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On This Day
Discover events that happened On This Day including famous birthdays and notable deaths. Each day we highlight famous people, past and present, who have impacted our world. Browse sections by selecting the links below or click the calendar to view events on another day.
May 20
Events on This Day
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1609
404 years ago
William Shakespeare's Sonnets are published for the first time.
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1873
140 years ago
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive a patent for blue jeans.
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1927
86 years ago
Pilot Charles Lindbergh takes off in The Spirit of St. Louis from Roosevelt Field, near New York City, on the first transatlantic flight.
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1989
24 years ago
Singer/dancer (and future American Idol judge) Paula Abdul scored a No. 1 hit with her single "Forever Your Girl," from the album of the same name.
May 20
Born on This Day
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Cher
- In these groups:
- Sonny and Cher
- Hair Dos and Don'ts
- Bewitching Women
Cher
Film Actress, Singer / 1946 -
As famous for her unusual outfits as she is for her musical talent, Cher is an American singer and actress who got her start as half of Sonny and Cher in the 1960s.
Born: May 20, 1946
Age: 67 years old
Birthplace: El Centro, California, United States
Occupation: Film Actress, Singer -
Cindy McCain
- In these groups:
- Celebrities With Court-side Seats
- Famous Academics
- Famous Teachers
Cindy McCain
Educator, Business Leader, Philanthropist, Political Leader / 1954 -
Cindy McCain is an Arizona businesswoman, a philanthropist who works with international nonprofit organizations, and the wife of U.S. Senator John McCain.
1954 | 59 years old
Educator, Business Leader, ... -
David A. Paterson
- In these groups:
- Famous Harlem Residents
- Famous Taureans
- Columbia University Alumni
David A. Paterson
Governor / 1954 -
A lifelong governmental and political figure, David Paterson was the first African American governor of New York state.
1954 | 59 years old
Governor -
Jimmy Stewart
- In these groups:
- Celebrity Enlistees
- Famous Military Veterans
- Best Actor Oscar Winners
Jimmy Stewart
Film Actor, Theater Actor / 1908 - 1997
Jimmy Stewart was a major motion-picture star known for his portrayals of diffident but morally resolute characters in films such as It’s a Wonderful Life.
Born: May 20, 1908
Birthplace: Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation: Film Actor, Theater Actor -
Dolley Madison
- In these groups:
- U.S. First Ladies
- Famous Taureans
- Famous People Born in North Carolina
Dolley Madison
U.S. First Lady / 1768 - 1849
Dolley Madison is best known as the wife of United States President James Madison, who served from 1809 to 1817.
1768 | 81 years old
U.S. First Lady -
John Stuart Mill
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Taureans
- Famous Philosophers
John Stuart Mill
Philosopher, Scholar, Economist, Political Scientist, Author / 1806 - 1873
John Stuart Mill, who has been called the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the 19th century, was a British philosopher, economist, and moral and political theorist. His works include books and essays covering logic, epistemology, economics, social and political philosophy, ethics, and religion, among them A System of Logic, On Liberty, and Utilitarianism.
1806 | 66 years old
Philosopher, Scholar, Economist, ...
May 20
Died on This Day
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Gilda Radner
- In these groups:
- Cast of Saturday Night Live
- Famous Cancerians
- Famous Actresses
Gilda Radner
Television Actress, Comedian / 1946 - 1989
Gilda Radner was an award-winning actress and comedian known for her work on Saturday Night Live. She was married to fellow comedian Gene Wilder.
Died: May 20, 1989
Age: 42 years old
Place: Los Angeles, California , United States
Occupation: Television Actress, Comedian -
Christopher Columbus
- In these groups:
- Famous Scorpios
- Famous Explorers
- Famous People Named Christopher
Christopher Columbus
Explorer / 1451 - 1506
Famed Italian explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the "New World" of the Americas on an expedition sponsored by King Ferdinand of Spain in 1492.
1506 | 54 years old
Explorer -
Paul Ricoeur
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Pisceans
- Famous Philosophers
Paul Ricoeur
Philosopher, Writer / 1913 - 2005
Paul Ricoeur is widely recognized as one of the most distinguished philosophers of the 20th century. He taught in both France and the United States.
2005 | 92 years old
Philosopher, Writer
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profile name: Cindy McCain profile occupation: Educator, Business Leader, ...
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profile name: David A. Paterson profile occupation: Governor
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profile name: Jimmy Stewart profile occupation: Film Actor, Theater Actor
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profile name: Marvin Hagler profile occupation: Boxer
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Upcoming Birthdays
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Louis Renault
- In these groups:
- Nobel Peace Prize Winners
- Famous Academics
- Famous Teachers
Louis Renault
Educator, Judge, Journalist / 1843 - 1918
Louis Renault was a French jurist and educator and co-winner in 1907 of the Nobel Prize for Peace.
May 21, 1843
Educator -
George A. Olah
- In these groups:
- Famous Geminis
- Famous Chemists
- Famous People Named George
George A. Olah
Chemist / 1927 -
George A. Olah won the 1994 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for work he did in the1960s isolating carbocations, or positively charged hydrocarbon fragments.May 22, 1927
Chemist -
Marvin Hagler
- In these groups:
- Famous Black Athletes
- Famous Geminis
- Famous Boxers
Marvin Hagler
Boxer / 1954 -
Middleweight boxing champion Marvin Hagler was one of the greatest fighters of the 1970s and 1980s, holding the middleweight title for seven years.
May 23, 1954
Boxer -
Clark L. Hull
- In these groups:
- Famous Academics
- Famous Teachers
- Famous Geminis
Clark L. Hull
Educator, Scholar, Psychologist / 1884 - 1952
Psychologist Clark L. Hull performed a study and produced the dominant learning theory of the 1940s and 1950s, that learning was based on “habit strength."
May 24, 1884
Psychologist
Famous Taureans
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Tony Pérez
- In these groups:
- Hispanic Athletes
- Famous Taureans
- Famous Baseball Players
Tony Pérez
Baseball Player / 1942 -
Tony Pérez was a professional baseball player in the 1960s and 1970s who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.May 14, 1942
Baseball Player -
Hosni Mubarak
- In these groups:
- Famous Taureans
- Famous People Born in 1928
- Famous Egyptians
Hosni Mubarak
World Leader / 1928 -
Hosni Mubarak became president of Egypt in 1981—following Anwar el-Sadat's assassination—and served in that position until 2011, when popular unrest forced him to resign.May 4, 1928
World Leader
