What Happened on April 20

Historical Events

1810 – The Governors of Caracas declares the national sovereignty from Spain
1871 – US 3rd Enforcement Act (President can suspend writ of habeas corpus)
1899 – David Beatty is appointed executive officer of the HMS Barfleur, a small battleship and flagship of the China Station
1942 – German occupiers forbids Dutch access to their beach
1968 – Pierre Trudeau sworn in as Canada’s 15th Prime Minister
1972 – Virgil Thomson’s final opera, “Lord Byron”, with libretto by Jack Larson, first performance at Lincoln Center, New York City

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Famous Birthdays

1705 – Balthasar Schmid, German composer and printer, born in Nuremberg, Bavaria (d. 1749)
1915 – Joseph Wolpe, South African psychotherapist, born in Johannesburg, South Africa (d. 1997)
1963 – Aubrey de Grey, British biomedical gerontologist, born in London
1964 – Andy Serkis, English actor (Gollum in Lord of the Rings), born in London, England
1965 – Kostas Hatzidakis, Greek politician (New Democracy Party), born in Rethymno, Greece
1965 – Adrian Fernández, Mexican racing driver and co-owner of the Fernandez Racing team, born in Mexico City

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Famous Deaths

1887 – Muhammad Sharif Pasha, Egyptian statesman (b. 1826)
1912 – Bram Stoker, Irish theater manager and author (Dracula), dies at 64
1971 – Cecil Parker, British actor (The Lady Vanishes, Indiscreet, Tale of 2 Cities), dies at 73
1973 – Elisabeth Hauptmann, German writer (co-author of The Threepenny Opera), dies at 75
1995 – Tessie O’Shea, Welsh stage and screen entertainer, dies at 81
1996 – Christopher Robin Milne, bookseller, dies at 75

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