All Events

Historical Events on April 20

  • Blockade runner

    1453

    Three Genoese galleys and a Byzantine blockade runner fight their way through an Ottoman blockading fleet a few weeks before the fall of Constantinople.

  • Siege of Boston

    1775

    American Revolutionary War: The Siege of Boston begins, following the battles at Lexington and Concord.

  • Grays Ferry, Philadelphia

    1789

    George Washington arrives at Grays Ferry, Philadelphia while en route to Manhattan for his inauguration.

  • Robert E. Lee

    1861

    American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.

  • Spanish-American War

    1898

    President William McKinley signed a joint resolution to Congress for declaration of War against Spain, beginning the Spanish-American War.

  • South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast

    1922

    The Soviet government creates South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within Georgian SSR.

  • Leipzig

    1945

    World War II: US troops capture Leipzig, Germany, only to later cede the city to the Soviet Union.

  • Rivers of Blood speech

    1968

    English politician Enoch Powell makes his controversial Rivers of Blood speech.

  • Indy Japan 300

    2008

    Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 becoming the first female driver in history to win an Indy car race.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on April 20

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on April 20

19. April

21. April