Unix Timestamp: 1237507200
Friday, March 20. 2009, 12:00:00 AM UTC


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Saturday, March 20, 2004

President Chen Shui-bian wins the Taiwanese presidential election by 0.2% of the vote. The day before, he and Vice President Annette Lu were shot. Lien Chan refuses to concede and demands a recount. A controversial peace referendum opposed by the People's Republic of China is invalidated.

Thursday, March 20, 2003

Mary Ann Wright, a U.S. diplomat in Mongolia, resigned out of disagreement with George W. Bush's Mideast policy, his approach to North Korea and the domestic consequences of the War on Terrorism.

Wednesday, March 20, 1996

The British Government announces that Bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been likely transmitted to people.

Monday, March 20, 1995

Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. Members of the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult release sarin gas on 5 subway trains in Tokyo, killing 13 and injuring 5,510.

Sunday, March 20, 1994

Italian journalist Ilaria Alpi and TV cameraman Miran Hrovatin are assassinated in Somalia.

Saturday, March 20, 1993

Warrington bomb attacks: An IRA bomb explodes in Warrington Town Centre and kills 2 children, Jonathan Ball and Tim Parry.

Tuesday, March 20, 1990

Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering.

Monday, March 20, 1989

Clint Malarchuk of the NHL Buffalo Sabres suffers an almost fatal injury when another player accidentally slits his throat.
Australian Prime MinisterBob Hawke weeps on national television as he admits marital infidelity.
Asteroid 4581 Asclepius approaches the Earth at a distance of 700,000 kilometers.

Sunday, March 20, 1988

Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the EPLF enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet.

Friday, March 20, 1987

AZT: Zidovudine (or, more commonly, Azidothymidine) is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Thursday, March 20, 1980

U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
The "Mi Amigo", the ship that housed pirate radio station "Radio Caroline", sinks ("Radio Caroline" returns aboard a new ship in 1983).
"Mafioso" Angelo Bruno is murdered in Philadelphia.

Saturday, March 20, 1976

Argentina military forces depose president Isabel Peron.
Patty Hearst is found guilty of armed robbery of a San Francisco bank.

Tuesday, March 20, 1973

A British government White Paper on Northern Ireland proposes the re-establishment of an Assembly elected by proportional representation, with a possible All-Ireland council.

Friday, March 20, 1970

American President Richard Nixon signs the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, banning cigarette television advertisements in the United States with effect from January 1, 1971.
Japan Airlines Flight 351, carrying 131 passengers and 7 crew from Tokyo to Fukuoka, is hijacked by Japanese Red Army members. All passengers are eventually freed.
Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (ACCT) (Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique).
The first Earth Day proclamation is issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.
NASA's "Explorer 1", the first American satellite and Explorer program spacecraft, reenters Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit.
All Kinds of Everything, sung by Dana (music and text by Derry Lindsay and Jackie Smith), wins the Eurovision Song Contest 1970 for Ireland.

Sunday, March 20, 1966

The World Cup Trophy (the Jules Rimet) is stolen at an exhibition it is later found by a dog named Pickles and his owner David Corbett.

Friday, March 20, 1964

The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organization) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962.

Wednesday, March 20, 1957

The French newspaper "L'Express" reveals that the French army tortures Algerian prisoners.
The French newspaper "L'Express" reveals that the French army tortures Algerian prisoners.

Tuesday, March 20, 1956

Tunisia gains independence from France.

Sunday, March 20, 1955

Evan Hunter's movie adaptation of the novel "Blackboard Jungle" premieres in the United States, featuring the famous single, "Rock Around the Clock", by Bill Haley and His Comets. Teenagers jump from their seats to dance to the song.

Thursday, March 20, 1952

The last two executions in The Netherlands take place.
The United States Senate ratifies a peace treaty with Japan.
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is elected Prime Minister of the Gold Coast.
Tornadoes ravage the lower Mississippi River Valley, leaving 208 dead, through March 22.

Monday, March 20, 1950

The Polish government decides to confiscate the property of the Polish Catholic Church.

Sunday, March 20, 1949

The Chicago, Burlington Quincy, Denver Rio Grande Western, and Western Pacific railroads inaugurate the "California Zephyr" passenger train between Chicago and Oakland, California, as the first long distance train to feature Vista Dome cars as regular equipment.

Monday, March 20, 1944

WWII: RAF Flight Sergeant Nicholas Alkemade's bomber is hit over Germany, and he has to bail out without a parachute from a height of over 4,000 meters. Tree branches interrupt his fall and he lands safely on deep snow.

Monday, March 20, 1939

At an emergency meeting in London to deal with the Romanian crisis, French Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet suggests to Lord Halifax that the ideal state for saving Romania from a German attack is Poland.

Monday, March 20, 1933

Dachau, the first Naziconcentration c, is completed (it opens March 22).

Monday, March 20, 1922

The USS "Langley" is commissioned as the first United States Navy aircraft carrier.
The USS \'\'Langley\'\' is commissioned as the first United States Navyaircraft carrier.

