1768
This Day
20May
27 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1805
Exploration
Sacagawea River named in her honor
In recognition of her quick actions, Lewis and Clark named a river in her honor, a testament to her significance.
View details1825
Science
Birth of Antoinette Brown
Antoinette Louisa Brown was born in Henrietta, New York, later becoming a pioneering minister and reformer.
View details1880
Medicine
Ana Néri Passes Away
Ana Néri passed away on May 20, 1880, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
View details1882
Literature
Birth of Sigrid Undset
Birth of Sigrid Undset in Kalundborg, Denmark, who became one of Norway’s greatest novelists and a 1928 Nobel laureate.
View details1896
1896
Arts
Death of Clara Schumann
Death of Clara Schumann in Frankfurt am Main at age 76, following a stroke.
View details1899
Politics
Born in Metropolis, Illinois
Born in Metropolis, Illinois, Frances Elizabeth Willis would become a trailblazing U.S. diplomat and the first woman career ambassador.
View details1911
Literature
Birth of Annie M. G. Schmidt in Kapelle, Netherlands
Annie Maria Geertruida Schmidt was born on 20 May 1911 in Kapelle, Zeeland, the Netherlands, daughter of a Dutch Reformed minister.
View details1914
Sports
Birth of Hideko Maehata
Hideko Maehata was born on May 20, 1914, in Hashimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
View details1916
Sports
Birth of Ondina Valla
Birth of Trebisonda 'Ondina' Valla, pioneering Italian athlete.
View details1916
Literature
Honorary degree from Brown University
Brown University awarded Elliott an honorary Litt.D. degree.
View details1921
Science
First woman to receive an honorary degree from Oxford University
On May 20, 1921, Cannon became the first woman ever awarded an honorary degree by the University of Oxford.
View details1921
Science
Appointed Head of Stellar Photometry at Harvard College Observatory
Leavitt was formally appointed Head of Stellar Photometry at Harvard College Observatory, recognizing her leadership in measuring stellar magnitudes.
View details1932
Aviation
First woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic
Flew solo from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland in a Lockheed Vega 5B, becoming the first woman — and only the second person after Lindbergh — to solo the Atlantic.
View details1941
Arts
Marriage of Ray Kaiser and Charles Eames
Ray Kaiser and Charles Eames married in Reno, Nevada.
View details1941
Science
Birth of Betty Louise Turtle
Betty Louise Turtle was born on May 20, 1941, in Sydney, Australia.
View details1946
Science
Birth of Cher
Cherilyn Sarkisian, later known as Cher, is born in El Centro, California.
View details1952
Science
Patent 2,597,562 for Electrically Conducting Layer issued
U.S. patent 2,597,562, “Electrically Conducting Layer,” is issued to Katharine Burr Blodgett for conductive thin-film coatings.
View details1960
Literature
Death of Audrey Wurdemann
Audrey Wurdemann passed away on May 20, 1960, in Washington, D.C., at age 49.
View details1975
Arts
Death of Barbara Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth died in a fire at her home in St Ives, Cornwall.
View details1983
Science
First-author publication of the landmark Science paper identifying HIV-1 (LAV)
On 20 May 1983, Barré-Sinoussi is first author of the Science paper reporting isolation of a new retrovirus (LAV, later HIV-1) linked to AIDS.
View details1986
Medicine
Death of Helen B. Taussig
Helen Brooke Taussig passed away on May 20, 1986, near her home in Pennsylvania.
View details1998
Sports
Birth of Jamie Chadwick
Jamie Laura Chadwick was born in Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom.
View details2010
Science
2010 Chemical Pioneer Award by the American Institute of Chemists
Haile awarded 2010 Chemical Pioneer Award for establishing new classes of fuel cells and chemistry contributions.
View details2012
Exploration
Completion of tour bike expedition
Completed her tour bike expedition, arriving in Seattle from the Mexican border.
View details2019
Science
Modern essay on Theano, an early woman mathematician
Publication of Medium article discussing Theano's role in mathematics and association with Pythagoras.
View details