Tukuk-OS📅 May 20
20 events · 12 births · 12 deaths
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What happened on May 20? Below are the notable events chosen by Wikipedia’s editors for this date, followed by celebrated births, deaths and the observances recognised around the world.
Events
- 2022 — Russo-Ukrainian war: Russia claimed full control of Mariupol after a nearly three-month siege.
- 2013 — A tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, United States, killing 24 people and causing an estimated $2 billion of damage.
- 2012 — The first of two major earthquakes struck Northern Italy, resulting in seven deaths.
- 1996 — In deciding Romer v. Evans, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a constitutional amendment in Colorado that prevented protected status under the law for homosexuals or bisexuals.
- 1993 — "One for the Road", the series finale of American television sitcom Cheers, was watched by 42.4 million American households on its original airing.
- 1983 — A team of researchers led by French virologist Luc Montagnier published their discovery of HIV, but were not then certain that it caused AIDS.
- 1965 — While attempting to land at Cairo International Airport, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705 crashed for unknown reasons, killing all but 6 of the 121 people on board.
Cairo International AirportPakistan International Airlines Flight 705
- 1947 — The first session of the National Diet opened in Tokyo, Japan.
- 1943 — The Luttra Woman (skull pictured), a bog body from the Early Neolithic period, was discovered near Luttra, Sweden.
- 1941 — World War II: German paratroopers began the Battle of Heraklion on the island of Crete, capturing the airfield and port in Heraklion ten days later.
- 1927 — With the signing of the Treaty of Jeddah, the United Kingdom recognized the sovereignty of Ibn Saud over Hejaz and Nejd, which later merged to become Saudi Arabia.
- 1875 — Representatives from seventeen countries signed the Metre Convention, which set up an institute for the purpose of coordinating international metrology and for coordinating the development of the metric system.
- 1811 — A British squadron under Charles Marsh Schomberg defeated a French force off Tamatave, Madagascar, that was attempting to reinforce the French garrison on Mauritius.
- 1714 — J. S. Bach led the first performance of his Pentecost cantata Erschallet, ihr Lieder at the chapel of Schloss Weimar.
Johann Sebastian BachPentecostErschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172
- 1609 — Thomas Thorpe published the first copies of Shakespeare's sonnets, possibly without William Shakespeare's consent.
- 1515 — Ulysses, who would be famously depicted in a posthumous woodcut, landed in Lisbon, becoming the first of his species to visit Europe in a thousand years.
- 1217 — First Barons' War: English forces under William Marshal defeated French troops at the Battle of Lincoln.
First Barons' WarWilliam Marshal, 1st Earl of PembrokeBattle of Lincoln (1217)
- 794 — According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, King Æthelberht II of East Anglia was beheaded on the orders of Offa of Mercia.
Anglo-Saxon ChronicleÆthelberht II of East AngliaKingdom of East Anglia
- 685 — The Picts defeated the Northumbrians at the Battle of Dun Nechtain, severely weakening the latter's power in northern Great Britain.
- 325 — The First Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church, was formally opened by Constantine the Great.
Births
- 2012 — Doug the Pug, American celebrity dog
- 1998 — Jamie Chadwick, English race car driver
- 1998 — Nam Nguyen, Canadian figure skater
- 1997 — Kaoru Mitoma, Japanese footballer
- 1996 — Brian Kelly, Australian rugby league player
- 1993 — Ramy Rabia, Egyptian footballer
- 1993 — Caroline Zhang, American figure skater
- 1992 — Cate Campbell, Malawian-Australian swimmer
- 1992 — Jack Gleeson, Irish actor
- 1992 — Enes Kanter, Turkish basketball player
- 1992 — Fanny Smith, Swiss freestyle skier
- 1991 — Bastian Baker, Swiss singer, songwriter, and performer
Deaths
- 2025 — George Wendt, American actor and comedian (born 1948)
- 2024 — Ivan Boesky, American stock trader (born 1937)
- 2022 — Roger Angell, American sportswriter and author (born 1920)
- 2022 — Susan Roces, Filipino actress (born 1941)
- 2021 — Gary Wilson, American anti-pornography activist (born 1956)
- 2019 — Niki Lauda, Austrian race car driver (born 1949)
- 2016 — Kho Jabing, Malaysian convicted murderer who was executed by hanging in Singapore (born 1984)
- 2015 — Bob Belden, American saxophonist, composer, and producer (born 1956)
- 2015 — Femi Robinson, Nigerian actor and playwright (born 1940)
- 2014 — Sandra Bem, American psychologist and academic (born 1944)
- 2014 — Ross Brown, New Zealand rugby player (born 1934)
- 2014 — Robyn Denny, English-French painter (born 1930)
Observances & holidays
- Christian feast day: Abercius and Helena
- Christian feast day: Alcuin of York
- Christian feast day: Aurea of Ostia
- Christian feast day: Austregisilus
- Christian feast day: Baudilus
- Christian feast day: Bernardino of Siena
- Christian feast day: Columba of Rieti
- Christian feast day: Lydia of Thyatira
- Christian feast day: Lucifer of Cagliari
- Christian feast day: Sanctan
- Christian feast day: May 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Day of Remembrance (Cambodia)
- Emancipation Day (Florida)
- European Maritime Day (European Council)
- Independence Restoration Day, celebrates the independence of East Timor from Indonesia in 2002.
- Josephine Baker Day (NAACP)
- National Awakening Day (Indonesia), and its related observances: Indonesian Doctor Day (Indonesia)
- National Day (Cameroon)
- World Bee Day
- World Metrology Day
- Doug the Pug Day (Nashville, Tennessee)
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