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On This Day in History — September 20
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Highlights of September 20
- 2011 — The United States military ended its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, consequently allowing gay and lesbian people to serve openly. Read more
- 2008 — An explosive-laden truck detonated in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others. Read more
- 2000 — The Real Irish Republican Army carried out a rocket-launcher attack on the MI6 headquarters in London, with no casualties and minimal damage recorded. Read more
- 1997 — Hurricane Erika, the strongest and longest-lasting hurricane of the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season, dissipated after causing flooding and power outages throughout Puerto Rico. Read more
- 1988 — British prime minister Margaret Thatcher gave a landmark speech at the Belfry of Bruges, Belgium, against federalism in the European Economic Community. Read more
- 1984 — The Cosby Show, which became one of three U.S. television shows to have the highest ratings five years in a row, premiered with its pilot episode. Read more
- 1977 — A series of celestial phenomena of disputed nature was observed in the western Soviet Union, Finland and Denmark. Read more
- 1973 — Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in straight sets at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, in an internationally televised tennis match dubbed the "Battle of the Sexes". Read more
- 1971 — Hurricane Irene (satellite image pictured) moved into the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic, making it the first actively tracked tropical cyclone to do so. Read more
- 1967 — Sweden, Norway, and Denmark submit the Greek case alleging human rights violations by the Greek junta. Read more
- 1967 — L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, announced the story of Xenu in a taped lecture sent to all Scientologists. Read more
- 1944 — Second World War: Allied forces captured San Marino from the German Army. Read more
- 1943 — World War II: Australian troops led by Gordon Grimsley King defeated Imperial Japanese forces at the Battle of Kaiapit in New Guinea. Read more
- 1920 — Irish War of Independence: British auxiliary police officers known as Black and Tans went on a rampage in Balbriggan, burning more than fifty homes and businesses and killing two people. Read more
- 1906 — The ocean liner RMS Mauretania, the largest and fastest ship in the world at the time, was launched in Tyneside, England. Read more
- 1870 — The Bersaglieri entered Rome through the Porta Pia, ending the temporal power of the Pope and completing the unification of Italy. Read more
- 1792 — The French Army achieved its first major victory of the War of the First Coalition at the Battle of Valmy. Read more
- 1697 — The first of a series of treaties comprising the Peace of Ryswick was signed between France and the Grand Alliance, ending the Nine Years' War. Read more
- 1643 — First English Civil War: The First Battle of Newbury was fought in Berkshire; Parliamentarian forces were allowed to pass Royalist troops to retreat the next morning. Read more
- 1498 — A tsunami caused by the Meiō earthquake washed away the building housing the Great Buddha (pictured) at Kōtoku-in in Kamakura, Japan; the statue has since stood in the open air. Read more
- 1260 — The second of two major uprisings by the Old Prussians, a Baltic tribe, began against the Teutonic Knights. Read more
- 1066 — Harald III of Norway and his English ally Tostig Godwinson defeated the northern earls Edwin and Morcar at the Battle of Fulford near York. Read more
Events
- 2019 — Roughly four million people, mostly students, demonstrate across the world to address climate change. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden leads the demonstration in New York City. Read more
- 2018 — At least 161 people die after a ferry capsizes close to the pier on Ukara Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Read more
- 2017 — Hurricane Maria makes landfall in Puerto Rico as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, resulting in 2,975 deaths, US$90 billion in damage, and a major humanitarian crisis. Read more
- 2011 — The United States military ends its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time. Read more
