Vintage News · Odd history for September 20

What Happened On September 20

Q: What happened on September 20?

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. 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. 1792: The French Army achieved its first major victory of the War of the First Coalition at the Battle of Valmy. 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. 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. 1893: Charles Duryea and his brother road-test the first American-made gasoline-powered automobile. 1871: Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, first bishop of Melanesia, is martyred on Nukapu, now in the Solomon Islands. 1860: The future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom begins the first visit to North America by a Prince of Wales. 1792: French troops stop an allied invasion of France at the Battle of Valmy. 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.

54 events and 242 births, refreshed daily. OddlyTrue's own archive for 20 September →

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10 odd things that happened on September 20

1971 First ever
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 →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1971 First ever
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 →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1792 First ever
The French Army achieved its first major victory of the War of the First Coalition at the Battle of Valmy.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1697 First ever
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 →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1643 First ever
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 →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1893 First ever
Charles Duryea and his brother road-test the first American-made gasoline-powered automobile.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1871 First ever
Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, first bishop of Melanesia, is martyred on Nukapu, now in the Solomon Islands.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1860 First ever
The future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom begins the first visit to North America by a Prince of Wales.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1792 Oddly true
French troops stop an allied invasion of France at the Battle of Valmy.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1519 First ever
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 →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Observed today

2019Roughly 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. Wikipedia →
2018At least 161 people die after a ferry capsizes close to the pier on Ukara Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Wikipedia →
2017Hurricane 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. Wikipedia →
2011The United States military ends its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time. Wikipedia →
2008A dump truck full of explosives detonates in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others. Wikipedia →
2007Between 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. Wikipedia →
2003Civil unrest in the Maldives breaks out after a prisoner is killed by guards. Wikipedia →
2001In an address to a joint session of Congress and the American people, U.S. President George W. Bush declares a "war on terror". Wikipedia →
2000The United Kingdom's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service building is attacked by individuals using a Russian-built RPG-22 anti-tank missile. Wikipedia →
1990South Ossetia declares its independence from Georgia. Wikipedia →
1989USAir Flight 5050 crashes into Bowery Bay during a rejected takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, killing two people. Wikipedia →
1988Margaret Thatcher delivers the Bruges speech, in which she articulates her opposition to further European integration. Wikipedia →
1986Aeroflot Flight 36075 is hijacked at Ufa International Airport. Wikipedia →
1984A suicide bomber in a car attacks the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing twenty-two people. Wikipedia →
1982NFL season: American football players in the National Football League begin a 57-day strike. Wikipedia →
1979A French-organized coup d'état in the Central African Empire overthrows Emperor Bokassa I. Wikipedia →
1977Vietnam is admitted to the United Nations. Wikipedia →
1973Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes tennis match at the Houston Astrodome. Wikipedia →
1973Singer 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. Wikipedia →
1971Having 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. Wikipedia →
1967The Cunard Liner Queen Elizabeth 2 is launched in Clydebank, Scotland. Wikipedia →
1965Following the Battle of Burki, the Indian Army captures Dograi in during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Wikipedia →
1962James Meredith, an African American, is temporarily barred from entering the University of Mississippi. Wikipedia →
1961Greek general Konstantinos Dovas becomes Prime Minister of Greece. Wikipedia →
1955The Treaty on Relations between the USSR and the GDR is signed. Wikipedia →
1954The Moomin comics, created by Tove Jansson and Lars Jansson, is published internationally in the London newspaper The Evening News. Wikipedia →
1946The first Cannes Film Festival is held, having been delayed for seven years due to World War II. Wikipedia →
1946Six days after a referendum, King Christian X of Denmark annuls the declaration of independence of the Faroe Islands. Wikipedia →
1941The Holocaust in Lithuania: Lithuanian Nazis and local police begin a mass execution of 403 Jews in Nemenčinė. Wikipedia →
1920Irish 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. Wikipedia →
1911The White Star Line's RMS Olympic collides with the British warship HMS Hawke. Wikipedia →
1893Charles Duryea and his brother road-test the first American-made gasoline-powered automobile. Wikipedia →
1881U.S. President Chester A. Arthur is sworn in upon the death of James A. Garfield the previous day. Wikipedia →
1871Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, first bishop of Melanesia, is martyred on Nukapu, now in the Solomon Islands. Wikipedia →
1870The Bersaglieri corps enter Rome through the Porta Pia, and complete the unification of Italy. Wikipedia →
1863American Civil War: The Battle of Chickamauga, in northwestern Georgia, ends in a Confederate victory. Wikipedia →
1860The future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom begins the first visit to North America by a Prince of Wales. Wikipedia →
1857The Indian Rebellion of 1857 ends with the recapture of Delhi by troops loyal to the East India Company. Wikipedia →
1854Crimean War: British and French troops defeat Russians at the Battle of Alma. Wikipedia →
1848The American Association for the Advancement of Science is created. Wikipedia →
1835The decade-long Ragamuffin War starts when rebels capture Porto Alegre in Brazil. Wikipedia →
1792French troops stop an allied invasion of France at the Battle of Valmy. Wikipedia →
1737The Walking Purchase concludes, which forces the cession of 1.2 million acres (4,900 km2) of Lenape-Delaware tribal land to the Pennsylvania Colony. Wikipedia →
1697The Treaty of Ryswick is signed by France, England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and the Dutch Republic, ending the Nine Years' War. Wikipedia →
1602The Spanish-held Dutch town of Grave capitulates to a besieging Dutch and English army under the command of Maurice of Orange. Wikipedia →
1586A number of conspirators in the Babington Plot are hanged, drawn and quartered. Wikipedia →
1519Ferdinand Magellan sets sail from Sanlúcar de Barrameda with about 270 men on his expedition which ultimately culminates in the first circumnavigation of the globe. Wikipedia →
1498The Nankai tsunami washes away the building housing the Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in; it has been located outside ever since. Wikipedia →
1378Cardinal Robert of Geneva is elected as Pope Clement VII, beginning the Papal schism. Wikipedia →
1260The Great Prussian Uprising among the old Prussians begins against the Teutonic Knights. Wikipedia →
1217Following 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. Wikipedia →
1187Saladin begins the Siege of Jerusalem. Wikipedia →
1066At the Battle of Fulford, Harald Hardrada defeats earls Morcar and Edwin. Wikipedia →
1058Agnes of Poitou and Andrew I of Hungary meet to negotiate about the border territory of Burgenland. Wikipedia →

From The Guardian Archives — On This Day

2018The Guardian
British museums face fight to gain control of Titanic artefacts
Hedge funds compete with consortium, including National Maritime Museum and Titanic Belfast, for collection of 5,000…
Read on The Guardian →
2015The Guardian
Neo-fascist Greek party takes third place in wave of voter fury
Golden Dawn wins 7% of election vote – with support from around 500,000 Greeks – behind Syriza and New Democracy
Read on The Guardian →
1991The New York Times
Rangers Slosh Past Islanders
The Rangers defeated the Islanders last night, 5-2, at the new, $65-a-seat Madison Square Garden where a crowd of 12,…
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.