January 20 in History

Buried in the Crypt of the Popes in the catacomb of St. Callistus

Succeeds as King of Kent

For the 1st time England is represented in a single chamber at Westminster Hall

Convenes the opening of Parliament which includes commoners for the 1st time

Parliament opens with representitives from country gentry & town burgesses. For the 1st time England is represented in a single chamber at Westminster Hall

Convenes the opening of Parliament which includes commoners for the 1st time

For the 1st time England is represented in a single chamber at Westminster Hall

Convenes the opening of Parliament which includes commoners for the 1st time

Edward II agrees to abdicate from the throne after pressure from Parliament

Captures Louviers

Henry V triumphantly enters Rouen

Guise captures Guisnes after the fall of Calais

French forces capture Guisnes after Calais falls

Guisnes falls after the loss of Calais

Grey surrenders Guisnes after prolonged French pressure

Writes a letter to Beaton expressing her contempt for Darnley

Sets off to Glasgow to collect a sick Darnley & take him to Edinburgh

Charles sends another message seeking negotiations with the two Houses.

Charles sends another message seeking negotiations with the two Houses.

Lilburne and the Leveller movement press the revised Agreement of the People as a proposed written constitution, but Parliament does not adopt it as the national settlement

Charles I goes on trial for treason

Charles I goes on trial for treason

Bradshaw presides over the High Court of Justice during the trial of Charles I.

William III abruptly removes Marlborough from his royal and military offices amid distrust and political tensions.

Louis XVI met his family for the final time on the evening before his execution.

A Convention delegation informed Louis XVI that his death sentence would be carried out the following day.

Brunel patents a tunnelling shield divided into protected working compartments, allowing excavation and brick lining to advance together.

Brunel patents a tunnelling shield that allows miners to excavate in protected compartments while brickwork is built behind them.

The Conference agrees on the Belgian borders, the Bases de Separation

Appointed acting President of Venezuela

Venezuela and the United States signed a treaty of peace, friendship, navigation, and commerce.

Hong Kong is ceded to Britain at the Convention of Chuanbi

Hong Kong is ceded to Britain at the Convention of Chuanbi

Hong Kong is ceded to Britain at the Convention of Chuanbi

Hong Kong is ceded to Britain at the Convention of Chuanbi

Funeral of Andrew Jackson

Appointed President of Ecuador

A relief expedition arrives at Korti under Sir Charles Wilson

Arrives at Korti at the head of a relief expedition to relieve Khartoum

The US Senate approves an agreement to lease Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as a naval base

Great Britain & Japan sign an alliance, ends British "splendid isolation"

Great Britain & Japan sign an alliance

Great Britain & Japan sign an alliance, ends British "splendid isolation"

Appointed Chairman of the Council of Minister's, 2nd term

Appointed Chairman of the Council of Minister's

Appointed Chairman of the Council of Minister's

The Soviet government issues a decree separating church and state and removing the church's privileged legal position.

Church property is confiscated & all religious instruction in the schools abolished

Church property is confiscated & all religious instruction in the schools abolished

Church property is confiscated & all religious instruction in the schools abolished

Japan evacuates North Sakhalin

Diplomatic relationa are restored with Russia as Japan withdraws from north Sakhalin

Dr Hans Luther (No party affiliation) forms 2nd cabinet

Succeeds as King of Great Britain

Wins all States except for Maine & Vermont in a landslide, success of his "new deal"

Wins all States except for Maine & Vermont in a landslide, success of his "new deal"

Appointed President of the USA, 26th President, 2nd term

Appointed President of the Reichsbank

Praises the Finns for "what fee men can do" in the defense of their country

Jodl attends a conference where German concentrations in Romania are discussed as forces for operations against Greece.

De Stefanis assumes command of the Ariete Armoured Division during the North African campaign.

During the Wannsee Conference the procedures of the elimination of the European Jews are discussed, shortly after this conference, the elimination camps of Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz-Birkenau begin their work

Takes minutes at the Wansee Conference. Summoned by Heydrich to discuss Jewish extermination. Later travels throughout Europe to witness the Wansee decisions

Chairs the Conference which sets in motion the "Final Solution of the Jewish question"

The Conference sets in motion the "Final Solution of the Jewish question". During the Wannsee Conference the procedures of the elimination of the European Jews are discussed, shortly after this conference, the elimination camps of Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz-Birkenau begin their work

Records and later prepares the conference protocol.

This record states: A surviving copy of the minutes of this meeting was found by the Allies in 1947.

This record states: During the Wannsee Conference the procedures of the elimination of the European Jews are discussed, shortly after this conference, the elimination camps of Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek and Auschwitz-Birkenau begin their work.

This record states: During the conference, there was a discussion held by a group of German Nazi officials to decide on the "Final Solution of the Jewish Question."

This record states: The Conference sets in motion the "Final Solution of the Jewish question".

Provides data used in planning continent-wide deportations.

Prepares briefing materials for Reinhard Heydrich before Wannsee.

Attends the Wannsee Conference as Heydrich's specialist official.

Breaks diplomatic relations with Germany, Italy and Japan during the Second World War.

The RAF drops 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin

The RAF drops 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin

Appointed Commander of the 21st Bomber Command

Appointed Commander of the 21st Bomber Command to launch raids on Japan

Dismissed by Hitler for withdrawing from Leningrad, replaced by Model

Russian forces reach Germany for the 1st time

Sets up a Central Intelligence Group under National Intelligence Authority. Says that "needed intelligence information was not coordinated at any one place"

Sets up a Central Intelligence Group under National Intelligence Authority

A 3rd assassination attempt is made on Gandhis life

Nearly assassinates Gandhi

Inaugurated Vice President of USA, only 40 the 2nd youngest in American history

Lumumba joins Congolese delegates negotiating the timetable and framework for independence.