- 2008 — A dump truck full of explosives detonates in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others. Read more
- 2007 — Between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters march on Jena, Louisiana, United States, in support of six black youths who had been convicted of assaulting a white classmate. Read more
- 2003 — Civil unrest in the Maldives breaks out after a prisoner is killed by guards. Read more
- 2001 — In an address to a joint session of Congress and the American people, U.S. President George W. Bush declares a "war on terror". Read more
- 2000 — The United Kingdom's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service building is attacked by individuals using a Russian-built RPG-22 anti-tank missile. Read more
- 1990 — South Ossetia declares its independence from Georgia. Read more
- 1989 — USAir Flight 5050 crashes into Bowery Bay during a rejected takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, killing two people. Read more
- 1988 — Margaret Thatcher delivers the Bruges speech, in which she articulates her opposition to further European integration. Read more
- 1986 — Aeroflot Flight 36075 is hijacked at Ufa International Airport. Read more
- 1984 — A suicide bomber in a car attacks the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing twenty-two people. Read more
- 1982 — NFL season: American football players in the National Football League begin a 57-day strike. Read more
- 1979 — A French-organized coup d'état in the Central African Empire overthrows Emperor Bokassa I. Read more
- 1977 — Vietnam is admitted to the United Nations. Read more
- 1973 — Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes tennis match at the Houston Astrodome. Read more
- 1973 — Singer Jim Croce, songwriter and musician Maury Muehleisen and four others die when their light aircraft crashes shortly after takeoff from Natchitoches Regional Airport in Louisiana. Read more
- 1971 — Having weakened after making landfall in Nicaragua the previous day, Hurricane Irene regains enough strength to be renamed Hurricane Olivia, making it the first known hurricane to cross from the Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific. Read more
- 1967 — The Cunard Liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is launched in Clydebank, Scotland. Read more
- 1965 — Following the Battle of Burki, the Indian Army captures Dograi in during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Read more
- 1962 — James Meredith, an African American, is temporarily barred from entering the University of Mississippi. Read more
- 1961 — Greek general Konstantinos Dovas becomes Prime Minister of Greece. Read more
- 1955 — The Treaty on Relations between the USSR and the GDR is signed. Read more
- 1954 — The Moomin comics, created by Tove Jansson and Lars Jansson, is published internationally in the London newspaper The Evening News. Read more
- 1946 — The first Cannes Film Festival is held, having been delayed for seven years due to World War II. Read more
- 1946 — Six days after a referendum, King Christian X of Denmark annuls the declaration of independence of the Faroe Islands. Read more
- 1941 — The Holocaust in Lithuania: Lithuanian Nazis and local police begin a mass execution of 403 Jews in Nemenčinė. Read more
- 1920 — Irish War of Independence: British police known as "Black and Tans" burn the town of Balbriggan and kill two local men in revenge for an IRA assassination. Read more
- 1911 — The White Star Line's RMS Olympic collides with the British warship HMS Hawke. Read more
- 1893 — Charles Duryea and his brother road-test the first American-made gasoline-powered automobile. Read more
- 1881 — U.S. President Chester A. Arthur is sworn in upon the death of James A. Garfield the previous day. Read more
- 1871 — Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, first bishop of Melanesia, is martyred on Nukapu, now in the Solomon Islands. Read more
- 1870 — The Bersaglieri corps enter Rome through the Porta Pia, and complete the unification of Italy. Read more
- 1863 — American Civil War: The Battle of Chickamauga, in northwestern Georgia, ends in a Confederate victory. Read more
- 1860 — The future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom begins the first visit to North America by a Prince of Wales. Read more
- 1857 — The Indian Rebellion of 1857 ends with the recapture of Delhi by troops loyal to the East India Company. Read more
