Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
February 20 Friday, February 20, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on February 20 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
2
Holidays
US history 341 years ago
René-Robert Cavelier establishes Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay thus forming the basis for France's claim to Texas.
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, founds Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay, establishing the basis for France's claim to Texas.
History
What happened on February 20
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 1339European history
The Milanese army and the St. George's (San Giorgio) Mercenaries of Lodrisio Visconti clash in the Battle of Parabiago; Visconti is defeated.
Lodrisio Visconti's St. George's mercenaries are defeated by the Milanese army in the Battle of Parabiago.
- 1472UK history
Orkney and Shetland are pawned by Norway to Scotland in lieu of a dowry for Margaret of Denmark.
Norway pawns the islands of Orkney and Shetland to Scotland as part of a dowry for Margaret of Denmark.
- 1521US history
Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León sets out from San Juan, Puerto Rico, for Florida with about 200 prospective colonists.
Juan Ponce de León departs San Juan, Puerto Rico, leading a group of about 200 settlers on an expedition to explore and settle Florida.
- 1547UK history
Edward VI of England is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
Edward VI is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey at the age of nine.
- 1685US history
René-Robert Cavelier establishes Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay thus forming the basis for France's claim to Texas.
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, founds Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay, establishing the basis for France's claim to Texas.
- 1792US history
The Postal Service Act, establishing the United States Post Office Department, is signed by United States President George Washington.
George Washington signs the Postal Service Act, creating the United States Post Office Department.
- 1798Religion
Louis-Alexandre Berthier removes Pope Pius VI from power.
Louis-Alexandre Berthier declares Pope Pius VI deposed and imprisons him.
- 1835Disaster
The 1835 Concepción earthquake destroys Concepción, Chile.
A powerful earthquake devastates Concepción, Chile, causing near-total collapse of the city's buildings and prompting its eventual relocation.
- 1865War
End of the Uruguayan War, with a peace agreement between President Tomás Villalba and rebel leader Venancio Flores, setting the scene for the destructive War of the Triple Alliance.
Uruguay ends its civil war with a peace agreement between President Tomás Villalba and rebel leader Venancio Flores.
- 1905US history
The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of Massachusetts's mandatory smallpox vaccination program in Jacobson v. Massachusetts.
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Jacobson v. Massachusetts that states have the authority to mandate vaccinations for public health purposes.
- 1965Science
Ranger 8 crashes into the Moon after a successful mission of photographing possible landing sites for the Apollo program astronauts.
Ranger 8 crashes into the Moon after successfully photographing potential Apollo landing sites.
- 2014Politics
Dozens of Euromaidan anti-government protesters die in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, many reportedly killed by snipers.
Dozens of Euromaidan protesters die in Kyiv, with many reportedly killed by snipers.
Born today
Famous birthdays on February 20
7 this date All birthdays
Shigeo Nagashima
Japanese baseball player and manager
Shigeo Nagashima, the Japanese professional baseball player and manager who became one of the Yomiuri Giants' most celebrated stars, was born today in 1936.
Born
1936
Died
2025
Tommy Henrich
American baseball player and sportscaster
1913 – 2009
Jimmy Greaves
English footballer and TV pundit
1940 – 2021
Gordon Brown
Scottish politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
b. 1951 · 75
Jari Litmanen
Finnish footballer
b. 1971 · 55
Stephon Marbury
American basketball player
b. 1977 · 49
Sally Rooney
Irish novelist
b. 1991 · 35
Music
The number one songs on February 20
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2026"Opalite"— Taylor Swift
- 2025"Messy"— Lola Young
- 2024"Stick Season"— Noah Kahan
- 2023"Flowers"— Miley Cyrus
- 2022"We Don't Talk About Bruno"— Carolina Gaitán , Mauro Castillo , Adassa , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz
- 2021"Drivers License"— Olivia Rodrigo
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport February 20, 1998
American figure skater Tara Lipinski, at the age of 15, becomes the youngest Olympic figure skating gold-medalist at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Tara Lipinski wins Olympic gold in figure skating, becoming the youngest champion at age 15.
Read the story
🔬 Science February 20, 1986
The Soviet Union launches its Mir spacecraft. Remaining in orbit for 15 years, it is occupied for ten of those years.
The Soviet Union launches Mir, which orbits Earth for 15 years and is continuously inhabited for 10 of them.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
2 celebrated today
Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Ukraine)
International
In Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, which was the culmination of the Euromaidan protest movement, 108 civilian protesters and 13 police officers were killed
World Day of Social Justice
International
World Day of Social Justice is an international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment
❝
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
— Martin Luther King Jr. · born February 20, 1929