February, 20th in History

[Spiritus Temporis]

Events

Sunday 20, 2005:
Jeff Gordon wins his third Daytona 500.

Thursday 20, 2003:
In Rhode Island, in the USA, The Station nightclub fire kills about 100 and injures over 200.

Wednesday 20, 2002:
In Reqa Al-Gharbiya, Egypt, a fire on a train injures over 65 and kills at least 370.

Tuesday 20, 2001:
FBI agent Robert Hanssen is arrested and charged with spying for Russia for 15 years.

Friday 20, 1998:
The afternoon newspaper Nashville Banner publishes its final edition.

Thursday 20, 1992:
The FA Premier League is formed and takes over as the professional league in England from season 1992–93.

Friday 20, 1987:
Unabomber: In Salt Lake City, in the USA, a bomb explodes in a computer store.

Friday 20, 1976:
The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization disbands.

Wednesday 20, 1974:
Science fiction writer Philip K. Dick claims he began experiencing intense gnostic visions on this date.

Saturday 20, 1965:
Ranger 8 crashes into the moon after a successful mission of photographing possible landing sites for the Apollo program astronauts.

Tuesday 20, 1962:
Mercury program: While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn orbits the earth three times in 4 hours, 55 minutes, becoming the first American to orbit the earth.

Friday 20, 1959:
The Avro Arrow programme to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate.

Wednesday 20, 1952:
The film The African Queen opens at the Capitol Theatre in New York City.

Sunday 20, 1944:
World War II: The United States takes Eniwetok Island.

Saturday 20, 1943:
The Paricutín volcano begins to form in Paricutín, México.

Friday 20, 1942:
Lieutenant Edward O'Hare becomes America's first World War II flying ace.

Friday 20, 1931:
California gets the go-ahead by the U.S. Congress to build the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

Sunday 20, 1921:
The film The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, starring Rudolph Valentino, premieres.

Thursday 20, 1913:
King O'Malley drives in the first survey peg to mark commencement of work on the construction of Canberra.

Wednesday 20, 1901:
The legislature of Hawaii Territory convenes for the first time.

Thursday 20, 1873:
The University of California opens its first medical school in San Francisco, California.

Tuesday 20, 1872:
In New York City the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens.

Saturday 20, 1864:
Battle of Olustee

Friday 20, 1835:
Concepción, Chile is destroyed by an earthquake

Tuesday 20, 1816:
Gioachino Rossini's The Barber of Seville debuts at Teatro Argentina, with a fiasco.

Tuesday 20, 1810:
Andreas Hofer, Tyrolean patriot and leader of rebellion against Napoleon's forces, was executed.

Monday 20, 1792:
The Postal Service Act, establishing the United States Post Office Department, is signed by President George Washington.

Tuesday 20, 1725:
The first reported case of white men scalping Native Americans takes place in New Hampshire colony.

Sunday 20, 1724:
The premiere of Giulio Cesare, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel, takes place in London.

Thursday 20, 1547:
Edward VI of England is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.

Tuesday 20, 1472:
Orkney and Shetland are annexed to the crown of Scotland.

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/20-february/on-this-day.html


People born on February 20

1985:
Yulia Volkova, Russian musician (t.A.T.u.) (b: February 20, 1985) (Biography of Yulia Volkova)

1980:
Imanol Harinordoquy, French rugby player (b: February 20, 1980) (Biography of Imanol Harinordoquy)

1977:
Stephon Marbury, American basketball player (b: February 20, 1977) (Biography of Stephon Marbury)

1976:
Ed Graham, British drummer (The Darkness) (b: February 20, 1976) (Biography of Ed Graham)

1975:
Brian Littrell, American musician (Backstreet Boys) (b: February 20, 1975) (Biography of Brian Littrell)

1971:
Jari Litmanen, Finnish footballer (b: February 20, 1971) (Biography of Jari Litmanen)

1967:
Kurt Cobain, American musician (b: February 20, 1967 ; d: April 5, 1994) (Biography of Kurt Cobain)

1966:
Cindy Crawford, American model (b: February 20, 1966) (Biography of Cindy Crawford)

1963:
Charles Barkley, American basketball player (b: February 20, 1963) (Biography of Charles Barkley)

1954:
Anthony Stewart Head, English actor (b: February 20, 1954) (Biography of Anthony Stewart Head)
Patty Hearst, American socialite and kidnapping victim (b: February 20, 1954) (Biography of Patty Hearst)

1951:
Gordon Brown, British politician (b: February 20, 1951) (Biography of Gordon Brown)
Randy California, guitarist (b: February 20, 1951) (Biography of Randy California)
Edward Albert, American actor (b: February 20, 1951) (Biography of Edward Albert)

1949:
Ivana Trump, Czech skier, fashion model, and socialite (b: February 20, 1949) (Biography of Ivana Trump)

1948:
Jennifer O'Neill, Brazilian-born actress (b: February 20, 1948) (Biography of Jennifer O'Neill)

1947:
Peter Osgood, English footballer (b: February 20, 1947) (Biography of Peter Osgood)
Peter Strauss, American actor (b: February 20, 1947) (Biography of Peter Strauss)

