La Plume noire
La Plume noire, an anarchist bookstore in Lyon, is targeted by an attack of the far-right, provoking a shock in Lyon's far-left circles.
What happened on March 20
34 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 1602 to 2026.
Standout on March 20
2015
Syrian civil war
Syrian civil war: The Siege of Kobanî is broken by the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA), marking a turning point in the Rojava–Islamist conflict.
About March 20
March 20 is the 79th day of the year. These facts are computed from the calendar, not copied from anywhere.
- Day of the year
- Day 79 of 365 (80 in leap years)286 days left in the year (286 in leap years)
- Falls on
- Friday in 2026, Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028, Tuesday in 2029, Wednesday in 2030
- Week
- ISO week 12 of 2026 · Q1
- Zodiac sign
- ♓ Pisces (February 19 – March 20)Cusp date — the exact boundary shifts by a day in some years.
- Season
- Spring in the north · Autumn in the south
- March birthstone
- Aquamarine / Bloodstoneserenity, courage and health
- March birth flower
- Daffodil / Jonquilnew beginnings and rebirth
- Next occurrence
- In 144 days
- Roman numerals
- XX.IIIday.month — see the Roman numeral date tool
Anniversaries in 2026
- 100thChiang Kai-shek1926
- 25thTrevor Zegras2001
- 20thChadian National Army2006
- 10thAnker Jørgensen2016
- 5thLa Plume noire2021
- 1stEddie Jordan2025
March 20 through the years
- 10 years ago2016
- Anker Jørgensen
- 25 years ago2001
- Trevor Zegras
- 50 years ago1976
- Nothing recorded
- 100 years ago1926
- Chiang Kai-shek
- 200 years ago1826
- Nothing recorded
Born on March 20 — ages this year
- 2004Belle (singer)turns 22
- 2003Cooper Hoffmanturns 23
- 2002Jahmyr Gibbsturns 24
- 2001Trevor Zegrasturns 25
- 2000Hyunjin (Stray Kids singer)turns 26
- 1995Kei (singer)turns 31
Historical events 34
A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is sworn in as acting president of Kazakhstan, following the resignation of long-time president Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Syrian civil war
Syrian civil war: The Siege of Kobanî is broken by the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA), marking a turning point in the Rojava–Islamist conflict.
Solar eclipse of March 20, 2015
A solar eclipse, equinox, and a supermoon all occur on the same day.
Taliban
Taliban militants killed nine civilians in a mass shooting at the Kabul Serena Hotel in Afghanistan.
20 March 2012 Iraq attacks
At least 52 people are killed and more than 250 injured in a wave of terror attacks across ten cities in Iraq.
Eyjafjallajökull
Eyjafjallajökull (pictured) in Iceland began a series of volcanic events, later disrupting air travel across Europe.
Chadian National Army
Over 150 Chadian soldiers are killed in eastern Chad by members of the rebel UFDC. The rebel movement sought to overthrow Chadian president Idriss Déby.
Iraq War
Iraq War: The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland begin an invasion of Iraq.
Black Panther Party
Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after murdering Georgia sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and critically wounding Deputy Aldranon English.
Legoland California
Legoland California, the first Legoland outside of Europe, opens in Carlsbad, California, US.
Aum Shinrikyo
The Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo carries out a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, killing 14 and wounding over 6,200 people.
The Troubles
The Troubles: Two children were killed by the second of two bomb attacks by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Warrington, England.
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering.
Eritrean War of Independence
Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet.
Antiviral drug
The antiretroviral drug zidovudine became the first treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for HIV/AIDS.
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT.
Libby Riddles
Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
The Troubles
The Troubles: The first car bombing by the Provisional IRA in Belfast kills seven people and injures 148 others in Northern Ireland.
EgyptAir
A United Arab Airlines (now Egyptair) Ilyushin Il-18 crashes at Aswan International Airport, killing 100 people.
European Space Agency
The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organisation) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962.
World War II
World War II: U.S. Marines made a landing on Emirau Island in the Bismarck Archipelago to develop an airbase as part of Operation Cartwheel.
