany issued an ultimatum to Lithuania, demanding the return of the Klaipėda Region under threat of invasion. Read more
- 1926 — Chiang Kai-shek initiated a purge of communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou, China. Read more
- 1923 — The Arts Club of Chicago hosted the opening of Pablo Picasso's first solo United States showing, entitled Original Drawings by Pablo Picasso. Read more
- 1922 — The United States Navy commissioned its first aircraft carrier, USS Langley. Read more
- 1890 — Emperor Wilhelm II dismissed Otto von Bismarck as the chancellor of the German Empire. Read more
- 1861 — An earthquake occurred in the Argentine province of Mendoza, causing at least 6,000 deaths and destroying most of the buildings in the province's capital city. Read more
- 1854 — The Republican Party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin, by politicians opposing the Kansas–Nebraska Act and the expansion of slavery in the United States. Read more
- 1852 — Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the United States, was published. Read more
- 1760 — A fire of unknown cause broke out in Boston, Massachusetts, destroying 349 buildings. Read more
- 1724 — Following the death of Pope Innocent XIII, a papal conclave convened in Rome to elect a new pope. Read more
- 1602 — The Dutch East India Company, the first company to issue stock, was established. Read more
Events
- 2021 — La Plume noire, an anarchist bookstore in Lyon, is targeted by an attack of the far-right, provoking a shock in Lyon's far-left circles. Read more
- 2019 — Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is sworn in as acting president of Kazakhstan, following the resignation of long-time president Nursultan Nazarbayev. Read more
- 2015 — A solar eclipse, equinox, and a supermoon all occur on the same day. Read more
- 2015 — Syrian civil war: The Siege of Kobanî is broken by the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA), marking a turning point in the Rojava–Islamist conflict. Read more
- 2014 — Four suspected Taliban members attack the Kabul Serena Hotel, killing at least nine people. Read more
- 2012 — At least 52 people are killed and more than 250 injured in a wave of terror attacks across ten cities in Iraq. Read more
- 2010 — Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland begins eruptions that would last for three months, heavily disrupting air travel in Europe. Read more
- 2006 — Over 150 Chadian soldiers are killed in eastern Chad by members of the rebel UFDC. The rebel movement sought to overthrow Chadian president Idriss Déby. Read more
- 2003 — Iraq War: The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland begin an invasion of Iraq. Read more
- 2000 — Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after murdering Georgia sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and critically wounding Deputy Aldranon English. Read more
- 1999 — Legoland California, the first Legoland outside of Europe, opens in Carlsbad, California, US. Read more
- 1995 — The Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo carries out a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, killing 14 and wounding over 6,200 people. Read more
- 1993 — The Troubles: A Provisional IRA bomb kills two children in Warrington, England. It leads to mass protests in both Britain and Ireland. Read more
- 1990 — Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering. Read more
- 1988 — Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet. Read more
- 1987 — The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT. Read more
- 1985 — Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Read more
- 1972 — The Troubles: The first car bombing by the Provisional IRA in Belfast kills seven people and injures 148 others in Northern Ireland. Read more
- 1969 — A United Arab Airlines (now Egyptair) Ilyushin Il-18 crashes at Aswan International Airport, killing 100 people. Read more
- 1964 — The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organisation) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962. Read more
- 1956 — Tunisia gains independence from France. Read more
- 1952 — The US Senate ratifies the Security Treaty between the United States and Japan. Read more
- 1951 — Fujiyoshida, a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in the center of the Japanese main island of Honshū is founded. Read more
- 1948 — With a Musicians Union ban lifted, the first telecasts of classical music in the United States, under Eugene Ormandy and Arturo Toscanini, are given on CBS and NBC. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: General Douglas MacArthur, at Terowie, South Australia, makes his famous speech regarding the fall of the Philippines, in which he says: "I came out of Bataan and I shall return". Read more
- 1933 — Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler orders the creation of Dachau concentration camp as Chief of Police of Munich and appoints Theodor Eicke as the camp commandant. Read more
