Tag: this day in history

30 newsworthy anniversaries in June 2020

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Here are 30 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in June 2020.

This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing “on this day in history” features and anniversary tie-ins.

1 Jun 1980 – 40 years ago
Cable News Network (CNN) began broadcasting.

2 Jun 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Bruce McLaren, New Zealand racing driver and racing car designer. Killed while testing a car at Goodwood, England.

3 Jun 1950 – 70 years ago
The first successful ascent of Annapurna in the Himalayas, by a French expedition led by Maurice Herzog. This was the first successful ascent of a mountain over 8,000 meters. Annapurna is the 10th highest mountain in the world.

4 Jun 1970 – 50 years ago
Tonga gained its independence from the UK.

5 Jun 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: the Allied Control Council was established in Berlin, Germany to oversee the division of Germany into four occupation zones: American, British, French and Soviet.

–

7 Jun 1770 – 250 years ago
Birth of Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, British Prime Minister (1812–27).

8 Jun 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Abraham Maslow, American psychologist and philosopher. Best known for creating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

9 Jun 1870 – 150 years ago
Death of Charles Dickens, British novelist (The Pickwick Papers, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, A Christmas Carol and more).

10 Jun 1940 – 80 years ago
Death of Marcus Garvey, Jamaican-born American civil rights leader who established the first major black nationalist movement in the USA.

11 Jun 1770 – 250 years ago
English explorer Captain James Cook discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia when his ship ran aground on it and sustained severe damage.

12 Jun 1980 – 40 years ago
Death of Billy Butlin, British holiday camp entrepreneur.

13 Jun 2000 – 20 years ago
The first North-South Korean summit (the Inter-Korean Summit) was held. (South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.)

14 Jun 1920 – 100 years ago
Death of Max Weber, influential German sociologist and political economist.

15 Jun 1920 – 100 years ago
Duluth lynchings, Minnesota, USA. Three black circus workers were lynched by a mob of between 5,000 and 10,000 people after they were (probably falsely) accused of raping a local girl.

16 Jun 1960 – 60 years ago
Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense film Psycho was released.

17 Jun 1970 – 50 years ago
The “Babes in the wood” murders. The bodies of two missing British children were found in a shallow grave in a wood at Waltham Abbey, Essex, after a massive search.

18 Jun 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Ian Carmichael, British stage, film, television and radio actor. Best known for playing the gentleman detective Lord Peter Wimsey on TV and radio, Bertie Wooster in the TV series The World of Wooster, and for his roles in the films Private’s Progress, I’m All Right Jack, School for Scoundrels and Lucky Jim. (Died 2010.)

19 Jun 1820 – 200 years ago
Death of Joseph Banks, British naturalist. He took part in Captain James Cook’s first great voyage (1768–1771), was President of the Royal Society for 41 years, developed the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew into one of the world’s leading botanical gardens, and advocated British colonization of Australia.

20 Jun 1980 – 40 years ago
The musical comedy film The Blues Brothers was released in the USA. (UK: 10th October.)

21 Jun 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Sukarno, first President of Indonesia (1949–66).

22 Jun 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Okinawa ended after 82 days. This battle saw the highest number of casualties in the Pacific Theatre of the war, with more than 12,000 Allied forces, 110,000 Japanese forces, and 140,000 civilians killed. (Some sources give different figures.)

23 Jun 1995 – 25 years ago
Death of Jonas Salk, American medical researcher who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine.

24 Jun 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Jack Dempsey, American world heavyweight boxing champion (1919-26).

25 Jun 1950 to 27 Jul 1953 – 70 years ago
Korean War. North Korean and Soviet troops invaded South Korea. They were successfully repelled in 1953 with help from the USA, and the Korean Demilitarized Zone was established at the border. The USA entered the war on 27th June following a UN Security Council recommendation that member nations should help South Korea. North Korean forces captured Seoul, the capital of South Korea on 28th June.

26 Jun 1870 – 150 years ago
The première of Wagner’s opera The Valkyrie, in Munich, Germany.

27 Jun 1960 – 60 years ago
Death of Lottie Dod, versatile British sportswoman. Five times winner of Wimbledon, women’s golf champion, Olympic medalist in archery, and founder of the England women’s field hockey team.

28 Jun 1960 – 60 years ago
Cuba confiscated and nationalized all U.S.‐owned oil refineries after they refused to process a shipment of Soviet crude oil.

29 Jun 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Ray Harryhausen, pioneering American filmmaker. Known for his “Dynamation” stop-motion animations where live actors appear to interact with the characters. The best-known example is the skeleton sword fight in Jason and the Argonauts. His work also appears in films such as Mighty Joe Young, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and Clash of the Titans. (Died 2013.)

30 Jun 1520 – 500 years ago
Death of Montezuma II, (also spelled Moctezuma), the last Aztec emperor (1502–20).

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

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30 newsworthy anniversaries in June 2020 (U.S. edition)

Posted on by admin

Here are 30 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in June 2020.

This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing “on this day in history” features and anniversary tie-ins.

Jun 1, 1980 – 40 years ago
Cable News Network (CNN) began broadcasting.

Jun 2, 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Bruce McLaren, New Zealand racing driver and racing car designer. Killed while testing a car at Goodwood, England.

Jun 3, 1950 – 70 years ago
The first successful ascent of Annapurna in the Himalayas, by a French expedition led by Maurice Herzog. This was the first successful ascent of a mountain over 8,000 meters. Annapurna is the 10th highest mountain in the world.

Jun 4, 1970 – 50 years ago
Tonga gained its independence from the UK.

Jun 5, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: the Allied Control Council was established in Berlin, Germany to oversee the division of Germany into four occupation zones: American, British, French and Soviet.

–

Jun 7, 1770 – 250 years ago
Birth of Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, British Prime Minister (1812–27).

