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 February 1844, Joshua Slocum, Canadian-American seaman, adventurer, born (d. 1909)
On 20, Tuesday February 1844, Ludwig Boltzmann, Austrian physicist, born (d. 1906)
On 20, Saturday February 1869, Ranavalona II, the Merina Queen of Madagascar, is baptized.
On 20, Thursday February 1919, Joe Krol, Canadian football player, born (d. 2008)
On 20, Thursday February 1919, James O’Meara, British Battle of Britain Spitfire flying ace, born (d. 1974)
On 20, Thursday February 1919, Habibullah Khan, Emir of Afghanistan, died (b. 1872; assassinated)
On 20, Sunday February 1944, WWII: The “Big Week” begins with American bomber raids on German aircraft manufacturing centers.
On 20, Sunday February 1944, The United States takes Eniwetok Atoll.
On 20, Sunday February 1944, Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin, Malaysian politician and diplomat, born (d. 2014)
On 20, Sunday February 1944, Willem van Hanegem, Dutch football player and coach, born
On 20, Friday February 1959, The Canadian Government cancels the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow interceptor aircraft project.
On 20, Friday February 1959, Scott Brayton, American race car driver, born (d. 1996)
On 20, Friday February 1959, Gregório Bondar, Russian-Brazilian agronomist, died (b. 1881)
On 20, Friday February 1959, Laurence Housman, English playwright and writer, died (b. 1865)
On 20, Thursday February 1969, Keiji Takayama, Japanese professional wrestler, born
On 20, Tuesday February 1979, This Old House premieres on PBS.
On 20, Monday February 1989, Daly Cherry-Evans, rugby player, born
On 20, Monday February 1989, In Canada’s Yukon Territory, the ruling New Democrats narrowly maintain control of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, winning 9 seats vs. the Progressive Conservative Party’s 7.
On 20, Monday February 1989, Jack Falahee, American actor, born
On 20, Monday February 1989, Mayu Kuroda, Japanese artistic gymnast, born
On 20, Monday February 1989, Robert Dorning, British actor, died (b. 1913)
On 20, Saturday February 1999, Sarah Kane, English playwright, died (b. 1971)
On 20, Saturday February 1999, Gene Siskel, American film critic, died (b. 1946)
On 20, Friday February 2009, Fine Cotton, 31, racehorse, died
On 20, Thursday February 2014, Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland, born
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch