August 20th: Historical Events, Traditions, and Calendar Facts

August 20th has witnessed pivotal moments in world history, important cultural celebrations, and remarkable scientific achievements. This article explores August 20th in various calendars, traditions and observances, and the key historical events and birthdays that make this day significant.

August 20th in Different Calendars

Gregorian Calendar – August 20th is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years), leaving 133 days remaining.
Julian Calendar – This corresponds to August 7th in the Julian calendar.
Hebrew Calendar – Falls in the months of Av or Elul, depending on the year.
Islamic Calendar – Shifts annually and can fall in Muharram or Safar.

Traditions and Observances on August 20th

World Mosquito Day

August 20th is observed as World Mosquito Day, commemorating the discovery by Sir Ronald Ross in 1897 that mosquitoes transmit malaria. This day raises awareness about malaria prevention and eradication efforts worldwide.

Hungary’s National Day

Hungary celebrates St. Stephen’s Day (Szent István ünnepe) on August 20th, honoring the country’s first king and the foundation of the Hungarian state. It is one of Hungary’s most significant national holidays, featuring parades, fireworks, and cultural events.

Major Historical Events on August 20th

917 – Battle of Anchialus

The Byzantine Empire suffered a major defeat at the hands of Bulgarian forces in one of the largest battles of the medieval Balkans.

1597 – First Dutch East India Company Fleet Returns

The fleet completed its maiden voyage to Asia, marking the start of Dutch dominance in global trade during the Age of Exploration.

1741 – Alaska Discovered by Vitus Bering

On this day, Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer for Russia, sighted Alaska, opening the way for Russian colonization in North America.

1858 – Charles Darwin Publishes Theory of Natural Selection

Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace’s papers on natural selection were published together by the Linnean Society of London, shaping modern biology.

1866 – President Andrew Johnson Formally Declares the American Civil War Over

Although the fighting had ended earlier, this formal declaration brought an official close to the conflict.

1882 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” Premieres in Moscow

This iconic composition, now a staple of classical music, was first performed to commemorate Russia’s defense against Napoleon.

1914 – Germany Occupies Brussels During World War I

German forces continued their advance through Belgium in the early stages of the First World War.

1940 – Leon Trotsky Attacked in Mexico

Exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky was attacked with an ice axe in Mexico City by a Soviet agent; he died the next day, marking a turning point in Stalin’s consolidation of power.

1944 – Allied Forces Liberate Paris Suburbs

During World War II, the liberation of France gained momentum as Allied forces pushed toward Paris.

1960 – Senegal Joins the United Nations

Senegal, having gained independence from France, was officially admitted as a member state of the United Nations.

1968 – Soviet Troops Invade Czechoslovakia

The Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia crushed the Prague Spring reforms and reasserted Soviet control in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.

1975 – Viking 1 Launched to Mars

NASA launched the Viking 1 spacecraft, which would later successfully land on Mars and send back detailed images of the planet’s surface.

Famous Birthdays on August 20th

Benjamin Harrison (1833) – 23rd President of the United States.
H. P. Lovecraft (1890) – American writer, master of cosmic horror.
Jacqueline Susann (1918) – American author, known for Valley of the Dolls.
Isaac Hayes (1942) – American soul singer and composer.
Robert Plant (1948) – English rock singer, lead vocalist of Led Zeppelin.
Demi Lovato (1992) – American singer and actress.

Why August 20th Matters

From groundbreaking scientific discoveries to the shaping of nations and cultural milestones, August 20th stands as a day of global importance. It highlights themes of exploration, independence, and human creativity.

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: 1858

In 1858 Charles Darwin first published his theory of Evolution By Natural Selection (along with Alfred Wallace’s same theory deduced independently) in the “Journal of the Linnean Society of London.

Charles Darwin is often referred to as the father of modern biology. Although known for his work ‘On the Origin of Species’, Darwin produced nineteen additional publications, wrote hundreds of scientific papers and fourteen thousand letters, all of which laid the foundations for Biology as a subject we recognise today.

Charles Darwin was born in Shropshire, England on the 12^th of February 1809. Although he did not invent the theory of evolution, he certainly made the idea more accessible to the world. His theory (now proven fact) was evolution by natural selection; where by an organism with a mutation may be better adapted to certain environmental changes and therefore improve their chances of survival. This means the organism with the useful mutation is more likely to survive and reproduce, hopefully passing on the useful mutation. Overtime species are able to adapt to the world around them and this process gave the Galapagos Islands (and the world) the rich diversity of its inhabitants perfectly suited to their enviroments. He is considered revolutionary because the idea of evolution was a very difficult one to sell at the time, as it went against not only the church but also the scientific views of the time. It is said that Darwin himself still believed in the biblical creationist explanation even after he left the Galapagos Islands.

The infamous Beagle voyage from which ‘Origins’ was inspired, began in 1832 and traversed thirty-thousand miles of Ocean in five years, five weeks of which were spent in the Galapagos. Darwin was not originally a naturalist although he had a keen interest in the natural world and was not employed for his academic talents: he had paid for his trip aboard the Beagle as gentleman companion to the ships Captain.

Returning to London in 1836, Darwin purchased Down House in South London and never left Britain again. Darwin wrote and published many scientific papers before The Origin of Species which was published two decades later. It actually took Darwin a long time to come to terms with what he had discovered on his voyage. He was close to finishing his book, “On the Origin of Species” when fellow naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace contacted him. Wallace had also come up with the same theory and being a man of integrity he informed Darwin that he would soon be publishing his findings. This pushed Darwin into publishing his own version and on the 20^th of August 1858 both scientist published their theory in the “Journal of the Linnean Society of London”. Darwin’s most famous book “On the Origin of Species” was published on the 24^th of November 1859 (from 1872 the sixth and following editions were shortened to “The Origin of species”).

The phrase ‘survival of the fittest’ which is often synonymous with Darwin was invented by philosopher Herbert Spencer not Darwin. Moreover The Origin of Species is not Darwin’s theory of evolution but a theory of evolution by natural selection.