1946:
Brenda Blethyn, English actress (b: February 20, 1946) (Biography of Brenda Blethyn)
Sandy Duncan, American singer and actress (b: February 20, 1946) (Biography of Sandy Duncan)

1945:
Brion James, American actor (b: February 20, 1945 ; d: August 7, 1999) (Biography of Brion James)

1944:
Willem van Hanegem, Dutch football player and coach (b: February 20, 1944) (Biography of Willem van Hanegem)

1943:
Mike Leigh, British film director (b: February 20, 1943) (Biography of Mike Leigh)

1942:
Phil Esposito, Canadian hockey player (b: February 20, 1942) (Biography of Phil Esposito)

1941:
Buffy Sainte-Marie, American singer (b: February 20, 1941) (Biography of Buffy Sainte-Marie)

1938:
Richard Beymer, American actor (b: February 20, 1938) (Biography of Richard Beymer)

1937:
Roger Penske, American race car driver (b: February 20, 1937) (Biography of Roger Penske)
Nancy Wilson, American singer (b: February 20, 1937) (Biography of Nancy Wilson (singer))

1936:
Larry Hovis, American actor (b: February 20, 1936 ; d: September 9, 2003) (Biography of Larry Hovis)
Marj Dusay, soap opera actress (b: February 20, 1936) (Biography of Marj Dusay)

1934:
Bobby Unser, American race car driver (b: February 20, 1934) (Biography of Bobby Unser)

1931:
Amanda Blake, American actress (b: February 20, 1931 ; d: August 16, 1989) (Biography of Amanda Blake)

1927:
Roy Cohn, American lawyer, and anti-Communist (b: February 20, 1927 ; d: August 2, 1986) (Biography of Roy Cohn)
Ibrahim Ferrer, Cuban musician (Buena Vista Social Club) (b: February 20, 1927 ; d: August 6, 2005) (Biography of Ibrahim Ferrer)
Sidney Poitier, American actor (b: February 20, 1927) (Biography of Sidney Poitier)

1926:
Richard Matheson, American author (b: February 20, 1926) (Biography of Richard Matheson)

1925:
Robert Altman, American film director (b: February 20, 1925) (Biography of Robert Altman)
Heinz Kluncker, German labor union leader (b: February 20, 1925) (Biography of Heinz Kluncker)

1924:
Gloria Vanderbilt, American clothing designer and entrepreneur (b: February 20, 1924) (Biography of Gloria Vanderbilt)

1914:
John Daly, South African-born broadcaster (b: February 20, 1914 ; d: February 24, 1991) (Biography of John Charles Daly)

1912:
Pierre Boulle, French author (b: February 20, 1912 ; d: January 30, 1994) (Biography of Pierre Boulle)

1904:
Alexei Kosygin, Premier of the Soviet Union (b: February 20, 1904 ; d: December 18, 1980) (Biography of Alexei Kosygin)

1902:
Ansel Adams, American photographer (b: February 20, 1902 ; d: April 22, 1984) (Biography of Ansel Adams)

1901:
Muhammad Naguib, President of Egypt (b: February 20, 1901) (Biography of Muhammad Naguib)

1893:
Russel Crouse, American playwright (b: February 20, 1893) (Biography of Russel Crouse)

1888:
Georges Bernanos, French writer (b: February 20, 1888 ; d: July 5, 1948) (Biography of Georges Bernanos)

1887:
Vincent Massey, Governor-General of Canada (b: February 20, 1887 ; d: December 30, 1967) (Biography of Vincent Massey)

1848:
Edward Henry Harriman, American railroad executive (b: February 20, 1848 ; d: September 9, 1909) (Biography of Edward Henry Harriman)

1844:
Ludwig Boltzmann, Austrian physicist (b: February 20, 1844 ; d: September 5, 1906) (Biography of Ludwig Boltzmann)
Joshua Slocum, Canadian seaman and adventurer (b: February 20, 1844) (Biography of Joshua Slocum)

1839:
Benjamin Waugh, American minister and founder of the NSPCC (b: February 20, 1839 ; d: March 11, 1908) (Biography of Benjamin Waugh)

1757:
John 'Mad Jack' Fuller, English philanthropist (b: February 20, 1757) (Biography of John 'Mad Jack' Fuller)

1753:
Louis Alexandre Berthier, French marshal (b: February 20, 1753 ; d: June 1, 1815) (Biography of Louis Alexandre Berthier)

1751:
Johann Heinrich Voß, German poet (b: February 20, 1751 ; d: March 29, 1826) (Biography of Johann Heinrich Voss)

1745:
Henry James Pye, English poet (b: February 20, 1745 ; d: August 11, 1813) (Biography of Henry James Pye)

1631:
Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds, English statesman (b: February 20, 1631 ; d: July 26, 1712) (Biography of Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/20-february/births.html

[Spiritus Temporis]

People who died on February 20

2005:
John Raitt, American singer and actor (b: January 19, 1917 ; d: February 20, 2005) (Biography of John Raitt)
Sandra Dee, American actress (b: April 23, 1942 ; d: February 20, 2005) (Biography of Sandra Dee)
Hunter S. Thompson, American journalist and author (b: July 18, 1937 ; d: February 20, 2005) (Biography of Hunter S. Thompson)