Jun 8, 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Abraham Maslow, American psychologist and philosopher. Best known for creating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Jun 9, 1870 – 150 years ago
Death of Charles Dickens, British novelist (The Pickwick Papers, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, A Christmas Carol and more).

Jun 10, 1940 – 80 years ago
Death of Marcus Garvey, Jamaican-born American civil rights leader who established the first major black nationalist movement in the USA.

Jun 11, 1770 – 250 years ago
English explorer Captain James Cook discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia when his ship ran aground on it and sustained severe damage.

Jun 12, 1980 – 40 years ago
Death of Billy Butlin, British holiday camp entrepreneur.

Jun 13, 2000 – 20 years ago
The first North-South Korean summit (the Inter-Korean Summit) was held. (South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.)

Jun 14, 1920 – 100 years ago
Death of Max Weber, influential German sociologist and political economist.

Jun 15, 1920 – 100 years ago
Duluth lynchings, Minnesota, USA. Three black circus workers were lynched by a mob of between 5,000 and 10,000 people after they were (probably falsely) accused of raping a local girl.

Jun 16, 1960 – 60 years ago
Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense film Psycho was released.

Jun 17, 1970 – 50 years ago
The “Babes in the wood” murders. The bodies of two missing British children were found in a shallow grave in a wood at Waltham Abbey, Essex, after a massive search.

Jun 18, 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Ian Carmichael, British stage, film, television and radio actor. Best known for playing the gentleman detective Lord Peter Wimsey on TV and radio, Bertie Wooster in the TV series The World of Wooster, and for his roles in the films Private’s Progress, I’m All Right Jack, School for Scoundrels and Lucky Jim. (Died 2010.)

Jun 19, 1820 – 200 years ago
Death of Joseph Banks, British naturalist. He took part in Captain James Cook’s first great voyage (1768–1771), was President of the Royal Society for 41 years, developed the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew into one of the world’s leading botanical gardens, and advocated British colonization of Australia.

Jun 20, 1980 – 40 years ago
The musical comedy film The Blues Brothers was released in the USA. (UK: October 10th.)

Jun 21, 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Sukarno, first President of Indonesia (1949–66).

Jun 22, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Okinawa ended after 82 days. This battle saw the highest number of casualties in the Pacific Theatre of the war, with more than 12,000 Allied forces, 110,000 Japanese forces, and 140,000 civilians killed. (Some sources give different figures.)

Jun 23, 1995 – 25 years ago
Death of Jonas Salk, American medical researcher who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine.

Jun 24, 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Jack Dempsey, American world heavyweight boxing champion (1919-26).

Jun 25, 1950 to Jul 27, 1953 – 70 years ago
Korean War. North Korean and Soviet troops invaded South Korea. They were successfully repelled in 1953 with help from the USA, and the Korean Demilitarized Zone was established at the border. The USA entered the war on June 27th following a UN Security Council recommendation that member nations should help South Korea. North Korean forces captured Seoul, the capital of South Korea on June 28th.

Jun 26, 1870 – 150 years ago
The première of Wagner’s opera The Valkyrie, in Munich, Germany.

Jun 27, 1960 – 60 years ago
Death of Lottie Dod, versatile British sportswoman. Five times winner of Wimbledon, women’s golf champion, Olympic medalist in archery, and founder of the England women’s field hockey team.

Jun 28, 1960 – 60 years ago
Cuba confiscated and nationalized all U.S.‐owned oil refineries after they refused to process a shipment of Soviet crude oil.

Jun 29, 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Ray Harryhausen, pioneering American filmmaker. Known for his “Dynamation” stop-motion animations where live actors appear to interact with the characters. The best-known example is the skeleton sword fight in Jason and the Argonauts. His work also appears in films such as Mighty Joe Young, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and Clash of the Titans. (Died 2013.)

Jun 30, 1520 – 500 years ago
Death of Montezuma II, (also spelled Moctezuma), the last Aztec emperor (1502–20).

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

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The Date-A-Base Book 2019 – free download

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The Date-A-Base Book 2019

The 2019 edition of The Date-A-Base Book is now FREE!

Download your copy here if you don’t already have it: https://payhip.com/b/VbQM

It’s free for everyone, so please share the link with anyone who might like it.

The 2020 and 2021 editions are also available – but not free!

31 newsworthy anniversaries in May 2020 (US edition)

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Here are 31 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in May 2020.

This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing anniversary tie-ins and “on this day in history” features.

May 1, 1960 – 60 years ago
The Soviet Union shot down an American U‐2 spy plane near the Russian city of Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) and captured pilot Gary Powers, sparking a diplomatic crisis. (In August, Powers was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released in 1962 in exchange for the Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.)

May 2, 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Lorenz Hart, American lyricist. Known for his collaborations with the composer Richard Rodgers on numerous Broadway songs. He also suffered from depression and alcoholism, which contributed to his death at the age of 48.

May 3, 1960 – 60 years ago
The European Free Trade Association was established.

May 4, 1980 – 40 years ago
Death of Josip Broz Tito, President/dictator of Yugoslavia (1953–80).

May 5, 1980 – 40 years ago
Operation Nimrod. The British SAS stormed the Iranian embassy in London after a six‐day siege.

May 6, 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Rudolph Valentino, iconic Italian-born American silent film actor and sex symbol. His films include The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle, and The Son of the Sheik. His death from peritonitis at the age of 31 led to mass hysteria among his female fans.

May 7, 1960 – 60 years ago
Leonid Brezhnev became President of the Soviet Union.

May 8, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: VE day (Victory in Europe) – celebrated as a public holiday.

May 9, 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Richard Adams, British novelist. Best known for Watership Down, Shardik, The Plague Dogs and The Girl in a Swing. (Died 2016.)

