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On this day

July 20 Monday, July 20, 2026

A curious almanac of what happened on July 20 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.

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Were you born on July 20?

Find out what the world looked like the day you arrived.

12
Events
7
Birthdays
6
Holidays
Read today's stories The #1 songs
July 20, 1715: Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War: The Ottoman Empire captures Nauplia, the capital of the Republic of Venice's "Kingdom of the Morea", thereby opening the way to the swift Ottoman reconquest of the Morea.
1715
European history 311 years ago

Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War: The Ottoman Empire captures Nauplia, the capital of the Republic of Venice's "Kingdom of the Morea", thereby opening the way to the swift Ottoman reconquest of the Morea.

The Ottoman Empire captures Nauplia, capital of Venice's Kingdom of the Morea, opening the path to swift reconquest of the entire peninsula.

Read the full story →

History

What happened on July 20

12 verified entries Full timeline
  1. 70

    Siege of Jerusalem: Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, storms the Fortress of Antonia north of the Temple Mount. The Roman army is drawn into street fights with the Zealots.

    Titus leads the Roman army in storming the Fortress of Antonia, drawing them into fierce battles with Jewish Zealots within Jerusalem.

    War
  2. 792

    Kardam of Bulgaria defeats Byzantine Emperor Constantine VI at the Battle of Marcellae.

    Kardam of Bulgaria defeats Byzantine Emperor Constantine VI in the Battle of Marcellae.

    War
  3. 911

    Rollo lays siege to Chartres.

    Rollo, leader of the Norsemen, begins a siege of Chartres, marking a significant moment in Norman expansion into France.

    European history
  4. 1189

    Richard I of England officially invested as Duke of Normandy.

    Richard I is officially invested as Duke of Normandy in Rouen.

    UK history
  5. 1230

    Treaty of San Germano is signed at San Germano between Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX. A Dominican named Guala is responsible for the negotiations.

    Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX sign the Treaty of San Germano, ending their conflict with the help of Dominican negotiator Guala.

    European history
  6. 1398

    The Battle of Kellistown was fought on this day between the forces of the English led by Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March against the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles under the command of Art Óg mac Murchadha Caomhánach, the most powerful Chieftain in Leinster.

    Roger Mortimer led English forces against the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles in the Battle of Kellistown.

    UK history
  7. 1592

    During the first Japanese invasion of Korea, Japanese forces led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi captured Pyongyang, although they were ultimately unable to hold it.

    Japanese forces led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi capture Pyongyang but later lose control of the city.

    War
  8. 1705

    A fire in Oulu, Finland almost completely destroyed the fourth district, which covered the southern part of the city and was by far the largest of the city districts.

    A fire in Oulu's fourth district nearly destroyed the southern part of the city, the largest of its divisions.

    Disaster
  9. 1715

    Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War: The Ottoman Empire captures Nauplia, the capital of the Republic of Venice's "Kingdom of the Morea", thereby opening the way to the swift Ottoman reconquest of the Morea.

    The Ottoman Empire captures Nauplia, capital of Venice's Kingdom of the Morea, opening the path to swift reconquest of the entire peninsula.

    European history
  10. 1848

    The first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York, a two-day event, concludes.

    The first Women's Rights Convention concludes in Seneca Falls, New York, after two days of discussions that produced the Declaration of Sentiments.

    Culture
  11. 1871

    British Columbia joins the Canadian Confederation.

    British Columbia becomes the sixth province of Canada.

    Canadian history
  12. 1961

    French military forces break the Tunisian siege of Bizerte.

    French forces lift the Tunisian siege of Bizerte, ending months of conflict.

    War
See all 12 events on July 20 →

Born today

Famous birthdays on July 20

7 this date All birthdays
William H. Goetzmann

William H. Goetzmann

American historian and author

William H. Goetzmann, the American historian whose work on the American West won the Pulitzer Prize, was born in 1930.

Born
1930
Died
2010
David Tonkin

David Tonkin

Australian politician, 38th Premier of South Australia

1929 – 2000
Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood

American actress

1938 – 1981
Kim Carnes

Kim Carnes

American singer-songwriter

b. 1945 · 81
Jim Prentice

Jim Prentice

Canadian lawyer and politician, 16th Premier of Alberta

1956 – 2016
Carlos Alazraqui

Carlos Alazraqui

American actor, producer, and screenwriter

b. 1962 · 64
Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons

Australian basketball player

b. 1996 · 30

Music

The number one songs on July 20

Across the years Full chart history
Stand and Deliver album cover

🇬🇧 #1 on July 20, 1981

"Stand and Deliver"

by Adam and the Ants

The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.

#1 for 5 weeks
Listen on Spotify ↗ Apple Music ↗

Also #1 on this day

  • 1965
    "Ticket To Ride"
    — The Beatles
  • 1972
    "Metal Guru"
    — T. Rex
  • 2003
    "Make Luv"
    — Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham

Film & TV

At the movies

Box office #1 and premieres All releases
The Empire Strikes Back poster

Box-office #1

The Empire Strikes Back

1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner

Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.

Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
🏆 Sport

July 20, 1982

Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup

In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.

Read the story
🔬 Science

July 20, 1976

The American Viking 1 lander successfully lands on Mars.

Viking 1 becomes the first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars, marking a milestone in interplanetary exploration.

Read the story

Today is also

Holidays & observances

6 celebrated today

Birthday of Crown Prince Haakon Magnus (Norway)

International

Dates when the Norwegian state flag is flown by all branches of government and state agencies are listed in Article 4 of the regulations concerning the use of the state flag and the merchant flag, as

Día del Amigo (Argentina, Brazil)

International

Friendship Day is an international holiday dedicated to friendship and the celebration of it

Engineer's Day (Costa Rica)

International

Engineer's Day is observed in several countries on various dates of the year

Independence Day, celebrates the independence declaration of Colombia from Spain in 1810.

International

There are 18 public holidays in Colombia, plus Palm and Easter Sunday

International Chess Day

International

International Chess Day is annually celebrated on 20 July, the day the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded in 1924

Lempira Day (Honduras)

International

Public holidays in Honduras are primarily centered on Christianity and the commemoration of significant events in Honduran history

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Exploration is the physical manifestation of the human spirit of curiosity.

— William H. Goetzmann · born July 20, 1930