World War II
World War II: After being forced to flee the Philippines for Australia, US Army general Douglas MacArthur announced: "I came through and I shall return."
1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania
Germany issued an ultimatum to Lithuania, demanding the return of the Klaipėda Region under threat of invasion.
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek initiated a purge of communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou, China.
Arts Club of Chicago
The Arts Club of Chicago hosted the opening of Pablo Picasso's first solo United States showing, entitled Original Drawings by Pablo Picasso.
United States Navy
The United States Navy commissioned its first aircraft carrier, USS Langley.
Wilhelm II
Emperor Wilhelm II dismissed Otto von Bismarck as the chancellor of the German Empire.
1861 Mendoza earthquake
An earthquake occurred in the Argentine province of Mendoza, causing at least 6,000 deaths and destroying most of the buildings in the province's capital city.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin, by politicians opposing the Kansas–Nebraska Act and the expansion of slavery in the United States.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the United States, was published.
Great Boston Fire of 1760
A fire of unknown cause broke out in Boston, Massachusetts, destroying 349 buildings.
Pope Innocent XIII
Following the death of Pope Innocent XIII, a papal conclave convened in Rome to elect a new pope.
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company, the first company to issue stock, was established.
Births 20
A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
Deaths 20
A notable person who died on this day.
Filaret Denysenko
Filaret Denysenko, Ukrainian religious leader, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate (born 1929)
Robert Mueller
Robert Mueller, American attorney, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (born 1944)
Eddie Jordan
Eddie Jordan, Irish businessman, television personality and motorsport team owner (born 1948)
Mary Warnock, Baroness Warnock
Mary Warnock, English philosopher and writer (born 1924)
David Rockefeller
David Rockefeller, American billionaire and philanthropist (born 1915)
Anker Jørgensen
Anker Jørgensen, Danish politician, Prime Minister of Denmark (born 1922)
Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser, Australian politician, 22nd Prime Minister of Australia (born 1930)
George Lowe (mountaineer)
George Lowe, New Zealand-English mountaineer and explorer (born 1924)
Holidays & observances 8
A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
María Josefa Sancho de Guerra
Christian feast day: María Josefa Sancho de Guerra
Józef Bilczewski
Christian feast day: Józef Bilczewski
Clement of Ireland
Christian feast day: Clement of Ireland
Alexandra of Rome
Christian feast day: Alexandra
Herbert of Derwentwater
Christian feast day: Herbert of Derwentwater
John of Nepomuk
Christian feast day: John of Nepomuk
Cuthbert
Christian feast day: Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
John of Parma
Christian feast day: Blessed John of Parma
Spread across the centuries
- 17th century1
- 18th century2
- 19th century4
- 20th century34
- 21st century33
Earliest: Dutch East India Company (1602). Most recent: Filaret Denysenko (2026).
What the categories mean, and how the standout is chosen
- Historical events
- A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Births
- A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
- Deaths
- A notable person who died on this day.
- Milestones
- A first, a founding or a turning point our editors flagged as a landmark moment.
- Holidays & observances
- A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
- Standout / notable
- Editor-written entries come first, then entries covered by the most Wikipedia language editions. For the standout tile we prefer an entry that has a picture.
Nearby and related
Questions about March 20
What day of the year is March 20?
March 20 is the 79th day of the year, with 286 days left after it.
What star sign is March 20?
March 20 falls under Pisces (February 19 – March 20), a water sign ruled by Neptune (traditionally Jupiter). The birthstone for the month is Aquamarine or Bloodstone.
How many things happened on March 20?
We record 82 entries for March 20: 34 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 1602 to 2026.
Who was born on March 20?
Belle (singer) (2004) is among the notable births on March 20. The births section lists the rest.
How often is the March 20 page updated?
The day is filled the first time anyone opens it and then re-checked for new entries about every 90 days. Computed facts such as the weekday and the anniversaries update every year.
Get a daily entry like March 20
One short email a day from this calendar. Kept for this site only.
Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.