May 10, 1940 – 80 years ago
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned after losing the support of many Conservatives in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by Winston Churchill.

May 11, 1995 – 25 years ago
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus was confirmed in Zaire. 317 people became infected, of whom 245 died.

May 12, 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of Florence Nightingale, Italian-born British social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing.

May 13, 1950 – 70 years ago
The first Formula One World Championship race was held, at Silverstone in England. (This race is also known as the 1950 British Grand Prix.)

May 14, 1955 – 65 years ago
The Warsaw Pact was established. It was a Soviet-led mutual defense treaty between eight communist European states during the Cold War. (It was disestablished in December 1991.)

May 15, 1940 – 80 years ago
The first McDonald’s restaurant opened, in San Bernardino, California, USA.

May 16, 1990 – 30 years ago
Death of Jim Henson, American puppeteer, television producer and screenwriter. Creator of the Muppets.

May 17, 1960 – 60 years ago
The Kariba Dam, on the Zambia‐Zimbabwe border, was officially opened. The hydroelectric dam supplies power to both countries.

May 18, 1980 – 40 years ago
Mount St. Helens, a volcano in Washington state, USA, erupted, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion worth of damage.

May 19, 1930 – 90 years ago
The 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It prohibited Congress from awarding itself pay raises.

May 20, 1920 – 100 years ago
The national assembly of Germany’s Weimar Republic (the Weimarer Nationalversammlung) was permanently dissolved.

May 21, 2000 – 20 years ago
Death of Dame Barbara Cartland, British author of over 700 romance novels.

May 22, 1980 – 40 years ago
The arcade game Pac-Man was released in Japan. (North America: October 26th.)

May 23, 1895 – 125 years ago
The New York Public Library was established when an agreement was signed that merged the city’s existing Astor Library and Lenox Library, using the fortune bequeathed by the former Governor of New York, Samuel J. Tilden.

May 24, 1930 – 90 years ago
British aviator Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.

May 25, 1945 – 75 years ago
British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clark privately circulated a document in which he proposed using geostationary satellites as telecommunications relays. (The idea was made public in the October 1945 issue of Wireless World magazine. The first commercial geostationary communications satellite, Intelsat I, was launched in April 1965.)

May 26 to June 4, 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Dunkirk Evacuation. Allied forces launched a massive evacuation of troops from Dunkirk in France across the English Channel to England after they were cut off by approaching German forces. Nearly 340,000 soldiers were rescued in a hastily assembled fleet of 800 boats.

May 27, 1995 – 25 years ago
American actor Christopher Reeve, star of the Superman films, was paralyzed from the neck down when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Virginia, USA. (He died in 2004.)

May 28, 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: Belgium surrendered to Germany.

May 29, 1990 – 30 years ago
Boris Yeltsin was elected President of Russia.

May 30, 1960 – 60 years ago
Death of Boris Pasternak, Russian writer and poet. Best known for his novel Doctor Zhivago. Awarded the 1958 Nobel Prize in Literature, but he refused it because of opposition from the Soviet Union.

May 31, 1970 – 50 years ago
The Great Peruvian Earthquake (also called the Ancash earthquake).  Over 47,000 people were killed. The town of Yungay was buried by an avalanche that killed 17,000 people.

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

31 newsworthy anniversaries in May 2020

Posted on by admin

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in May 2020.

This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing anniversary tie-ins and “on this day in history” features.

1 May 1960 – 60 years ago
The Soviet Union shot down an American U‐2 spy plane near the Russian city of Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) and captured pilot Gary Powers, sparking a diplomatic crisis. (In August, Powers was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released in 1962 in exchange for the Soviet spy Rudolf Abel.)

2 May 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Lorenz Hart, American lyricist. Known for his collaborations with the composer Richard Rodgers on numerous Broadway songs. He also suffered from depression and alcoholism, which contributed to his death at the age of 48.

3 May 1960 – 60 years ago
The European Free Trade Association was established.

4 May 1980 – 40 years ago
Death of Josip Broz Tito, President/dictator of Yugoslavia (1953–80).

5 May 1980 – 40 years ago
Operation Nimrod. The British SAS stormed the Iranian embassy in London after a six‐day siege.

6 May 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Rudolph Valentino, iconic Italian-born American silent film actor and sex symbol. His films include The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle, and The Son of the Sheik. His death from peritonitis at the age of 31 led to mass hysteria among his female fans.

7 May 1960 – 60 years ago
Leonid Brezhnev became President of the Soviet Union.

8 May 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: VE day (Victory in Europe) – celebrated as a public holiday.

9 May 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Richard Adams, British novelist. Best known for Watership Down, Shardik, The Plague Dogs and The Girl in a Swing. (Died 2016.)

10 May 1940 – 80 years ago
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain resigned after losing the support of many Conservatives in the House of Commons. He was succeeded by Winston Churchill.

11 May 1995 – 25 years ago
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus was confirmed in Zaire. 317 people became infected, of whom 245 died.

12 May 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of Florence Nightingale, Italian-born British social reformer and statistician, and the founder of modern nursing.

13 May 1950 – 70 years ago
The first Formula One World Championship race was held, at Silverstone in England. (This race is also known as the 1950 British Grand Prix.)

14 May 1955 – 65 years ago
The Warsaw Pact was established. It was a Soviet-led mutual defense treaty between eight communist European states during the Cold War. (It was disestablished in December 1991.)

15 May 1940 – 80 years ago
The first McDonald’s restaurant opened, in San Bernardino, California, USA.

16 May 1990 – 30 years ago
Death of Jim Henson, American puppeteer, television producer and screenwriter. Creator of the Muppets.

17 May 1960 – 60 years ago
The Kariba Dam, on the Zambia‐Zimbabwe border, was officially opened. The hydroelectric dam supplies power to both countries.

