Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 20, Tuesday April 1869, Carl Loewe, German composer, died (b. 1796)
On 20, Sunday April 1919, The French Army blows up the bridge over the Dniester at Bender, Moldova, to protect the city from the Bolsheviks.
On 20, Sunday April 1919, Thomas Egan, American gangster, died (b. 1874)
On 20, Monday April 1959, Clint Howard, American actor and producer, born
On 20, Sunday April 1969, British troops arrive in Northern Ireland to reinforce the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
On 20, Sunday April 1969, A grassroots movement of Berkeley community members seizes an empty lot owned by the University of California, to begin the formation of “People’s Park”.
On 20, Sunday April 1969, Marietta Slomka, German journalist, born
On 20, Sunday April 1969, Benny Benjamin, American urban and jazz musician, died (b. 1925)
On 20, Friday April 1979, President Jimmy Carter is attacked by a swamp rabbit while fishing in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, USA.
On 20, Friday April 1979, Teoh Beng Hock, Malaysian journalist, born (d. 2009), born
On 20, Friday April 1979, Peter Donald, British-born American actor, died (b. 1918)
On 20, Thursday April 1989, Amy Steel, netballer, born
On 20, Thursday April 1989, NATO debates modernising short range missiles; although the US and UK are in favour, West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl obtains a concession deferring a decision.
On 20, Thursday April 1989, Alex Black, American actor, born
On 20, Thursday April 1989, Carlos Valdes, Colombian actor and singer, born
On 20, Tuesday April 1999, Columbine High School massacre: Two Littleton, Colorado, teenagers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, open fire on their teachers and classmates, killing 12 students and 1 teacher, and then themselves.
On 20, Tuesday April 1999, Rick Rude, American professional wrestler, died (b. 1958)
On 20, Tuesday April 1999, Señor Wences, Spanish ventriloquist, died (b. 1896)
On 20, Sunday April 2014, Neville Wran, 87, Premier of New South Wales (1976–1986), died
On 20, Sunday April 2014, Rubin Carter, American boxer, died (b. 1937)
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch