What Happened on May 20

Complete Timeline — May 20 Through the Ages

1. 491

   New Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I Dicorus marries Ariadne, widow of previous Emperor Zeno and daughter of Leo I

   New Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I Dicorus marries Ariadne, widow of previous Emperor Zeno and daughter of Leo I

2. 526

   Possible date of the Antioch earthquake in the Byzantine Empire (present-day Syria), which kills 200,000 people

   Possible date of the Antioch earthquake in the Byzantine Empire (present-day Syria), which kills 200,000 people

3. 685

   Battle of Nechtansmere/Dun Nechtain: Picts led by Brude MacBeli beat Northumbrians in Scotland, led by their king Ecgfri

   Battle of Nechtansmere/Dun Nechtain: Picts led by Brude MacBeli beat Northumbrians in Scotland, led by their king Ecgfrith who is killed

4. 1217

   Second Battle of Lincoln fought near Lincoln, England, resulting in the defeat of Prince Louis of France by William Mars

   Second Battle of Lincoln fought near Lincoln, England, resulting in the defeat of Prince Louis of France by William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke

5. 1293

   Earthquake strikes Kamakura, Japan, 30,000 killed

   Earthquake strikes Kamakura, Japan, 30,000 killed

6. 1303

   Treaty of Paris restores Gascony to the English and arranges marriage of English Prince Edward to French Princess Isabel

   Treaty of Paris restores Gascony to the English and arranges marriage of English Prince Edward to French Princess Isabella

7. 1347

   Rienzo calls Rome for people's tribunal

   Rienzo calls Rome for people's tribunal

8. 1498

   Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrives in Calicut, India, becoming the first European to reach India by sea

   Vasco da Gama ( VAS-koo də GA (H)M-ə, European Portuguese: [ˈvaʃku ðɐ ˈɣɐmɐ]; c. 1460s – 24 December 1524) was a Portuguese mariner, explorer and nobleman.

9. 1501

   Portuguese explorer João da Nova Castell discovers the uninhabited Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean

   Portuguese explorer João da Nova Castell discovers the uninhabited Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean

10. 1506

    Christopher Columbus dies

    Christopher Columbus, Italian navigator and explorer, known for italian navigator and explorer, died on 1506-05-20.

11. 1521

    Ignatius Loyola seriously wounded by a cannonball

    Ignatius Loyola seriously wounded by a cannonball

12. 1524

    Duke of Albany leaves Scotland

    Duke of Albany leaves Scotland

13. 1609

    William Shakespeare's Sonnets are first published in London, perhaps illicitly, by publisher Thomas Thorpe

    William Shakespeare's Sonnets are first published in London, perhaps illicitly, by publisher Thomas Thorpe

14. 1631

    Magdeburg in Germany seized by forces of the Holy Roman Empire under earl Johann Tilly, most inhabitants massacred, one

    Magdeburg in Germany seized by forces of the Holy Roman Empire under earl Johann Tilly, most inhabitants massacred, one of the bloodiest incidents of the Thirty Years' War

15. 1639

    Dorchester Massachusetts forms 1st school funded by local taxes

    Massachusetts ( MASS-ə-CHOO-sits, -⁠zits; Massachusett: Muhsachuweesut [məhswatʃəwiːsət]), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern...

16. 1704

    Elias Neau forms school for slaves in NY

    Elias Neau forms school for slaves in NY

17. 1734

    1st Jockey Club forms in South Carolina

    1st Jockey Club forms in South Carolina

18. 1756

    Prime Minister of Great Britain Frederick North (24) weds heiress Anne Speke

    Prime Minister of Great Britain Frederick North (24) weds heiress Anne Speke

19. 1774

    The British pass the second of the Intolerable Acts: the Massachusetts Government Act, giving British-appointed governor

    The British pass the second of the Intolerable Acts: the Massachusetts Government Act, giving British-appointed governor wide-ranging powers

20. 1775

    Citizens of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina declare independence from Great Britain

    The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is a text published in 1819 with the now disputed claim that it was the first declaration of independence made in the Thirteen Colonies during the American...

21. 1784

    Britain and the Netherlands sign the Peace of Paris

    The Peace of Paris of 1783 was the set of treaties that ended the American Revolutionary War.