- 1926 — Chiang Kai-shek initiates a purge of communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou. Read more
- 1923 — The Arts Club of Chicago hosts the opening of Pablo Picasso's first United States showing, entitled Original Drawings by Pablo Picasso, becoming an early proponent of modern art in the United States. Read more
- 1922 — The USS Langley is commissioned as the first United States Navy aircraft carrier. Read more
- 1921 — The Upper Silesia plebiscite, mandated by the Versailles Treaty to determine a section of the border between Weimar Germany and Poland, is held. Read more
- 1916 — Albert Einstein submits his paper, "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity", which establishes his general theory of relativity, to the journal Annalen der Physik. Read more
- 1914 — In the Curragh incident, over 100 British Army officers threaten to resign if ordered to march against the Ulster Volunteers. Read more
- 1913 — Sung Chiao-jen, a founder of the Chinese Nationalist Party, is wounded in an assassination attempt and dies 2 days later. Read more
- 1903 — The first of a series of auctions of sheep farming land in southern Patagonia takes place impacting established settlers. Read more
- 1896 — With the approval of Emperor Guangxu, the Qing dynasty post office is opened, marking the beginning of a postal service in China. Read more
- 1890 — Chancellor of the German Empire Otto von Bismarck is dismissed by Emperor Wilhelm II. Read more
- 1888 — The premiere of the very first Romani language operetta is staged in Moscow, Russia. Read more
- 1883 — The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is signed. Read more
- 1861 — An earthquake destroys Mendoza, Argentina. Read more
- 1854 — The Republican Party of the United States is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, US. Read more
- 1852 — Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is published. Read more
- 1848 — German revolutions of 1848–49: King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicates. Read more
- 1815 — After escaping from Elba, Napoleon enters Paris with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000, beginning his "Hundred Days" rule. Read more
- 1760 — The Great Boston Fire of 1760 destroys 349 buildings. Read more
- 1616 — Sir Walter Raleigh is freed from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment. Read more
- 1602 — The Dutch East India Company is established. Read more
- 1600 — The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden: five Swedish noblemen are publicly beheaded in the aftermath of the War against Sigismund (1598–1599). Read more
- 1206 — Michael IV Autoreianos is appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Read more
Born on March 20
- 2004 — Belle, American singer Read more
- 2003 — Cooper Hoffman, American actor Read more
- 2002 — Jahmyr Gibbs, American football player Read more
- 2001 — Trevor Zegras, American ice hockey player Read more
- 2000 — Hyunjin, South Korean rapper Read more
- 1995 — Lindsay Allen, American basketball player Read more
- 1995 — Kei, South Korean singer Read more
- 1995 — Nick Paul, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1995 — Samantha Weinstein, Canadian actress (died 2023) Read more
- 1993 — Fabian Fahl, German politician Read more
- 1993 — JaKarr Sampson, American basketball player Read more
- 1993 — Sloane Stephens, American tennis player Read more
- 1992 — Justin Faulk, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1991 — Mattia Destro, Italian footballer Read more
- 1991 — Michał Kucharczyk, Polish footballer Read more
- 1991 — Nick Leddy, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1990 — Blake Ferguson, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1990 — Brad Hand, American baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Marcos Rojo, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1989 — Xavier Dolan, Canadian actor and director Read more
- 1989 — Tamim Iqbal, Bangladeshi cricketer Read more
- 1987 — Daniel Maa Boumsong, Cameroonian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Jon Brockman, American basketball player Read more
- 1987 — Jô, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Pedro Ken, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Sergei Kostitsyn, Belarusian ice hockey player Read more
- 1986 — Dean Geyer, South African-Australian singer-songwriter and actor Read more
- 1986 — Julián Magallanes, Argentinian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Román Torres, Panamanian footballer Read more
- 1986 — Ruby Rose, Australian actress and model Read more
- 1985 — Morgan Amalfitano, French footballer Read more
- 1985 — Ronnie Brewer, American basketball player Read more
- 1985 — Nicolas Lombaerts, Belgian footballer Read more
- 1984 — Vikram Banerjee, English cricketer Read more