18 May 1980 – 40 years ago
Mount St. Helens, a volcano in Washington state, USA, erupted, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion worth of damage.

19 May 1930 – 90 years ago
The 27th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It prohibited Congress from awarding itself pay raises.

20 May 1920 – 100 years ago
The national assembly of Germany’s Weimar Republic (the Weimarer Nationalversammlung) was permanently dissolved.

21 May 2000 – 20 years ago
Death of Dame Barbara Cartland, British author of over 700 romance novels.

22 May 1980 – 40 years ago
The arcade game Pac-Man was released in Japan. (North America: 26th October.)

23 May 1895 – 125 years ago
The New York Public Library was established when an agreement was signed that merged the city’s existing Astor Library and Lenox Library, using the fortune bequeathed by the former Governor of New York, Samuel J. Tilden.

24 May 1930 – 90 years ago
British aviator Amy Johnson became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.

25 May 1945 – 75 years ago
British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clark privately circulated a document in which he proposed using geostationary satellites as telecommunications relays. (The idea was made public in the October 1945 issue of Wireless World magazine. The first commercial geostationary communications satellite, Intelsat I, was launched in April 1965.)

26 May 1940 to 4 June – 80 years ago
World War II: the Dunkirk Evacuation. Allied forces launched a massive evacuation of troops from Dunkirk in France across the English Channel to England after they were cut off by approaching German forces. Nearly 340,000 soldiers were rescued in a hastily assembled fleet of 800 boats.

27 May 1995 – 25 years ago
American actor Christopher Reeve, star of the Superman films, was paralyzed from the neck down when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Virginia, USA. (He died in 2004.)

28 May 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: Belgium surrendered to Germany.

29 May 1990 – 30 years ago
Boris Yeltsin was elected President of Russia.

30 May 1960 – 60 years ago
Death of Boris Pasternak, Russian writer and poet. Best known for his novel Doctor Zhivago. Awarded the 1958 Nobel Prize in Literature, but he refused it because of opposition from the Soviet Union.

31 May 1970 – 50 years ago
The Great Peruvian Earthquake (also called the Ancash earthquake).  Over 47,000 people were killed. The town of Yungay was buried by an avalanche that killed 17,000 people.

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available. Find out more at ideas4writers.com

Share this:

30 newsworthy anniversaries in April 2020 (US edition)

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Here are 30 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in April 2020.

We list the anniversaries 6 months in advance so you have time to research and write about them. This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing anniversary tie-ins and “on this day in history” features.

Apr 1, 1960 – 60 years ago
Dr. Martens boots went on sale in the UK.

Apr 2 to 13, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – the Vienna Offensive (Austria). Soviet victory. The Austrian capital was captured from the Germans after an 11-day siege. The Soviet Red Army then pushed further into Austria.

Apr 3, 1895 – 125 years ago
Oscar Wilde’s libel trial against the Marquess of Queensbury opened in London. The Marquess had accused Wilde of homosexuality. The court found that the Marquess’s claim was justified, and he was acquitted. Wilde was liable for the Marquess’s substantial legal fees, which left him bankrupt. Upon leaving the court, a summons was issued for Wilde’s arrest, as homosexuality was illegal. He was convicted and served two years in prison from May 1895 to May 1897.

Apr 4, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: the Soviet Red Army expelled the last German forces from Hungary, and the country was liberated. (This paved the way for the Soviet occupation of Hungary, and it became a communist country and part of the Eastern Bloc until 1989.)

Apr 5, 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Arthur Hailey, British-born Canadian novelist (Hotel, Airport, Wheels, The Moneychangers, Overload and more). (Died 2004.)

Apr 6, 1520 – 500 years ago
Death of Raphael, Italian Renaissance artist and architect. (Unknown illness, aged 37.)

Apr 7, 1770 – 250 years ago
Birth of William Wordsworth, British Romantic poet. Poet Laureate (1843–50).

Apr 8, 1820 – 200 years ago
The famous Ancient Greek statue of the Venus de Milo was discovered on the island of Milos in the Aegean. (Some historians claim it was actually discovered in February 1820, by different people, and in a different part of the island.)

Apr 9, 1940 – 80 years ago
Vidkun Quisling declared himself Prime Minister of Norway and established a new Nazi-backed government. By April 15th he had been forced out of power as King Haakon VII refused to recognize him as leader and the Nazis retracted their support. He was branded a traitor. (He became Minister President of Norway in 1942. He was sentenced to death and executed at the end of WWII.)

Apr 10, 1970 – 50 years ago
British rock musician Paul McCartney announced that he had left the Beatles, and said the band would never perform together again.

Apr 11, 1970 – 50 years ago
NASA launched Apollo 13 on an ill‐fated mission to the Moon. An oxygen cylinder exploded on April 13th, crippling the spacecraft and forcing the mission to be abandoned.

Apr 12, 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the USA (1933–45). Succeeded by Vice-President Harry S. Truman who pledged to continue Roosevelt’s WWII policies for war and peace.

Apr 13, 1870 – 150 years ago
The Metropolitan Museum of Art was established in New York City, USA.

Apr 14, 1995 – 25 years ago
Death of Burl Ives, American singer and actor.

Apr 15, 1945 – 75 years ago
Holocaust: Bergen–Belsen concentration camp in Germany was liberated by British and Canadian troops.

Apr 16 to May 2, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Berlin, Germany. Soviet victory resulting in the surrender of German forces in the city, Hitler’s suicide, and the end of WWII in Europe on May 8th.

Apr 17, 1960 – 60 years ago
Death of Eddie Cochran, American rock and roll musician. Known for his hit songs C’mon Everybody, Summertime Blues and Three Steps to Heaven. (Car crash, aged 21 .)