22. 1830

    Douglass Hyde receives the first US patent for a fountain pen

    Douglass Hyde receives the first US patent for a fountain pen

23. 1834

    Marquis de Lafayette dies

    Marquis de Lafayette, American military officer and politician, known for french military officer and politician, died on 1834-05-20.

24. 1835

    Otto is named the first modern king of Greece

    The Kingdom of Greece was the Greek monarchy established in 1832 and was the successor to the First Hellenic Republic.

25. 1840

    York Minster badly damaged by fire

    York Minster badly damaged by fire

26. 1845

    First legislative assembly convenes in Hawaii

    First legislative assembly convenes in Hawaii

27. 1861

    Cornerstone of University of Washington laid in Seattle

    Cornerstone of University of Washington laid in Seattle

28. 1862

    US President Abraham Lincoln signs into law the Homestead Act to provide cheap land for the settlement of the American W

    US President Abraham Lincoln signs into law the Homestead Act to provide cheap land for the settlement of the American West (80 million acres by 1900)

29. 1864

    Battle at Ware Bottom Church, Virginia, 1,400 killed or injured

    Battle at Ware Bottom Church, Virginia, 1,400 killed or injured

30. 1868

    Republican National Convention, meets in Chicago, nominates Grant

    The 1880 Republican National Convention was held from June 2 to June 8, 1880, at the Interstate Exposition Building in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Delegates nominated James A.

31. 1870

    Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament abolishes capital punishment in The Netherlands

    Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament abolishes capital punishment in The Netherlands

32. 1875

    International Bureau of Weights & Measures formed by the signing of the Metre Convention treaty by 17 states and prototy

    International Bureau of Weights & Measures formed by the signing of the Metre Convention treaty by 17 states and prototypes of the meter and the kilogram selected

33. 1891

    First public display of Thomas Edison's prototype kinetoscope to members of the National Federation of Women's Clubs

    The Kinetoscope is an early motion picture exhibition device, designed for films to be viewed by one person at a time through a peephole viewer window.

34. 1892

    George Sampson patents clothes dryer

    A clothes dryer (tumble dryer, drying machine, drying device, or simply dryer) is a powered household appliance that is used to remove moisture from a load of clothing, bedding and other textiles,...

35. 1895

    First commercial movie performance is held at 153 Broadway, NYC

    First commercial movie performance is held at 153 Broadway, NYC

36. 1896

    The six-ton chandelier of the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris falls on the crowd, resulting in the death of one pers

    The six-ton chandelier of the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris falls on the crowd, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to many others

37. 1896

    Clara Schumann dies

    Clara Schumann, German pianist and composer, known for german pianist and composer, died on 1896-05-20. Clara Josephine Schumann was a German pianist, composer, and piano teacher and prodigy.

38. 1899

    First speeding infraction by a New York cabbie driving an electric car - 12mph down Lexington Street

    First speeding infraction by a New York cabbie driving an electric car - 12mph down Lexington Street

39. 1900

    Second modern Summer Olympics (Games of the II Olympiad) opens in Paris and continues for five months

    The 1900 Summer Olympics (French: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1900), today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad (Jeux de la IIe olympiade) and also known as Paris 1900, were an international...

40. 1902

    United States withdraws its troops from Cuba as the first Cuban president, Tomas Estrada Palma takes power

    The island of Cuba was inhabited by various Native American cultures prior to the arrival of the explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492.

41. 1903

    Britain's House of Commons begins a debate on the charges of poor administration and ill treatment of natives in Belgium

    Britain's House of Commons begins a debate on the charges of poor administration and ill treatment of natives in Belgium's colony in the Congo Free State

42. 1908

    James Stewart is born

    James Stewart, American actor and military officer, known for american actor and military officer, was born on 1908-05-20.