2003:
Maurice Blanchot, French philosopher and writer (b: September 27, 1907 ; d: February 20, 2003) (Biography of Maurice Blanchot)
Orville Freeman (d: February 20, 2003) (Biography of Orville Freeman)
Harry Jacunski (d: February 20, 2003) (Biography of Harry Jacunski)
Ty Longley (d: February 20, 2003) (Biography of Ty Longley)

2001:
Rosemary DeCamp (d: February 20, 2001) (Biography of Rosemary DeCamp)

2000:
Anatoly Sobchak (d: February 20, 2000) (Biography of Anatoly Sobchak)

1999:
Gene Siskel, American film critic (b: January 26, 1946 ; d: February 20, 1999) (Biography of Gene Siskel)
Sarah Kane, English playwright (b: February 3, 1971 ; d: February 20, 1999) (Biography of Sarah Kane)

1996:
T?ru Takemitsu (d: February 20, 1996) (Biography of T?ru Takemitsu)
Solomon Asch (d: February 20, 1996) (Biography of Solomon Asch)

1993:
Ferruccio Lamborghini, Italian automobile manufacturer (b: April 28, 1916 ; d: February 20, 1993) (Biography of Ferruccio Lamborghini)

1992:
Dick York, American actor (b: September 4, 1928 ; d: February 20, 1992) (Biography of Dick York)
Roberto D'Aubuisson (d: February 20, 1992) (Biography of Roberto D'Aubuisson)

1985:
Clarence Nash (d: February 20, 1985) (Biography of Clarence Nash)

1980:
J.B. Rhine, American parapsychologist (b: September 29, 1895 ; d: February 20, 1980) (Biography of Joseph Banks Rhine)

1976:
René Cassin, French judge, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (b: October 5, 1887 ; d: February 20, 1976) (Biography of René Cassin)

1975:
Robert Strauss (d: February 20, 1975) (Biography of Robert Strauss)

1972:
Maria Goeppert-Mayer, German physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: June 28, 1906 ; d: February 20, 1972) (Biography of Maria Goeppert-Mayer)
Walter Winchell, American broadcaster and journalist (b: April 7, 1897 ; d: February 20, 1972) (Biography of Walter Winchell)

1970:
Sophie Treadwell, American playwright and journalist (b: October 3, 1885 ; d: February 20, 1970) (Biography of Sophie Treadwell)

1968:
Anthony Asquith, British film director (b: November 9, 1902 ; d: February 20, 1968) (Biography of Anthony Asquith)

1966:
Chester Nimitz, U.S. admiral (b: February 24, 1885 ; d: February 20, 1966) (Biography of Chester Nimitz)

1961:
Percy Grainger, Australian composer (b: July 8, 1882 ; d: February 20, 1961) (Biography of Percy Grainger)

1920:
Robert Peary, American explorer (b: May 6, 1856 ; d: February 20, 1920) (Biography of Robert Peary)

1907:
Henri Moissan, French chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b: September 28, 1852 ; d: February 20, 1907) (Biography of Henri Moissan)

1895:
Frederick Douglass (d: February 20, 1895) (Biography of Frederick Douglass)

1893:
P.G.T. Beauregard (d: February 20, 1893) (Biography of P.G.T. Beauregard)

1871:
Paul Kane, Canadian painter (b: September 3, 1810 ; d: February 20, 1871) (Biography of Paul Kane)

1810:
Andreas Hofer, Tyrolian patriot (b: November 22, 1767 ; d: February 20, 1810) (Biography of Andreas Hofer)

1790:
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor (b: March 13, 1741 ; d: February 20, 1790) (Biography of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor)

1773:
King Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia (b: April 27, 1701 ; d: February 20, 1773) (Biography of Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia)

1771:
Jean Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan, French geophysicist (b: November 26, 1678 ; d: February 20, 1771) (Biography of Jean Jacques d'Ortous de Mairan)

1626:
John Dowland (d: February 20, 1626) (Biography of John Dowland)

1618:
Philip William, Prince of Orange (b: December 19, 1554 ; d: February 20, 1618) (Biography of Philip William, Prince of Orange)

1579:
Nicholas Bacon (d: February 20, 1579) (Biography of Nicholas Bacon)

1513:
King Christian II of Denmark (b: February 2, 1455 ; d: February 20, 1513) (Biography of Christian II of Denmark)

1431:
Pope Martin V (d: February 20, 1431) (Biography of Pope Martin V)

1408:
Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, English statesman (b: November 10, 1341 ; d: February 20, 1408) (Biography of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland)

1258:
Al-Musta'sim (d: February 20, 1258) (Biography of Al-Musta'sim)

1194:
Tancred of Sicily (d: February 20, 1194) (Biography of Tancred of Sicily)

1171:
Conan IV, Duke of Brittany (d: February 20, 1171) (Biography of Conan IV, Duke of Brittany)

702:
Chan Bahlum II (d: February 20, 702) (Biography of Chan Bahlum II)

Source: http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/20-february/deaths.html