Also on This Day in History September 20
Discover what happened on September 20 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.
Births on This Day, September 20
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1842
James Dewar
Scottish chemist and physicist (Dewarfles/cordiet)
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1911
Shriram Sharma
Indian spiritual leader and founder of "All World Gayatri Pariwar"
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1954
Lloyd Blankfein
American CEO and Chairman of Goldman Sachs
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1960
James A. Pawelczyk
American astronaut (sk STS 90)
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1819
Frederick Ellsworth Sickels
American inventor of a valve for steam engines
Deaths on This Day, September 20
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1930
Gombojab Tsybikov
Russian explorer
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1960
Ernest Goodpasture
American research scientist, the founder of mumps vaccine, Professor of Pathology
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2000
Gherman Titov
Russian cosmonaut and 4th person in space
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1996
Paul Erdos
Hungarian mathematician, who was one of the century's top math experts and pioneered the fields of number theory and combinatorics
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1933
Annie Besant
English social reformer and supporter of Indian independence
1946
The first Cannes Film Festival held
The first Cannes Film Festival was held from September 20 to October 5, 1946, in Cannes, France. It was established as an international film festival to showcase and celebrate the best in cinema from around the world. The inaugural festival attracted notable filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most prestigious and influential film festivals globally.
1977
Vietnam is admitted to the United Nations
Vietnam was admitted to the United Nations on September 20, 1977. This event marked its recognition as a sovereign state and its inclusion in the international community through membership in the United Nations.
2013
The Deep Impact spacecraft was declared dead by NASA
NASA declared the Deep Impact spacecraft dead on September 20, 2013, marking the end of its mission after more than eight years in space. Deep Impact was launched on January 12, 2005, with the primary objective of studying Comet Tempel 1. Its most notable achievement occurred on July 4, 2005, when it deployed an impactor that collided with the comet, creating a crater and revealing its interior structure.
1920
Spanish Legion Founded
The Spanish Legion, officially known as the "Tercio de Extranjeros" or "Tercio de Marruecos," was founded on September 20, 1920. It was established by royal decree as an elite unit of the Spanish Army, initially composed of foreign volunteers. The Legion has since become renowned for its rigorous training, discipline, and participation in various military operations and conflicts throughout its history.