43. 1910

    Funeral for Britain's King Edward VII is held in Westminster Abbey, attended by one of the largest assemblies of Europea

    Funeral for Britain's King Edward VII is held in Westminster Abbey, attended by one of the largest assemblies of European royalty

44. 1911

    Edwin Boaler Alletson hits 189 in 90 mins Notts v Sussex

    Edwin Boaler Alletson hits 189 in 90 mins Notts v Sussex

45. 1915

    Bataafsche Petroleum Me begins oil extraction of Maracaibo

    Bataafsche Petroleum Me begins oil extraction of Maracaibo

46. 1915

    Moshe Dayan is born

    Moshe Dayan, Israeli military leader and politician, known for israeli military leader and politician, was born on 1915-05-20. Moshe Dayan was an Israeli military leader and politician.

47. 1916

    Codell, Kansas hit by tornado (also on same date in 1917 & 1918)

    1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar, the 1918th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini...

48. 1917

    Turkish government authorizes Jews to return to Tel Aviv & Jaffa

    The history of the Jews and Judaism in the Land of Israel begins in the 2nd millennium BCE, when Israelites emerged as an outgrowth of southern Canaanites.

49. 1918

    US Navy launches USS New Mexico, its first battleship with an electric-turbine propulsion system

    US Navy launches USS New Mexico, its first battleship with an electric-turbine propulsion system

50. 1922

    "Egypt" sinks off Ushant after colliding with "Seine" killing 90

    "Egypt" sinks off Ushant after colliding with "Seine" killing 90

51. 1926

    Belgian government of Jaspar takes power

    Belgian government of Jaspar takes power

52. 1927

    At 7:40 AM, Charles Lindbergh takes off from New York to cross the Atlantic for Paris aboard the Spirit of St. Louis in

    At 7:40 AM, Charles Lindbergh takes off from New York to cross the Atlantic for Paris aboard the Spirit of St. Louis in the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight

53. 1930

    First airplane catapulted from a dirigible, piloted by Charles Nicholson

    First airplane catapulted from a dirigible, piloted by Charles Nicholson

54. 1939

    "3 Little Fishies" by Kay Kyser swam to #1

    "3 Little Fishies" by Kay Kyser swam to #1

55. 1940

    Stan Mikita is born

    Stan Mikita, Canadian athlete, known for slovak-canadian ice hockey player, was born on 1940-05-20.

56. 1941

    Archer's "Christian Calendar & Gregorian Reform" published

    Archer's "Christian Calendar & Gregorian Reform" published

57. 1942

    US Navy 1st permitted black recruits to serve

    US Navy 1st permitted black recruits to serve

58. 1943

    French, British and US victory parade in Tunis, Tunisia

    Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa.

59. 1944

    US Communist Party dissolves

    The Communist Party USA (CPUSA), officially the Communist Party of the United States of America, is a far-left communist party in the United States.

60. 1944

    Dietrich Mateschitz is born

    Dietrich Mateschitz, Austrian entrepreneur, known for austrian entrepreneur, was born on 1944-05-20. Dietrich Markwart Eberhart Mateschitz was an Austrian entrepreneur.

61. 1944

    Joe Cocker is born

    Joe Cocker, English musician, known for english singer, was born on 1944-05-20. John Robert "Joe" Cocker (20 May 1944 – 22 December 2014) was an English singer known for his gritty, bluesy voice and…

62. 1946

    Cubs Claude Passeau makes his 1st error since September 21, 1941, ending pitcher's fielding record of 273 consecutive er

    Cubs Claude Passeau makes his 1st error since September 21, 1941, ending pitcher's fielding record of 273 consecutive errorless chances

63. 1946

    Bobby Murcer is born

    Bobby Murcer, American athlete, known for american baseball player and broadcaster, was born on 1946-05-20.

64. 1947

    Cher is born

    Cher, American singer and actress, known for american singer and actress, was born on 1947-05-20. Cher ( SHAIR; born Cheryl Sarkisian, May 20, 1946) is an American singer and actress.

65. 1948

    Cleveland Indians tie AL record of 18 walks (beat Red Sox 13-4)

    The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland.

66. 1955

    Argentine parliament accepts separation of church and state

    The separation of church and state is a philosophical and jurisprudential concept for defining political distance in the relationship between religious organizations and the state.