- 1984 — Valtteri Filppula, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
- 1984 — IJustine, American YouTuber Read more
- 1984 — Fernando Torres, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1983 — Carolina Padrón, Venezuelan journalist Read more
- 1983 — Jenni Vartiainen, Finnish singer Read more
- 1983 — Dennis Wideman, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
Died on March 20
- 2026 — Nicholas Brendon, American actor (born 1971) Read more
- 2026 — Filaret Denysenko, Ukrainian religious leader, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (born 1929) Read more
- 2026 — Robert Mueller, American attorney, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (born 1944) Read more
- 2025 — Eddie Jordan, Irish businessman, television personality and motorsport team owner (born 1948) Read more
- 2023 — John Sattler, Australian rugby league player (born 1942) Read more
- 2023 — Kyle White, Australian rugby league player (born 1970) Read more
- 2020 — Amadeo Carrizo, Argentine footballer (born 1926) Read more
- 2020 — Kenny Rogers, American singer (born 1938) Read more
- 2019 — Mary Warnock, English philosopher and writer (born 1924) Read more
- 2018 — C. K. Mann, Ghanaian Highlife musician and producer (born 1936) Read more
- 2017 — David Rockefeller, American billionaire and philanthropist (born 1915) Read more
- 2016 — Anker Jørgensen, Danish politician, Prime Minister of Denmark (born 1922) Read more
- 2015 — Eva Burrows, Australian 13th General of The Salvation Army (born 1929) Read more
- 2015 — Malcolm Fraser, Australian politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Australia (born 1930) Read more
- 2014 — Hennie Aucamp, South African poet, author, and academic (born 1934) Read more
- 2014 — Hilderaldo Bellini, Brazilian footballer (born 1930) Read more
- 2014 — Tonie Nathan, American politician (born 1923) Read more
- 2014 — Khushwant Singh, Indian journalist and author (born 1915) Read more
- 2013 — James Herbert, English author (born 1943) Read more
- 2013 — George Lowe, New Zealand-English mountaineer and explorer (born 1924) Read more
- 2013 — Zillur Rahman, Bangladeshi lawyer and politician, 19th President of Bangladesh (born 1929) Read more
- 2012 — Lincoln Hall, Australian mountaineer and author (born 1955) Read more
- 2012 — Noboru Ishiguro, Japanese animator and director (born 1938) Read more
- 2012 — Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, Polish-Israeli rabbi and author (born 1910) Read more
- 2012 — Jim Stynes, Irish-Australian footballer (born 1966) Read more
- 2011 — Johnny Pearson, English pianist, conductor, and composer (born 1925) Read more
- 2010 — Ai, American poet and academic (born 1947) Read more
- 2010 — Girija Prasad Koirala, Indian-Nepalese politician, 30th Prime Minister of Nepal (born 1924) Read more
- 2010 — Stewart Udall, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 37th United States Secretary of the Interior (born 1920) Read more
- 2007 — Raynald Fréchette, Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician (born 1933) Read more
- 2007 — Taha Yassin Ramadan, Iraqi politician, Vice President of Iraq (born 1938) Read more
- 2007 — Hawa Yakubu, Ghanaian politician (born 1948) Read more
- 2005 — Armand Lohikoski, American-Finnish director and screenwriter (born 1912) Read more
- 2004 — Juliana of the Netherlands (born 1909) Read more
- 2004 — Pierre Sévigny, Canadian colonel and politician (born 1917) Read more
- 2001 — Luis Alvarado, Puerto Rican-American baseball player (born 1949) Read more
- 2000 — Gene Eugene, Canadian-American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1961) Read more
- 1999 — Patrick Heron, British painter (born 1920) Read more
- 1997 — V. S. Pritchett, English short story writer, essayist, and critic (born 1900) Read more
- 1994 — Lewis Grizzard, American writer and humorist (born 1946) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Alexandra; Christian feast day:
Blessed John of Parma; Christian feast day:
Clement of Ireland; Christian feast day:
Cuthbert of Lindisfarne; Christian feast day:
Herbert of Derwentwater; Christian feast day:
John of Nepomuk; Christian feast day:
Józef Bilczewski; Christian feast day:
María Josefa Sancho de Guerra; Christian feast day:
Martin of Braga; Christian feast day:
Michele Carcano; Christian feast day:
Wulfram; Christian feast day:
March 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Great American MeatOut (United States); Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Tunisia from France in 1956.; International Day of Happiness (United Nations); International Francophonie Day (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie), and its related observances:
UN French Language Day (United Nations); National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (United States); World Sparrow Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “March 20”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.