Apr 18, 1955 – 65 years ago
Death of Albert Einstein, German-born American theoretical physicist. Considered the most influential physicist of the 20th century. Known for developing the special and general theories of relativity. Winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his services to physics and his work on the photoelectric effect.

Apr 19, 1995 – 25 years ago
Oklahoma City bombing. A truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, USA, killing 168 people and injuring 500. (Timothy McVeigh was arrested on April 21st, convicted of the bombing, and executed in June 2001. Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier were convicted as conspirators and received prison sentences.)

Apr 20, 1940 – 80 years ago
RCA gave the first public demonstration of a scanning electron microscope, in Philadelphia, USA.

Apr 21, 1960 – 60 years ago
Brasilia became the capital of Brazil, replacing Rio do Janeiro.

Apr 22, 1870 – 150 years ago
Birth of Vladimir Lenin, Russian communist politician and revolutionary. Architect and first head of state of the Soviet Union, founder of the Russian Communist Party, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, founder of Comintern (Communist International).

Apr 23, 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Ngaio Marsh, New Zealand crime writer and theater director. Best known for her series of 32 novels featuring the police officer Inspector Alleyn.

Apr 24, 1990 – 30 years ago
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched.

Apr 25, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: Elbe Day. An important milestone near the end of the war in Europe. U.S. forces advancing from the west and Soviet forces advancing from the east met at the River Elbe, effectively cutting Nazi Germany in two.

Apr 26, 1940 – 80 years ago
Death of Carl Bosch, German industrial chemist and engineer. President of IG Farben. He developed the Haber–Bosch process to synthesize ammonia. Joint winner of the 1931 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on high-pressure chemistry.

Apr 27, 1950 – 70 years ago
Apartheid in South Africa. The Group Areas Act was passed, formally segregating races and barring people from living, operating businesses or owning land outside the areas designated for their race.

Apr 28, 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister/fascist dictator of Italy (1922–43). (Executed by partisans, along with his mistress, Clara Petacci.)

Apr 29, 1770 – 250 years ago
Captain James Cook landed in Botany Bay, Australia. This marked the start of Britain’s interest in Australia, and led to its eventual colonization. (Botany Bay is now in Sydney, New South Wales.)

Apr 30, 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Adolf Hitler, Austrian-born German Nazi Party leader, Chancellor (1933–45) and dictator (1934–45). (Suicide, along with his wife Eva Braun.) He was succeeded as President of Germany by Karl Dönitz (also spelled Doenitz).

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions are currently available in ebook format (PDF) and in print. Find out more at ideas4writers.com

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30 newsworthy anniversaries in April 2020

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Here are 30 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in April 2020.

We list the anniversaries 6 months in advance so you have time to research and write about them. This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing anniversary tie-ins and “on this day in history” features.

1 Apr 1960 – 60 years ago
Dr. Martens boots went on sale in the UK.

2 – 13 Apr 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – the Vienna Offensive (Austria). Soviet victory. The Austrian capital was captured from the Germans after an 11-day siege. The Soviet Red Army then pushed further into Austria.

3 Apr 1895 – 125 years ago
Oscar Wilde’s libel trial against the Marquess of Queensbury opened in London. The Marquess had accused Wilde of homosexuality. The court found that the Marquess’s claim was justified, and he was acquitted. Wilde was liable for the Marquess’s substantial legal fees, which left him bankrupt. Upon leaving the court, a summons was issued for Wilde’s arrest, as homosexuality was illegal. He was convicted and served two years in prison from May 1895 to May 1897.

4 Apr 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: the Soviet Red Army expelled the last German forces from Hungary, and the country was liberated. (This paved the way for the Soviet occupation of Hungary, and it became a communist country and part of the Eastern Bloc until 1989.)

5 Apr 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Arthur Hailey, British-born Canadian novelist (Hotel, Airport, Wheels, The Moneychangers, Overload and more). (Died 2004.)

6 Apr 1520 – 500 years ago
Death of Raphael, Italian Renaissance artist and architect. (Unknown illness, aged 37.)

7 Apr 1770 – 250 years ago
Birth of William Wordsworth, British Romantic poet. Poet Laureate (1843–50).

8 Apr 1820 – 200 years ago
The famous Ancient Greek statue of the Venus de Milo was discovered on the island of Milos in the Aegean. (Some historians claim it was actually discovered in February 1820, by different people, and in a different part of the island.)

9 Apr 1940 – 80 years ago
Vidkun Quisling declared himself Prime Minister of Norway and established a new Nazi-backed government. By 15th April he had been forced out of power as King Haakon VII refused to recognize him as leader and the Nazis retracted their support. He was branded a traitor. (He became Minister President of Norway in 1942. He was sentenced to death and executed at the end of WWII.)

10 Apr 1970 – 50 years ago
British rock musician Paul McCartney announced that he had left the Beatles, and said the band would never perform together again.

11 Apr 1970 – 50 years ago
NASA launched Apollo 13 on an ill‐fated mission to the Moon. An oxygen cylinder exploded on 13th April, crippling the spacecraft and forcing the mission to be abandoned.

12 Apr 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the USA (1933–45). Succeeded by Vice-President Harry S. Truman who pledged to continue Roosevelt’s WWII policies for war and peace.

13 Apr 1870 – 150 years ago
The Metropolitan Museum of Art was established in New York City, USA.

14 Apr 1995 – 25 years ago
Death of Burl Ives, American singer and actor.

15 Apr 1945 – 75 years ago
Holocaust: Bergen–Belsen concentration camp in Germany was liberated by British and Canadian troops.

16 Apr – 2 May 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Berlin, Germany. Soviet victory resulting in the surrender of German forces in the city, Hitler’s suicide, and the end of WWII in Europe on 8th May.