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

During a vote of confidence Verwoerd announces a referendum on the republic

McCone completed his service as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission at the end of the Eisenhower administration.

Inaugurated President of the USA, 35th President, youngest ever President

Kennedy enters office with the CIA Cuban invasion project already well advanced.

Leaves the presidency and retires to his farm near the Gettysburg battlefield.

Declares, "We can never again stand aside, prideful in isolation. Terrific dangers & troubles that we once called foreign now constantly live among us

Generalissimo Francisco Franco meets with Jewish representatives to discuss legitimizing Jewish communities in Spain

Appointed Prime Minister of Australia

The Rolling Stones release Between the Buttons in Britain.

Inaugurated President of the USA

Speaks in the Commons debate on the European Economic Community as his opposition to British membership becomes increasingly prominent.

Unemployment reaches one million

Bhutto convenes senior Pakistani scientists at Multan and directs an accelerated national effort to develop a nuclear-weapons capability.

Sworn in as President of the USA, 2nd term by Chief Justice Warren Burger

Ford is sworn in as President of the USA, 2nd term by Chief Justice Warren Burger

Releases Blood on the Tracks.

Releases Tangled Up in Blue on Blood on the Tracks.

Inaugurated President of the USA

"Animals" gets a world exclusive airing on the John Peel Show

"Animals" gets a world exclusive airing on the John Peel Show

"Animals" gets a world exclusive airing on the John Peel Show

Bakhtiar signals he will not block Khomeini's return while appealing for constitutional order

Bakhtiar appeals for constitutional order while preparing for Khomeini's possible return

Bakhtiar proposes that Khomeini return under limits while appealing for preservation of constitutional order

Bakhtiar seeks a controlled return for Khomeini as revolutionary momentum grows

King Rocker enters the Official Singles Chart and reaches number eleven.

Appointed Federal Vice Chancellor

Inaugurated President of the USA, 40th President, 1st term. Fifty two American hostages are released from Iran

Iranian assets are transferred under the Algiers agreements, including movement through a Bank of England account

All 52 American hostages are released after the Algiers agreements take effect on Reagan's inauguration day

Inaugurated President of the USA, 2nd term

Is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Coalition forces capture prisoners from occupied oil platforms.

The Government collapses after the right resigns over plans for Palestinian self-rule

Takes part in Commons proceedings on the Local Government Bill.

The Government collapses after the right resigns over plans for Palestinian self-rule

Addresses Commons questions on British Coal and the future of the coal industry.

Updates the Commons on the Government energy review and the forthcoming coal review White Paper.

Addresses Commons questions on the DTI's Industrial Competitiveness Division.

An 88-member legislative body, the Palestinian Legislative Council, is elected

Wins the first Palestinian presidential election.

Elected President of the Palestine Authority

Wins the first Palestinian Authority presidential election as voters also choose the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Palestinian elections are held under Oslo arrangements and Abbas remains a senior PLO figure

Palestinians vote for the Palestinian Authority presidency and council under Oslo arrangements

Arafat is elected President of the Palestinian Authority in elections provided for by the Oslo framework

Single Girl reaches the UK Top Thirty as Lush move toward the brighter pop sound of Lovelife.

Inaugurated as President of the USA, 2nd term

Labour pledges not to raise personal tax rates during 1st term in office

Announces he will stand down as Party Leader in the Summer

Appointed Secretary of State, 65th Secretary of State

Appointed United States Secretary of State for Defence, 2nd term

Appointed Minister of the Interior

The theme of the inauguration is "A New Birth of Freedom," commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The inauguration of Obama as the forty-fourth President of the USA

Is sworn in as vice president of the United States.

The IAEA begins additional monitoring and verification related to nuclear measures under the Joint Plan of Action.

Pavel Filip becomes Prime Minister after Parliament confirms his cabinet

Is inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States.

South Korea confirms its first COVID-19 case.

China confirms human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus.

Signs a federal mask requirement for federal property.

Leaves office as Joe Biden is inaugurated.

Orders the United States to rejoin the Paris Agreement.

Is inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States.

Presses allies to provide modern battle tanks.

Takes the oath for a second presidential term after the Constitutional Court confirms the election result.

Leaves office at the end of his presidential term.

Issues final-day pardons and commutations.

Is inaugurated for a second non-consecutive presidential term.

Says Russia is open to talks with the new U.S. administration.

Returns to office promising to seek an end to the war.

New U.S. administration inherits the ongoing war.

Is inaugurated as vice president of the United States.

Birth of Frederick Louis, eldest son of George II

Birth of Andre-Marie Ampere

Birth of Andrew

Birth of Frederico Fellini

Birth of Patricia Neal

Death of Fabian, a martyr

Death of Anne of Austria, dies of breast cancer

When Charles VII died in Munich on the 20th of January, 1745, his successor as Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian III Joseph, signed a preliminary peace with Austria. But a strong war-party led by Ignaz von Torring and supported by France wanted to continue the war. After the decisive defeat in the Battle of Pfaffenhofen on 15 April, Maximilian Joseph chose for peace

Georges last words are, "How is the Empire?". Death of George V

Death of Johny Weissmuller

Death of Audrey Hepburn, in Switzerland

Death of Audrey Hepburn

Receives news of the victory that ends the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.

Santa Cruz is defeated by Chilean and Peruvian restorationist forces, ending the Confederation

Officiates at the Coronation of Eleanor of Provence at Westminster

The 19 year old is crowned Queen

Officiates as High Steward at the coronation of Henry IIIs Queen, Eleanor of Provence