February 20 in History
February 20 is the birthday of Jared McCain (2004) and the anniversary of the death of David Boren (2025). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for February 20, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
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Eleanor of Aragon, queen of John I of Castile was born in 1358, while Leo of Catania, saint and bishop of Catania died in 789.
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Famous people born on February 20
Famous people who died on February 20
2017
Mildred Dresselhaus (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American physicist and nanotechnologist (1930–2017)
2015
Henry Segerstrom (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American entrepreneur and philanthropist (1923–2015)
What happened on February 20
- 2016
Six people are killed and two injured in multiple shooting incidents in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2015
Two trains collide in the Swiss town of Rafz resulting in as many as 49 people injured and Swiss Federal Railways cancelling some services.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2014
Dozens of Euromaidan anti-government protesters die in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, many reportedly killed by snipers.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2010
In Madeira Island, Portugal, heavy rain causes floods and mudslides, resulting in at least 43 deaths, in the worst disaster in the history of the archipelago.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2009
Two Tamil Tigers aircraft packed with C4 explosives en route to the national airforce headquarters are shot down by the Sri Lankan military before reaching their target, in a kamikaze style attack.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2005
Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2003
During a Great White concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island, a pyrotechnics display sets the Station nightclub ablaze, killing 100 and injuring over 200 others.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2002
A cooking gas cylinder explodes on board an Egyptian National Railways train in El Ayyat, causing a fire and killing over 370 people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1998
American figure skater Tara Lipinski, at the age of 15, becomes the youngest Olympic figure skating gold-medalist at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1991
In the Albanian capital Tirana, a gigantic statue of Albania's long-time leader, Enver Hoxha, is brought down by mobs of angry protesters.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1988
The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast votes to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia, triggering the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1986
The Soviet Union launches its Mir spacecraft. Remaining in orbit for 15 years, it is occupied for ten of those years.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1979
An earthquake cracks open the Sinila volcanic crater on the Dieng Plateau, releasing poisonous H2S gas and killing 149 villagers in the Indonesian province of Central Java.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1971
The United States Emergency Broadcast System is accidentally activated in an erroneous national alert.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1968
The China Academy of Space Technology, China's main arm for the research, development, and creation of space satellites, is established in Beijing.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on February 20
- 1358 — Eleanor of Aragon, queen of John I of Castile (died 1382)
- 1469 — Thomas Cajetan, Italian philosopher (died 1534)
- 1523 — Jan Blahoslav, Czech writer (died 1571)
Died on February 20
- 789 — Leo of Catania, saint and bishop of Catania (born 709)
- 922 — Theodora, Byzantine empress
- 1054 — Yaroslav the Wise, grand prince of Veliky Novgorod and Kyiv (born 978)
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for February 20
Quick answers
Who was born on February 20? Jared McCain (2004), Olivia Rodrigo (2003), Gavin Bazunu (2002).
Who died on February 20? David Boren (2025), Jerry Butler (2025), Peter Jason (2025).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in February? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the February 20 historical article above.
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