17 Apr 1960 – 60 years ago
Death of Eddie Cochran, American rock and roll musician. Known for his hit songs C’mon Everybody, Summertime Blues and Three Steps to Heaven. (Car crash, aged 21 .)

18 Apr 1955 – 65 years ago
Death of Albert Einstein, German-born American theoretical physicist. Considered the most influential physicist of the 20th century. Known for developing the special and general theories of relativity. Winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his services to physics and his work on the photoelectric effect.

19 Apr 1995 – 25 years ago
Oklahoma City bombing. A truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, USA, killing 168 people and injuring 500. (Timothy McVeigh was arrested on 21st April, convicted of the bombing, and executed in June 2001. Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier were convicted as conspirators and received prison sentences.)

20 Apr 1940 – 80 years ago
RCA gave the first public demonstration of a scanning electron microscope, in Philadelphia, USA.

21 Apr 1960 – 60 years ago
Brasilia became the capital of Brazil, replacing Rio do Janeiro.

22 Apr 1870 – 150 years ago
Birth of Vladimir Lenin, Russian communist politician and revolutionary. Architect and first head of state of the Soviet Union, founder of the Russian Communist Party, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, founder of Comintern (Communist International).

23 Apr 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Ngaio Marsh, New Zealand crime writer and theater director. Best known for her series of 32 novels featuring the police officer Inspector Alleyn.

24 Apr 1990 – 30 years ago
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched.

25 Apr 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: Elbe Day. An important milestone near the end of the war in Europe. U.S. forces advancing from the west and Soviet forces advancing from the east met at the River Elbe, effectively cutting Nazi Germany in two.

26 Apr 1940 – 80 years ago
Death of Carl Bosch, German industrial chemist and engineer. President of IG Farben. He developed the Haber–Bosch process to synthesize ammonia. Joint winner of the 1931 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on high-pressure chemistry.

27 Apr 1950 – 70 years ago
Apartheid in South Africa. The Group Areas Act was passed, formally segregating races and barring people from living, operating businesses or owning land outside the areas designated for their race.

28 Apr 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister/fascist dictator of Italy (1922–43). (Executed by partisans, along with his mistress, Clara Petacci.)

29 Apr 1770 – 250 years ago
Captain James Cook landed in Botany Bay, Australia. This marked the start of Britain’s interest in Australia, and led to its eventual colonization. (Botany Bay is now in Sydney, New South Wales.)

30 Apr 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Adolf Hitler, Austrian-born German Nazi Party leader, Chancellor (1933–45) and dictator (1934–45). (Suicide, along with his wife Eva Braun.) He was succeeded as President of Germany by Karl Dönitz (also spelled Doenitz).

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions are currently available in ebook format (PDF) and in print. Find out more at ideas4writers.com

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31 newsworthy anniversaries in March 2020 (US edition)

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Here are 31 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in March 2020.

We list the anniversaries 6 months in advance so you have time to research and write about them. This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing anniversary tie-ins and “on this day in history” features.

Mar 1, 1620 – 400 years ago
Death of Thomas Campion, English poet and composer.

Mar 2, 1970 – 50 years ago
Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) proclaimed itself a republic.

Mar 3, 1845 – 175 years ago
Florida was admitted as the 27th state of the USA.

Mar 4, 1970 – 50 years ago
The French submarine Eurydice exploded in the Mediterranean, killing all 57 crew.

Mar 5, 1960 – 60 years ago
Rock and roll singer Elvis Presley was officially discharged from the U.S. Army after completing his two years’ service.

Mar 6, 1930 – 90 years ago
Clarence Birdseye’s first frozen foods went on sale in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, in a (successful) marketing test.

–

Mar 8, 1950 – 70 years ago
Volkswagen launched the Type 2/Transporter van – also known as the VW Camper, Bus, microbus, or Kombi. It became the bestselling van in history, and early versions remain much-loved icons of the counterculture/hippie movement.

Mar 9 to 10, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – Operation Meetinghouse (the Bombing of Tokyo, Japan). Considered to be the most destructive air raid in history. 330 U.S. B-29 bombers carried out low-altitude incendiary bomb attacks on Tokyo, destroying a quarter of the city and killing over 100,000 people.

Mar 10, 1820 – 200 years ago
The Royal Astronomical Society was founded in Britain.

Mar 11, 1960 – 60 years ago
NASA launched its Pioneer 5 space probe. It was the USA’s first successful deep space probe and operated until April 30th. It returned a wealth of data on cosmic radiation, electrical fields, and magnetic fields in the interplanetary space between the Earth and Venus.

Mar 12, 1945 – 75 years ago
New York became the first U.S. state to ban discrimination against job applicants and employees on the basis of their race, religion or creed. (Ives–Quinn Anti-Discrimination Bill.)

Mar 13, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: Queen Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands, having evacuated to the UK at the start of the war.

Mar 14, 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy (1861 – 78). The first king of united Italy since the 6th century.

Mar 15, 1820 – 200 years ago
Maine was admitted as the 23rd state of the USA.

Mar 16, 1970 – 50 years ago
The complete New English Bible was published. It was a fresh translation of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts into modern English.

Mar 17, 1870 – 150 years ago
Wellesley College was founded in Massachusetts, USA (as Wellesley Female Seminary). It opened to students on September 8, 1875.

Mar 18, 1845 – 175 years ago
Death of Johnny Appleseed, American environmentalist and nurseryman. He introduced apple trees to large parts of the Midwest, which helped prepare the way for 19th-century pioneers.

Mar 19, 1920 – 100 years ago
The U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles and U.S. membership of the League of Nations.

Mar 20, 1995 – 25 years ago
A terrorist group released sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo underground, killing 12 people and injuring over 5,000.