Thursday, March 20, 1913

Mexican Revolution: Venustiano Carranza announces his Plan of Guadalupe, and begins his rebellion against Victoriano Huerta's government as head of the "Constitutionals".
Sung Chiao-jen, a founder of the Chinese nationalist party (KMT), is wounded in an assassination attempt and dies 2 days after.

Monday, March 20, 1905

Grover Shoe Factory disaster: A boiler explosion, building collapse and fire in Brockton, Massachusetts kills 58.

Monday, March 20, 1899

At Sing Sing, Martha M. Place becomes the first woman executed in an electric chair.

Monday, March 20, 1893

In Belgium, Adam Worth is sentenced to 7 years for robbery (he is released in 1897).

Sunday, March 20, 1892

The first ever French rugby chionship final takes place in Paris. Pierre de Coubertin referees the match, which Racing Club de France wins 4–3 over Stade Français.

Thursday, March 20, 1890

Wilhelm II of Germany dismisses Otto von Bismarck.

Tuesday, March 20, 1888

The very first Romani language operetta premieres in Moscow, Russia.

Tuesday, March 20, 1883

Monday, March 20, 1882

British gunboats enter Monrovia, with Arthur Havelock demanding that Liberia cede disputed territory to the British colony of Sierra Leone.

Thursday, March 20, 1856

Costa Rican troops rout Walker's soldiers.

Monday, March 20, 1854

The Boston Public Library opens to the public.

Sunday, March 20, 1853

Taiping Rebellion: A rebel army of around 750,000 seizes Nanjing, killing 30,000 Imperial troops.

Saturday, March 20, 1852

Saturday, March 20, 1819

Burlington Arcade opens in London.

Monday, March 20, 1815

Napoleon enters Paris after escaping from Elba with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000 beginning his Hundred Days rule.

Tuesday, March 20, 1810

Venezuela achieves home rule: Vicente Emparán, Governor of the Captaincy General, is removed by the people of Caracas and a junta is installed.
April through Summer ndash Kingdom of Hawaii unified.

Thursday, March 20, 1800

Alessandro Volta describes his new invention, the voltaic pile, the first chemical battery, in a letter to the Royal Society.
April ndash Voting begins in the United States presidential election, 1800 it will last until October. The result is not announced until February 1801.

Tuesday, March 20, 1792

A new capital of North Carolina and county seat of the newly formed Wake County is established after North CarolinaState Senator and surveyor William Christmas submits his design for the city. A few months later the capital is officially named Raleigh in honor of Sir Walter Raleigh.

Thursday, March 20, 1760

The "Great Fire" of Boston, Massachusetts, destroys 349 buildings.
MayndashJuly ndash 'Tacky\'s War', a slave rebellion, occurs in Jamaica.

Friday, March 20, 1739

Nader Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne, including the Koh-i-Noor.

Monday, March 20, 1713

Tuscarora War: Colonel James Moore's Carolina militia launches a major offensive against Fort Neoheroka.

Tuesday, March 20, 1691

Leisler\'s Rebellion: A new governor arrives in New York ndash Jacob Leisler surrenders after a standoff of several hours.
Leisler's Rebellion: A new governor arrives in New York ndash Jacob Leisler surrenders after a standoff of several hours.

Monday, March 20, 1623

Richard Frethorne begins writing a letter to his parents from Jamestown, Virginia.

Wednesday, March 20, 1619

Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor dies, leaving the Holy Roman Empire without an official leader to deal with the Bohemian Revolt.

Wednesday, March 20, 1602

The United East India Company is established by the United Provinces States-General in Amsterdam, with the stated intention of capturing the spice trade from the Portuguese.

Friday, March 10, 1525 (Julianian calendar)

In the German town Memmingen the phlet "The Twelve Articles: The Just and Fundamental Articles of All the Peasantry and Tenants of Spiritual and Temporal Powers by Whom They Think Themselves Oppressed" is published , the first human rights related document written in Europe.

Saturday, March 11, 1469 (Julianian calendar)

The Battle of Nibley Green in England is the last fought between the private armies of feudal magnates.

Sunday, March 13, 1239 (Julianian calendar)

November ndash the pope grants the status of Crusade to king of Castile's ongoing invasion of the muslim kingdom of Murcia.ref name=negotiating
Mongol invasion of Rus is in progress, bringing with it a pandemic of Rinderpest.
Foundation of Netley Abbey in England.
The main tower of Lincoln Cathedral in England collapses.

Thursday, March 17, 673 (Julianian calendar)

Emperor Temmu assumes the Chrysanthemum throne of Japan at the Palace of Kiyomihara in Asuka.

Friday, March 20, 235

Maximinus Thrax, age 62, is proclaimed emperor. He has a Gothic father and an Alan mother. Maximinus a Thracian, is the first foreigner to hold the Roman throne.
Future Emperor of Cao Wei, Cao Fang, is instated as the Prince of Qi.
Crisis of the Third Century: The Roman Empire is under pressure by the Alemanni, Franks, Goths, Quadi and Sassanids (Persia).
Source: Wikipedia