67. 1956

    Atomic fusion (thermonuclear) bomb dropped from plane at Bikini Atoll

    Atomic fusion (thermonuclear) bomb dropped from plane at Bikini Atoll

68. 1958

    US performs nuclear test at Enewetak Atoll (atmospheric tests)

    Nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll consisted of the detonation of 23 (or 24) nuclear weapons by the United States between 1946 and 1958 on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

69. 1959

    Ford wins battle with Chrysler to call its new car "Falcon"

    Ford wins battle with Chrysler to call its new car "Falcon"

70. 1961

    Henzes opera "Elegy for Young Lovers," premieres in Schwetzingen

    Henzes opera "Elegy for Young Lovers," premieres in Schwetzingen

71. 1964

    Buster Mathis beats future world heavyweight champion Joe Frazer on points at trials in Flushing, NY to qualify for US O

    Buster Mathis beats future world heavyweight champion Joe Frazer on points at trials in Flushing, NY to qualify for US Olympic boxing team; Mathis injures thumb, replaced by Frazier who wins gold medal

72. 1965

    Pakistani Boeing 720-B crashes at Cairo Egypt, killing 121

    Pakistani Boeing 720-B crashes at Cairo Egypt, killing 121

73. 1966

    19th Cannes Film Festival: "A Man and a Woman" directed by Claude Lelouch and "The Birds, the Bees and the Italians" dir

    19th Cannes Film Festival: "A Man and a Woman" directed by Claude Lelouch and "The Birds, the Bees and the Italians" directed by Pietro Germi jointly awarded the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film

74. 1967

    BBC bans the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life" due to the line "I'd love to turn you on" being construed as a drug refer

    BBC bans the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life" due to the line "I'd love to turn you on" being construed as a drug reference

75. 1968

    "The Who" guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend (23) weds Karen Astley in England

    "The Who" guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend (23) weds Karen Astley in England

76. 1969

    US troop capture Hill 937/Hamburger Hill in Vietnam

    The Battle of Hamburger Hill (13–20 May 1969) was fought by US Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces against People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces during Operation Apache Snow of...

77. 1970

    ,000 march in NY supporting US policies in Vietnam

    ,000 march in NY supporting US policies in Vietnam

78. 1971

    Pentagon reports blacks constitute 11% of US soldiers in SE Asia

    Pentagon reports blacks constitute 11% of US soldiers in SE Asia

79. 1971

    Louis Theroux is born

    Louis Theroux, American american documentarian, known for british and american documentarian, was born on 1971-05-20.

80. 1972

    Republic of Cameroon declared as its constitution is ratified

    Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the...

81. 1973

    2 motorcycle racers killed and a dozen injured in a crash during the 1973 Nations Grand Prix in Monza,Italy

    2 motorcycle racers killed and a dozen injured in a crash during the 1973 Nations Grand Prix in Monza,Italy

82. 1976

    USSR performs nuclear test at Sary Shagan USSR

    USSR performs nuclear test at Sary Shagan USSR

83. 1977

    Long-distance train service the Orient Express departs Paris on its last trip to Istanbul (began 1883)

    The Orient Express was a long-distance passenger luxury train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) that operated until 2009.

84. 1978

    Three PFLP members kill a police officer near El Al Airlines at Orly Airport in Paris

    Three PFLP members kill a police officer near El Al Airlines at Orly Airport in Paris

85. 1980

    families in Love Canal area of Niagara Falls, New York are evacuated due to linger effects of prior use as chemical wast

    families in Love Canal area of Niagara Falls, New York are evacuated due to linger effects of prior use as chemical waste disposal site [1]

86. 1981

    William Finn's musical "March of the Falsettos" opens Off-Broadway in NYC

    William Finn's musical "March of the Falsettos" opens Off-Broadway in NYC

87. 1983

    "Every Breath You Take" single released by The Police (Billboard Song of the Year, 1983)

    "Every Breath You Take" is a song by the English rock band the Police from their fifth and final studio album Synchronicity (1983).

