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Historical events on September 20

SEPTEMBER 20, 1984
The Cosby Show, which became one of three U.S. television shows to have the highest ratings five years in a row, premiered with its pilot episode.
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom created by and starring Bill Cosby that originally aired on NBC from September 20, Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1943
World War II: Australian troops led by Gordon Grimsley King defeated Imperial Japanese forces at the Battle of Kaiapit in New Guinea.
World War II or the Second World War was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1967
Sweden, Norway, and Denmark submit the Greek case alleging human rights violations by the Greek junta.
In September 1967, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands brought the Greek case to the European Commission of Human Rights, alleging violations Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1643
First English Civil War: The First Battle of Newbury was fought in Berkshire; Parliamentarian forces were allowed to pass Royalist troops to retreat the next morning.
The First English Civil War took place in England and Wales from 1642 to 1646, and forms part of the 1639 to Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 2008
An explosive-laden truck detonated in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and injuring 266 others.
The Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing occurred on the night of 20 September 2008, when a dumper truck filled with explosives was detonated Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1870
The Bersaglieri entered Rome through the Porta Pia, ending the temporal power of the Pope and completing the unification of Italy.
The Bersaglieri, singular Bersagliere, are a troop of marksmen in the Italian Army's infantry corps. They were originally created by General Alessandro Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1498
A tsunami caused by the Meiō earthquake washed away the building housing the statue of the Great Buddha (pictured) at Kōtoku-in in Kamakura, Japan; the statue has since stood in the open air.
The 1498 Meiō earthquake struck off the coast of Nankaidō, Japan, at approximately 08:00 local time on September 20, 1498. With an Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1967
L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, announced the story of Xenu in a taped lecture sent to all Scientologists.
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard was an American author and the founder of Scientology. A prolific writer of pulp science fiction and fantasy novels Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1066
Harald III of Norway and his English ally Tostig Godwinson defeated the northern earls Edwin and Morcar at the Battle of Fulford near York.
Harald Sigurdsson, also known as Harald III of Norway and given the epithet Hardrada in the sagas, was King of Norway from Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1920
Irish War of Independence: British auxiliary police officers known as Black and Tans went on a rampage in Balbriggan, burning more than fifty homes and businesses and killing two people.
The Irish War of Independence, also known as the Anglo-Irish War, was a guerrilla war fought in Ireland from 1919 to 1921 Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1697
The first of a series of treaties comprising the Peace of Ryswick was signed between France and the Grand Alliance, ending the Nine Years' War.
The Peace of Ryswick, or Rijswijk, was a series of treaties signed in the Dutch city of Rijswijk between 20 September and Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1973
Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in straight sets at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, in an internationally televised tennis match dubbed the "Battle of the Sexes".
Billie Jean King, also known as BJK, is an American former world No. 1 tennis player. King won 39 Grand Slam titles: Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1944
Second World War: Allied forces captured San Marino from the German Army.
World War II or the Second World War was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
The United States military ended its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, consequently allowing gay and lesbian people to serve openly.
"Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on military service of homosexual people. Instituted during the Clinton administration, Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1971
Hurricane Irene (satellite image pictured) moved into the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic, making it the first actively tracked tropical cyclone to do so.
Hurricane Irene–Olivia was the first actively tracked tropical cyclone to move into the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic basin. It originated Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1260
The second of two major uprisings by the Old Prussians, a Baltic tribe, began against the Teutonic Knights.
The Prussian uprisings were two major and three smaller uprisings by the Old Prussians, one of the Baltic tribes, against the Teutonic Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1792
The French Army achieved its first major victory of the War of the First Coalition at the Battle of Valmy.
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army, is the principal land warfare force of France, and the largest component of Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1997
Hurricane Erika, the strongest and longest-lasting hurricane of the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season, dissipated after causing flooding and power outages throughout Puerto Rico.
Hurricane Erika was the strongest and longest-lasting tropical cyclone in the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed from a tropical wave on Read More
SEPTEMBER 20, 1988
British prime minister Margaret Thatcher gave a landmark speech at the Belfry of Bruges, Belgium, against federalism in the European Economic Community.
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 Read More

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