Mar 21, 1960 – 60 years ago
Sharpeville Massacre, South Africa. Police opened fire on a group of black anti‐apartheid demonstrators, killing 69 and wounding 180.

Mar 22, 1960 – 60 years ago
The first laser was patented by American physicists Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes.

Mar 23, 1940 (Mar 24 in Pakistan) – 80 years ago
The Lahore Resolution was adopted by the All-India Muslim League at its annual convention. This led to the establishment of Pakistan as the world’s first Islamic republic in 1956.

Mar 25, 1955 – 65 years ago
Tennessee Williams’s play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opened on Broadway.

Mar 25, 1920 – 100 years ago
The British special constables known as the “Black and Tans” (officially the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force) arrived in Ireland to suppress revolution and target the IRA.

Mar 26, 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister (1916–22).

Mar 27, 1845 – 175 years ago
Birth of Wilhelm Röntgen, German physicist who discovered X-rays. Winner of the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. The chemical element roentgenium is named in his honor.

Mar 28, 1960 – 60 years ago
The first permanent star was laid on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (It honored the director Stanley Kramer.)

Mar 29, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: the last German V-1 flying bomb hit Britain (Datchworth, Hertfordshire). On the same day, the Allies captured the last German V-1 launch site, preventing further attacks.

Mar 30, 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of Anna Sewell, British novelist who wrote the children’s classic Black Beauty.

Mar 31, 1990 – 30 years ago
Poll tax riots in London. 200,000 protestors took to the streets and clashed with police. Violence and looting erupted, leading to the worst riots in the city for a century.

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions are currently available, as PDF ebooks and in print. Find out more at ideas4writers.com

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31 newsworthy anniversaries in March 2020

Posted on by admin

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in March 2020.

We list the anniversaries 6 months in advance so you have time to research and write about them. This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing anniversary tie-ins and “on this day in history” features.

1 Mar 1620 – 400 years ago
Death of Thomas Campion, English poet and composer.

2 Mar 1970 – 50 years ago
Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) proclaimed itself a republic.

3 Mar 1845 – 175 years ago
Florida was admitted as the 27th state of the USA.

4 Mar 1970 – 50 years ago
The French submarine Eurydice exploded in the Mediterranean, killing all 57 crew.

5 Mar 1960 – 60 years ago
Rock and roll singer Elvis Presley was officially discharged from the U.S. Army after completing his two years’ service.

6 Mar 1930 – 90 years ago
Clarence Birdseye’s first frozen foods went on sale in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, in a (successful) marketing test.

–

8 Mar 1950 – 70 years ago
Volkswagen launched the Type 2/Transporter van – also known as the VW Camper, Bus, microbus, or Kombi. It became the bestselling van in history, and early versions remain much-loved icons of the counterculture/hippie movement.

9 – 10 Mar 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – Operation Meetinghouse (the Bombing of Tokyo, Japan). Considered to be the most destructive air raid in history. 330 U.S. B-29 bombers carried out low-altitude incendiary bomb attacks on Tokyo, destroying a quarter of the city and killing over 100,000 people.

10 Mar 1820 – 200 years ago
The Royal Astronomical Society was founded in Britain.

11 Mar 1960 – 60 years ago
NASA launched its Pioneer 5 space probe. It was the USA’s first successful deep space probe and operated until 30th April. It returned a wealth of data on cosmic radiation, electrical fields, and magnetic fields in the interplanetary space between the Earth and Venus.

12 Mar 1945 – 75 years ago
New York became the first U.S. state to ban discrimination against job applicants and employees on the basis of their race, religion or creed. (Ives–Quinn Anti-Discrimination Bill.)

13 Mar 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: Queen Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands, having evacuated to the UK at the start of the war.

14 Mar 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy (1861 – 78). The first king of united Italy since the 6th century.

15 Mar 1820 – 200 years ago
Maine was admitted as the 23rd state of the USA.

16 Mar 1970 – 50 years ago
The complete New English Bible was published. It was a fresh translation of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts into modern English.

17 Mar 1870 – 150 years ago
Wellesley College was founded in Massachusetts, USA (as Wellesley Female Seminary). It opened to students on 8th September 1875.

18 Mar 1845 – 175 years ago
Death of Johnny Appleseed, American environmentalist and nurseryman. He introduced apple trees to large parts of the Midwest, which helped prepare the way for 19th-century pioneers.

19 Mar 1920 – 100 years ago
The U.S. Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles and U.S. membership of the League of Nations.

20 Mar 1995 – 25 years ago
A terrorist group released sarin nerve gas on the Tokyo underground, killing 12 people and injuring over 5,000.

21 Mar 1960 – 60 years ago
Sharpeville Massacre, South Africa. Police opened fire on a group of black anti‐apartheid demonstrators, killing 69 and wounding 180.

22 Mar 1960 – 60 years ago
The first laser was patented by American physicists Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes.

23 Mar 1940 (24th in Pakistan) – 80 years ago
The Lahore Resolution was adopted by the All-India Muslim League at its annual convention. This led to the establishment of Pakistan as the world’s first Islamic republic in 1956.

24 Mar 1955 – 65 years ago
Tennessee Williams’s play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opened on Broadway.

25 Mar 1920 – 100 years ago
The British special constables known as the “Black and Tans” (officially the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force) arrived in Ireland to suppress revolution and target the IRA.

26 Mar 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister (1916–22).

27 Mar 1845 – 175 years ago
Birth of Wilhelm Röntgen, German physicist who discovered X-rays. Winner of the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901. The chemical element roentgenium is named in his honor.

28 Mar 1960 – 60 years ago
The first permanent star was laid on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (It honored the director Stanley Kramer.)

29 Mar 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: the last German V-1 flying bomb hit Britain (Datchworth, Hertfordshire). On the same day, the Allies captured the last German V-1 launch site, preventing further attacks.