88. 1985

    38th Cannes Film Festival: "When Father Was Away on Business" directed by Emir Kusturica wins the Palme d'Or

    38th Cannes Film Festival: "When Father Was Away on Business" directed by Emir Kusturica wins the Palme d'Or

89. 1986

    Flintstones 25th Anniversary Celebration airs on CBS-tv

    Flintstones 25th Anniversary Celebration airs on CBS-tv

90. 1986

    Chris Froome is born

    Chris Froome, British athlete, known for british cyclist, was born on 1986-05-20. Christopher Clive Froome is a British professional road racing cyclist who most recently rode for UCI ProTeam…

91. 1988

    Howard Stern fans disrupt rival radio station WMMR's morning DJ John DeBella's "Louie Louie" parade in Philadelphia, Pen

    Howard Stern fans disrupt rival radio station WMMR's morning DJ John DeBella's "Louie Louie" parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

92. 1989

    China declares martial law in Beijing

    Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers.

93. 1990

    Hubble Space Telescope sends its first photographs from space

    Hubble Space Telescope sends its first photographs from space

94. 1991

    44th Cannes Film Festival: "Barton Fink" directed by Ethan and Joel Coen wins the Palme d'Or

    44th Cannes Film Festival: "Barton Fink" directed by Ethan and Joel Coen wins the Palme d'Or

95. 1992

    American rapper Tung Twista raps 597 syllables in under 60 seconds

    American rapper Tung Twista raps 597 syllables in under 60 seconds

96. 1993

    10m meteor comes within 150,000 km of Earth (1993KA)

    10m meteor comes within 150,000 km of Earth (1993KA)

97. 1994

    Bobcat Goldthwait charged with misdemeanors for fire on The Tonight Show

    Bobcat Goldthwait charged with misdemeanors for fire on The Tonight Show

98. 1995

    CBS News fires co-anchor Connie Chung

    Constance Yu-Hwa Chung Povich is an American journalist who has been a news anchor and reporter for the U.S. television news networks ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC.

99. 1996

    49th Cannes Film Festival: "Secrets & Lies" directed by Mike Leigh wins the Palme d'Or

    49th Cannes Film Festival: "Secrets & Lies" directed by Mike Leigh wins the Palme d'Or

100. 1997

     Cosmos Zenit-2 Launch (Russia), Failed

     Cosmos Zenit-2 Launch (Russia), Failed

101. 2002

     The independence of East Timor is recognized by Portugal, formally ending 23 years of Indonesian rule and 3 years of pro

     The independence of East Timor is recognized by Portugal, formally ending 23 years of Indonesian rule and 3 years of provisional UN administration (Portugal itself was the former colonizer of East Timor until 1976)

102. 2002

     Stephen Jay Gould dies

     Stephen Jay Gould, American biologist and historian of science, known for american biologist and historian of science, died on 2002-05-20.

103. 2009

     Mexico is the first Latin American country to officially enter recession

     Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to...

104. 2012

     6.0 magnitude earthquake kills 6 and injures dozens in northern Italy

     6.0 magnitude earthquake kills 6 and injures dozens in northern Italy

105. 2012

     Robin Gibb dies

     Robin Gibb, British singer, known for british singer, died on 2012-05-20. Robin Hugh Gibb (22 December 1949 – 20 May 2012) was a British singer and songwriter.

106. 2013

     people are killed and 283 are injured in a continued wave of insurgency in Iraq

     people are killed and 283 are injured in a continued wave of insurgency in Iraq

107. 2019

     Bangladesh imposes a 65-day ban on coastal fishing to conserve fish stocks

     Bangladesh imposes a 65-day ban on coastal fishing to conserve fish stocks

108. 2020

     Cyclone Amphan comes ashore in West Bengal, East India and Bangladesh, with winds of 185 km per hour (115 mph) killing a

     Cyclone Amphan comes ashore in West Bengal, East India and Bangladesh, with winds of 185 km per hour (115 mph) killing at least 84 people

109. 2021

     Israel and Hamas agree to a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza after nearly two weeks of fighting, amid international diplomati

     Israel and Hamas agree to a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza after nearly two weeks of fighting, amid international diplomatic efforts

110. 2023

     English ITV This Morning TV presenter Phillip Schofield resigns after 20 years in the role. It later emerges he was havi

     English ITV This Morning TV presenter Phillip Schofield resigns after 20 years in the role. It later emerges he was having an affair with a younger colleague and lied about it.

111. 2025

     "Heart Lamp" by Manu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi wins the 2025 International Booker Prize award [1]

     "Heart Lamp" by Manu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi wins the 2025 International Booker Prize award [1]

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