April 20 in History

Historical Events on April 20

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.

1770 The Georgian king, Erekle II, abandoned by his Russian ally Count Totleben, wins a victory over Ottoman forces at Aspindza.

1775 American Revolutionary War: The Siege of Boston begins, following the battles at Lexington and Concord.

1789 George Washington arrives at Grays Ferry, Philadelphia while en route to Manhattan for his inauguration.

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.

1922 The Soviet government creates South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within Georgian SSR.

1945 World War II: US troops capture Leipzig, Germany, only to later cede the city to the Soviet Union.

1968 English politician Enoch Powell makes his controversial Rivers of Blood speech.

2008 Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 becoming the first female driver in history to win an Indy car race.

All Events

Famous Birthdays on April 20

1808 Napoleon III

1889 Adolf Hitler

1945 Steve Spurrier

1967 Raymond van Barneveld

All Births

Famous Deaths on April 20

1881 William Burges

1999 Columbine High School massacre

1999 Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold

1999 Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold

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