March 20
March 20 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 286 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Pisces.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
- The March equinox typically occurs around this date (often March 20), when the Sun crosses the celestial equator northward — equal day and night, and the start of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- International Day of Happiness (UN)
- Independence Day — Tunisia (1956)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1602 — The Dutch East India Company was founded — sometimes cited as the first joint-stock corporation. ↗(424 years ago)more
The United East India Company, commonly known as the Dutch East India Company, was a chartered trading company and one of the first joint-stock companies in the world. Established on 20 March 1602 by the States General of the Netherlands amalgamating existing companies, it was granted a 21-year monopoly to carry out trade activities in Asia.
- 1854 — The Republican Party of the United States was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin (or March 1854 — date debated). ↗(172 years ago)
more
The Republican Party, also known as the Grand Old Party (GOP), is a conservative and right-wing political party in the United States. It emerged as the main rival of the Democratic Party in the 1850s, and the two parties have dominated American politics since then.
1916 — Albert Einstein published his General Theory of Relativity. ↗(110 years ago)more
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity, and as Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in May 1916 and is the accepted description of the gravitation of macroscopic objects in modern physics.
1995 — The Aum Shinrikyo cult released sarin gas in the Tokyo subway, killing 13. ↗(31 years ago)more
The Tokyo subway sarin attack was a domestic chemical terrorist attack perpetrated on 20 March 1995, in Tokyo, Japan, by members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult. In five coordinated attacks, the perpetrators released sarin, a nerve agent, on three lines of the Tokyo Metro during rush hour, killing 14 people, severely injuring 50, and causing temporary vision p...
Notable births
1828 — Henrik Ibsen, Norwegian playwright. ↗(198 years ago)more
Henrik Johan Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright. He is considered one of the world's pre-eminent writers of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama". He pioneered theatrical realism but also wrote lyrical epic works.
1957 — Spike Lee, American filmmaker. ↗(69 years ago)more
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American filmmaker and actor. His work has continually explored race relations, issues within the black community, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues.
Notable deaths
1727 — Isaac Newton, English mathematician and physicist. ↗(299 years ago)more
Sir Isaac Newton was an English polymath who was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, author and inventor. He was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment that followed.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (80) | 2^4 × 5 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (286) | 2 × 11 × 13 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 20032026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -0.40° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 91 days |