- 1854 — Crimean War: British and French troops defeat Russians at the Battle of Alma. Read more
- 1848 — The American Association for the Advancement of Science is created. Read more
- 1835 — The decade-long Ragamuffin War starts when rebels capture Porto Alegre in Brazil. Read more
- 1792 — French troops stop an allied invasion of France at the Battle of Valmy. Read more
- 1737 — The Walking Purchase concludes, which forces the cession of 1.2 million acres (4,900 km2) of Lenape-Delaware tribal land to the Pennsylvania Colony. Read more
- 1697 — The Treaty of Ryswick is signed by France, England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and the Dutch Republic, ending the Nine Years' War. Read more
- 1602 — The Spanish-held Dutch town of Grave capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English army under the command of Maurice of Orange. Read more
- 1586 — A number of conspirators in the Babington Plot are hanged, drawn and quartered. Read more
- 1519 — Ferdinand Magellan sets sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda with about 270 men on his expedition which ultimately culminates in the first circumnavigation of the globe. Read more
- 1498 — The Nankai tsunami washes away the building housing the Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in; it has been located outside ever since. Read more
- 1378 — Cardinal Robert of Geneva is elected as Pope Clement VII, beginning the Papal schism. Read more
- 1260 — The Great Prussian Uprising among the old Prussians begins against the Teutonic Knights. Read more
- 1217 — Following the French defeat in the battle of Lincoln, Prince Louis of France ratifies the treaty of Lambeth under which he abandons all claims to the English throne and returns to France in exchange of an indemnity payment. Read more
- 1187 — Saladin begins the Siege of Jerusalem. Read more
- 1066 — At the Battle of Fulford, Harald Hardrada defeats earls Morcar and Edwin. Read more
- 1058 — Agnes of Poitou and Andrew I of Hungary meet to negotiate about the border territory of Burgenland. Read more
Born on September 20
- 2003 — Thomas Matthew Crooks, American attempted assassin of Donald Trump (died 2024) Read more
- 1998 — Trevon Diggs, American football player Read more
- 1997 — Itamar Einhorn, Israeli Olympic cyclist Read more
- 1997 — Nathan Knight, American basketball player Read more
- 1996 — Ioana Loredana Roșca, Romanian tennis player Read more
- 1995 — Laura Dekker, Dutch sailor Read more
- 1995 — Sammi Hanratty, American actress Read more
- 1995 — Rob Holding, English footballer Read more
- 1994 — Ryan Hartman, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1993 — Kyle Anderson, American-Chinese basketball player Read more
- 1993 — Julian Draxler, German footballer Read more
- 1992 — Michał Żyro, Polish footballer Read more
- 1991 — Isaac Cofie, Ghanaian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Ken Giles, American baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Carlos Hyde, American football player Read more
- 1990 — Donatas Motiejūnas, Lithuanian basketball player Read more
- 1990 — Phillip Phillips, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
- 1990 — John Tavares, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Sergei Bobrovsky, Russian ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Coby Fleener, American football player Read more
- 1988 — Khabib Nurmagomedov, Russian mixed martial artist Read more
- 1988 — Ayano Ōmoto, Japanese singer and dancer Read more
- 1988 — Ryan Simpkins, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1987 — Gain, South Korean singer Read more
- 1987 — Jack Lawless, American drummer Read more
- 1987 — Tito Tebaldi, Italian rugby player Read more
- 1986 — Hayato Fujita, Japanese wrestler Read more
- 1986 — Aldis Hodge, American actor Read more
- 1986 — İbrahim Kaş, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1986 — Jason Nightingale, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
- 1986 — A. J. Ramos, American baseball player Read more
- 1985 — Ian Desmond, American baseball player Read more
- 1985 — Mami Yamasaki, Japanese model and actress Read more
- 1984 — Brian Joubert, French figure skater Read more
- 1983 — Sancho Lyttle, Vincentian-Spanish basketball player Read more
- 1983 — Freya Ross, Scottish runner Read more
- 1983 — Ángel Sánchez, Puerto Rican baseball player Read more
- 1982 — Jason Bacashihua, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1982 — Aaron Burkart, German race car driver Read more
- 1982 — Brian Fortuna, American dancer and choreographer Read more
Died on September 20
- 2026 — Chad Gilbert, American musician, songwriter, and producer (born 1981) Read more
- 2025 — Matt Beard, English football manager (born 1978) Read more
- 2024 — Ibrahim Aqil, Hezbollah militant (born 1962) Read more
- 2024 — Kathryn Crosby, American actress and singer (born 1933) Read more
- 2024 — Daniel J. Evans, American politician, 16th Governor of Washington (born 1925) Read more
- 2024 — Sayuri, Japanese musician (born 1996) Read more
- 2024 — Cleo Sylvestre, English actress (born 1945) Read more
- 2024 — Eduardo Xol, American designer and author (born 1966) Read more
- 2023 — Maddy Cusack, English football player (born 1995) Read more
- 2016 — Curtis Hanson, American film director and screenwriter (born 1945) Read more
- 2016 — Peter Leo Gerety, American bishop (born 1912) Read more
- 2015 — Mario Caiano, Italian director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1933) Read more
- 2015 — Jagmohan Dalmiya, Indian businessman (born 1940) Read more
- 2015 — Jack Larson, American actor (born 1928) Read more
- 2014 — Anatoly Berezovoy, Russian colonel, pilot, and cosmonaut (born 1942) Read more
- 2014 — Polly Bergen, American actress and singer (born 1930) Read more
- 2014 — Takako Doi, Japanese scholar and politician (born 1928) Read more
- 2014 — George Sluizer, French-Dutch director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1932) Read more
- 2013 — James B. Vaught, American general (born 1926) Read more
- 2013 — Gilles Verlant, Belgian journalist and critic (born 1957) Read more
- 2012 — Fortunato Baldelli, Italian cardinal (born 1935) Read more
- 2012 — Richard H. Cracroft, American author and academic (born 1936) Read more
- 2012 — Tereska Torrès, French soldier and author (born 1920) Read more
- 2011 — Oscar Handlin, American historian and author (born 1915) Read more
- 2011 — Burhanuddin Rabbani, Afghan academic and politician, 10th President of Afghanistan (born 1940) Read more
- 2010 — Leonard Skinner, American soldier and educator (born 1933) Read more
- 2007 — Johnny Gavin, Irish footballer (born 1928) Read more
- 2006 — Armin Jordan, Swiss conductor (born 1932) Read more
- 2006 — Sven Nykvist, Swedish director, producer, and cinematographer (born 1922) Read more
- 2006 — John W. Peterson, American pilot and songwriter (born 1921) Read more
- 2005 — Simon Wiesenthal, Austrian human rights activist, Holocaust survivor (born 1908) Read more
- 2004 — Brian Clough, English footballer and manager (born 1935) Read more
- 2004 — Townsend Hoopes, American soldier and historian (born 1922) Read more
- 2003 — Simon Muzenda, Zimbabwean politician, 1st Vice-President of Zimbabwe (born 1922) Read more
- 2003 — Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn, Welsh lawyer and politician, Lord President of the Council (born 1941) Read more
- 2002 — Sergei Bodrov Jr., Russian actor, director, and screenwriter (born 1971) Read more
- 2000 — Gherman Titov, Russian general, pilot, and astronaut (born 1935) Read more
- 1999 — Robert Lebel, Canadian businessman (born 1905) Read more
- 1996 — Paul Erdős, Hungarian-Polish mathematician and academic (born 1913) Read more
- 1996 — Reuben Kamanga, Zambian politician, 1st Vice-President of Zambia (born 1929) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Eustace (Western Christianity); Christian feast day:
Evilasius; Christian feast day:
Fausta of Cyzicus; Christian feast day:
Glycerius of Milan; Christian feast day:
Jean-Charles Cornay (one of Vietnamese Martyrs); Christian feast day:
John Coleridge Patteson (commemoration, Anglicanism); Christian feast day:
José Maria de Yermo y Parres; Christian feast day:
Korean Martyrs, including Andrew Kim Taegon and Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert; Christian feast day:
Theodore, Philippa and companions; Christian feast day:
Blessed Thomas Johnson; Christian feast day:
Vincent Madelgarius (Maelceadar); Christian feast day:
September 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Constitution Day (Nepal); Independence Day of South Ossetia (not fully recognized); National Youth Day (Thailand); Oil Workers' Day (Azerbaijan); Universal Children's Day (Germany)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “September 20”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.