From the archives
Classic headlineDrunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Ashley Cole born (1980) and David Cook born (1982), 2 years apart.
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From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin CaseHall of Fame◆
- 1939RALLY BY BALSAMO DEFEATS MIGNAULTThe New York Times◆
- 2019I'm the 13-year-old police threatened to arrest at the Kirribilli House protest. This is why I did itThe Guardian◆
- 2017Resist the puppy eyes – chocolate Christmas treats can be deadly for dogsThe Guardian◆
- 1852Led by George Cathcart, British troops defeated Basuto and Taung forces at the Battle of Berea in present-day Lesotho, leading to an offer of peace from King Moshoeshoe I.Wikipedia◆
- 1860South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.Wikipedia◆
- 1848French presidential election: Having won the popular vote in a landslide, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is inaugurated in the chamber of the National Assembly as the first (and only) president of the French Second Republic.Wikipedia◆
- 2007Pablo Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch was stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art before being recovered about three weeks later.Wikipedia◆
- 1984Twelve-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her home in Greeley, Colorado; her body was not discovered until 2019.Wikipedia◆
- 1951Experimental Breeder Reactor I near Arco, Idaho, U.S., became the world's first electricity-generating nuclear power plant when it became able to illuminate four 200-watt light bulbs.Wikipedia◆
- 2019The United States Space Force becomes the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces since 1947.Wikipedia◆
- 2007The Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904), by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, and O Lavrador de Café by Brazilian modernist painter Cândido Portinari, are stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil. Both will be recovered a few weeks later.Wikipedia◆
- 1985Pope John Paul II announces the creation of World Youth Day.Wikipedia◆
- 1984Disappearance of Jonelle Matthews from Greeley, Colorado. Her remains were discovered on July 23, 2019, located about 24 km (15 mi) southeast of Jonelle's home. The cause of death "was a gunshot wound to the head."Wikipedia◆
- Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin CaseHall of Fame◆
- 1939RALLY BY BALSAMO DEFEATS MIGNAULTThe New York Times◆
- 2019I'm the 13-year-old police threatened to arrest at the Kirribilli House protest. This is why I did itThe Guardian◆
- 2017Resist the puppy eyes – chocolate Christmas treats can be deadly for dogsThe Guardian◆
- 1852Led by George Cathcart, British troops defeated Basuto and Taung forces at the Battle of Berea in present-day Lesotho, leading to an offer of peace from King Moshoeshoe I.Wikipedia◆
- 1860South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.Wikipedia◆
- 1848French presidential election: Having won the popular vote in a landslide, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is inaugurated in the chamber of the National Assembly as the first (and only) president of the French Second Republic.Wikipedia◆
- 2007Pablo Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch was stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art before being recovered about three weeks later.Wikipedia◆
- 1984Twelve-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her home in Greeley, Colorado; her body was not discovered until 2019.Wikipedia◆
- 1951Experimental Breeder Reactor I near Arco, Idaho, U.S., became the world's first electricity-generating nuclear power plant when it became able to illuminate four 200-watt light bulbs.Wikipedia◆
- 2019The United States Space Force becomes the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces since 1947.Wikipedia◆
- 2007The Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904), by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, and O Lavrador de Café by Brazilian modernist painter Cândido Portinari, are stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil. Both will be recovered a few weeks later.Wikipedia◆
- 1985Pope John Paul II announces the creation of World Youth Day.Wikipedia◆
- 1984Disappearance of Jonelle Matthews from Greeley, Colorado. Her remains were discovered on July 23, 2019, located about 24 km (15 mi) southeast of Jonelle's home. The cause of death "was a gunshot wound to the head."Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Jonah Hill1983- David Cook1982
- Ashley Cole1980
20 December in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — December 20
1852 Oddly trueLed by George Cathcart, British troops defeated Basuto and Taung forces at the Battle of Berea in present-day Lesotho, leading to an offer of peace from King Moshoeshoe I.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1860 First everSouth Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1848 First everFrench presidential election: Having won the popular vote in a landslide, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is inaugurated in the chamber of the National Assembly as the first (and only) president of the French Second Republic.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2007 Oddly truePablo Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch was stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art before being recovered about three weeks later.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1984 Oddly trueTwelve-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her home in Greeley, Colorado; her body was not discovered until 2019.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2019The GuardianI'm the 13-year-old police threatened to arrest at the Kirribilli House protest. This is why I did itMy name is Izzy Raj-Seppings, and I dragged my dad on a one-hour bus trip on the hottest day of the summer to demand…
Read on The Guardian →
2017The GuardianResist the puppy eyes – chocolate Christmas treats can be deadly for dogsChocolate poisoning peaks during the festive period, say researchers, with even modest quantities able to cause vomit…
Read on The Guardian →- 1939The New York TimesRALLY BY BALSAMO DEFEATS MIGNAULT
A desperate last-round rally gave Harry Balsamo, Harlem's fighting brakeman, a close decision over Bud Mignault of Br…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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Did you guess the year?
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When was “Led by George Cathcart, British troops defeated Basuto and Taung forces at the Battle of Berea in present-day Lesotho, leading to an offer of peace from King Moshoeshoe I.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? Oddly true
Led by George Cathcart, British troops defeated Basuto and Taung forces at the Battle of Berea in present-day Lesotho, leading to an offer of peace from King Moshoeshoe I.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1860 First ever
South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1848 First ever
French presidential election: Having won the popular vote in a landslide, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is inaugurated in the chamber of the National Assembly as the first (and only) president of the French Second Republic.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 20 December — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
3
1980Birth
Ashley Cole born
Ashley Cole was born. English footballer.
1982Birth
David Cook born
David Cook was born. American singer, American Idol winner.
1983Birth
Jonah Hill born
Jonah Hill was born. American actor.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Suicide
1994Death
Kurt Cobain dies
Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.
Assassinated
44 BCDeath
Julius Caesar dies
Julius Caesar, roman general/statesman, died on this day in 44 BC. Assassinated by Roman senators. Remembered as: Critical role in the demise of the Roman Republic.
Assassinated
1948Death
Mahatma Gandhi dies
Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.
Suicide
2008Death
Heath Ledger dies
Heath Ledger, actor, died on this day in 2008. Accidental prescription drug overdose. Remembered as: Acclaimed performances, including the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Accident
2020Death
Kobe Bryant dies
Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, died on this day in 2020. Helicopter crash. Remembered as: Five-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers.
Famous birthdays
21 this weekToday · 20 December
- Jonah HillAmerican actor (born 1983)Born 1983 · 43 years ago today
- DCDavid CookBorn 1982Born 1982 · 44 years ago today
- Ashley ColeEnglish footballer (born 1980)Born 1980 · 46 years ago today
Coming up this week
Kiefer SutherlandBritish and Canadian actor (born 1966)21 December · born 1966
Samuel L. JacksonAmerican actor (born 1948)21 December · born 1948
Jane FondaAmerican actress and activist (born 1937)21 December · born 1937
Meghan TrainorAmerican singer-songwriter (born 1993)22 December · born 1993
Jordin SparksAmerican singer and actress (born 1989)22 December · born 1989
Ralph FiennesEnglish actor and director (born 1962)22 December · born 1962
Day of Recognition20 December
International Human Solidarity Day
Emphasizes the critical importance of global solidarity in eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development goals.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 20 December.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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