30 Mar 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of Anna Sewell, British novelist who wrote the children’s classic Black Beauty.

31 Mar 1990 – 30 years ago
Poll tax riots in London. 200,000 protestors took to the streets and clashed with police. Violence and looting erupted, leading to the worst riots in the city for a century.

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions are currently available, as PDF ebooks and in print. Find out more at ideas4writers.com

Share this:

29 newsworthy anniversaries in February 2020 (US edition)

Posted on by admin

Here are 29 newsworthy and notable anniversaries coming up in February 2020.

We list the anniversaries 6 months in advance so you have time to research and write about them. This list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020, which lists hundreds of newsworthy and notable anniversaries for each month. It’s just the thing you need for writing anniversary tie-ins and “on this day in history” features.

Feb 1, 1920 – 100 years ago
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police was established.

Feb 2, 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Bertrand Russell, British philosopher, logician, mathematician and social reformer. Winner of the 1950 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Feb 3, 1870 – 150 years ago
The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. It prohibited the federal and state governments from denying voting rights to citizens because of their race, color or previous servitude.

Feb 4 to 11, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – The Yalta Conference, Crimea. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin met to plan the final defeat of Nazi Germany. Stalin also agreed to enter the war in the Pacific within 3 months of the war in Europe ending.

Feb 5, 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Frank Muir, British comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. Presenter of the radio shows My Word! and My Music and the TV quiz show Call My Bluff. (Died 1998.)

Feb 6, 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Babe Ruth, American professional baseball player. Regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in U.S. history.

Feb 7, 1940 – 80 years ago
The U.S. première of the Walt Disney film Pinocchio. (Released: February 23rd, UK: May 13th.)

Feb 8, 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of William Tecumseh Sherman, American Civil War general. A major architect of modern warfare. Noted for the success of his campaigns against the Confederates, but criticized for the harshness of his “scorched earth” policies.

Feb 9, 1895 – 125 years ago
The sport of volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical education director, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA.

Feb 10, 1940 – 80 years ago
The cartoon characters Tom and Jerry made their first appearance in the Hanna and Barbera cartoon Puss Gets the Boot. (Tom the cat was named Jasper and Jerry the mouse was named Jinx.)

Feb 11, 1990 – 30 years ago
Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years. (He became President of South Africa in 1994.)

Feb 12, 1940 – 80 years ago
The first episode of the radio serial The Adventures of Superman was broadcast on WOR in New York City, USA. It ran until 1951 (on Mutual and ABC).

Feb 13, 1920 – 100 years ago
The League of Nations recognized Switzerland’s perpetual neutrality.

Feb 14, 1920 – 100 years ago
The League of Women Voters was founded in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Feb 15, 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of Susan B. Anthony, American social reformer and women’s rights activist. President of the National Woman Suffrage Association (1892–1900).

Feb 16 to 26, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Corregidor, Philippines. U.S. victory. The island was recaptured from the Japanese who had held it since May 1942.

Feb 17, 1870 – 150 years ago
The Elementary Education Act (commonly known as Forster’s Education Act) was introduced in England and Wales. It provided a framework for the education of all children aged between 5 and 12. Many people objected to it, including the upper classes who wanted to keep educational privileges for themselves, and employers who feared losing cheap labor.

Feb 18, 1930 – 90 years ago
The dwarf planet Pluto was discovered by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh.

Feb 19 to Mar 23, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II – the Battle of Iwo Jima, Japanese Volcano Islands. U.S. victory.
(The iconic photo of U.S. Marines raising the American flag on top of Mount Surabachi was taken on February 23rd.)

Feb 20, 1920 – 100 years ago
Death of Robert Peary, American naval officer and explorer. His claim to have reached the geographic North Pole in April 1909 is the subject of much debate and controversy.

Feb 21, 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Eric Liddell, Scottish athlete. Olympic gold medalist in 1924 (400m). Because of his religious convictions, he withdrew from the 100m heats because they were held on a Sunday, and entered (and won) the 400m instead as the heats and final were held on weekdays. He was portrayed by the actor Ian Charleson in the film Chariots of Fire. (Died in a WWII internment camp in China, aged 43.)

Feb 22, 1940 – 80 years ago
Tenzin Gyatso, aged 5, was installed as the 14th Dalai Lama in Lhasa, Tibet

Feb 23, 1820 – 200 years ago
Cato Street Conspiracy, London, UK. Thirteen conspirators known as the Spencean Philanthropists were arrested after an informer revealed they were plotting to kill the Prime Minister and all of his cabinet ministers. Five of the conspirators were later executed, and five others transported to Australia.

Feb 24 or Apr 1, 1920 – 100 years ago
The National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) was established, changing its name from the German Worker’s Party and holding its first mass rally in Munich.

Feb 25, 1870 – 150 years ago
Hiram Rhodes Revels of Mississippi was elected to the U.S. Senate and became the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Feb 26, 1995 – 25 years ago
Barings Bank, the oldest merchant bank in London, collapsed after its chief trader in Singapore, Nick Leeson, lost approximately $800 million on unauthorized transactions.

Feb 27, 1940 – 80 years ago
Carbon-14 was discovered by Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben at the University of California Radiation Laboratory, Berkeley. (Its presence in organic materials forms the basis of radiocarbon dating.)

Feb 28, 1820 – 200 years ago
Birth of Sir John Tenniel, British illustrator and cartoonist. Known for his political cartoons for Punch magazine and his illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland series of books.

Feb 29, 1960 – 60 years ago
The first Playboy Club opened in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

More anniversaries:

The above list is a short extract from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for each month in the book. The 2019, 2020 and 2021 editions are currently available, as PDF ebooks and in print. Find out more at ideas4writers.com

Share this: