Events on Jul 20
- 0514St. Hormisdas elected as Pope succeeding Pope Sympowerus
- 1031Henry I succeeds father Robert II as King of France
- 1495French Viceroy of Naples Montpensier surrenders
- 1498Emperor Maximilian names Albrecht Governor of the Netherlands
- 1553Prime Minister John Dudley captured in Cambridge
- 1608Reynier van Oldenbarnevelt marries Anna Weytzen in Delft
- 1609Emperor Rudolf II grants Silezische protestants freedom of religion
- 1619Gerardus Vossius resigns as Dutch regent States college leader
- 1654Anglo-Portuguese treaty, Portugal comes under English control
- 1749Earl of Chesterfield says "Idleness is only refuge of weak minds"
- 1773Scottish settlers arrive at Pictou, Nova Scotia (Canada)
- 1801Elisha Brown Jr pressed a 1,235 pound cheese ball at his farm
- 1808Napoleon decrees all French Jews adopt family names
- 1810Colombia declares independence from Spain
- 1836Charles Darwin climbs Green Hill on Ascension
- 1847German astronomer Theodor discovers Comet Brorsen-Metcalf
- 1849Start of 1st Lancashire-Yorkshire clash at Hyde Park, Sheffield
- 18551st train from Rotterdam to Utrecht in the Netherlands
- 1858Fee 1st charged to see a baseball game (50 cents) (NY beats Brooklyn 22-18)
- 1864Battle of Peachtree Creek-Atlanta Campaign
- 1866Sea battle of Lissa-Austria vs. Italy
- 18681st use of tax stamps on cigarettes
- 1871British Columbia becomes 6th Canadian province
- 1872Mahlon Loomis patents wireless radio
- 18761st US intercollegiate track meet held, Saratoga, NY; Princeton wins
- 1877Military shoots on stopped railroad workers in Balt, kills 9
- 18781st telephone introduced in Hawaii
- 1881Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull, surrenders to federal troops
- 1890"Gibbons Stamp Monthly" begins publishing
- 1890Snow and hail in Calais, Maine
Born on Jul 20
- 1304Francesco Petrarch: Italy -- Poet (Italia Mia)
- 1513Gaspar Schetz: Dutch Treasurer General
- 1519Innocent IX [Giovanni A Facchinetti]: 230th Catholic Pope (1591)
- 1600Simon Ives: Composer
- 1663Pierre Drevet: French engraver
- 1720Ignaz Vitzthumb: Composer
- 1726William Jones: Composer
- 1744Henri Hamal: Composer
- 1761Joseph Lefebvre: Composer
- 1762Jakob Haibel: Composer
- 1766Thomas Bruce: Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, British diplomat
- 1779Ignaz Schuster: Composer
- 1785Mahmud II: Sultan of Turkey (1808-39) / Westernizer / Reformer
- 1793Aleksander Fredro: Polish comedy writer (Pan Jowiolski)
- 1796Edward Hodges: Composer
- 1803Jakob Zeugheer: Composer
- 1803Thomas Lovell Beddoes: English poet
- 1804Richard Owen: British zoologist
- 1806John Sterling: Writer (Representative Victorian)
- 1811James Bruce: Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, Governor (Jamaica)
- 1814Ivan S Gagarin: Russian theologist
- 1816William Bowman: English anatomist
- 1819Paul Henrion: Composer
- 1824Alexander Schimmelfennig: Prussia -- Brigadier General (Union volunteers)
- 1836Thomas C Allbutt: English physiologist (Diseases of the Heart)
- 1837Hans Sommer: Composer
- 1847Max Liebermann: German impressionist painter
- 1853Geo[rge] Poggenbeek: Dutch water colors painter
- 1860Johannes Walter: German geologist (Denudation of the Wilderness)
- 1864Erik Karlfeldt: Sweden -- Poet (Nobel 1918-refused; 1931-posthumous)
Died on Jul 20
- 0833Ansegis / Ansegius: French abbot of Fontenelle / author, dies at about 63
- 1031Robert II de Vrome: King of France (996-1031)
- 1322Frederik II van Sierck: Bishop of Utrecht (1317-22)
- 1573Lancelot of Brederode: Water beggar, beheaded
- 1597Franciscus Raphelengius [French of Ravelingen]: Neth publisher
- 1607Paulus Merula: Dutch lawyer / Historian (Historia Belgica), dies at 48
- 1609Federico Zuccari: Italian Mannerist painter, dies at about 69
- 1636John Oldham: Trader in Mass, murdered by indians
- 1732Francesco Bartolomeo Conti: Composer, dies at 51
- 1762Christoph Nichelsmann: German klavecinist / composer
- 1766Isabelle Farnese: Queen of Spain
- 1808Francois-Hippolyte Barthelemon: Composer, dies at 66
- 1819John Playfair: Scottish geologist / mathematician
- 1824Joan M Kemper: Lawyer (layed-out Civil Code)
- 1825Joseph-Denis Doche: Composer, dies at 58
- 1859Hans E Schack: Danish politician / writer (Fantasy)
- 1866G F Berhard Riemann: German Mathematician (zeta-function)
- 1868Antoine Prumier: Composer, dies at 75
- 1868Jan Bedrich Kittl: Composer, dies at 62
- 1881Thomas Fermor-Hesketh: English 1st Baron of Hesketh
- 1888Henri Braekeleer: Flemish painter
- 1898Yuri Arnold: Composer, dies at 86
- 1903Leo XIII [Vincenzo G Pecci]: Pope (1878-1903), dies at 93
- 1908Federico Chueca: Composer, dies at 62
- 1914Leo van Gheluwe: Composer, dies at 76
- 1923Pancho Villa [Doroteo Arango]: Mexican rebel, murdered at 55
- 1927Ferdinand I VAM: King of Romania, dies at 61
- 1936Arthur Battelle Whiting: Composer, dies at 75
- 1936Jose Sanjurjo y Sacanell: Spanish General / high director
- 1937Guglielmo Marconi: Ital engineer / Marquis (radio, Nobel 1909)
Historical events on July 21
- 0230St. Pontianus begins his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0365Alexandria hit by Earthquake; about 50,000 die
- 0866John appointed Bishop of the kingdom
- 0905Holy Roman Catholic Emperor Louis III captured
- 0976Emperor Otto II gives Earl Leopold I, East Bavaria
- 1320Count Louis of Nevers marries 8-year old Daughter of Philips V
- 1542Pope Paul III begins inquisition against Protestants (Sactum Officium)
- 1579Mechelen surrenders to Duke of Parma
- 1588English fleet defeats Spanish armada
- 1595Alvara Mendana discovers Marquesas Island
- 1669John Lockes Constitution of English colony Carolina approved
- 1730States of Holland put death penalty on "sodomy"
- 1749Pieter Steyn becomes pension advisor of Holland
- 1773Pope Clemens XIV bans Jesuits
- 1798Napoleon Bonaparte wins Battle of Pyramids in Egypt
- 1825Java Princess Dipo Negoro / Mangkubumi declare war on all non-islamics
- 1831Belgium gains independence from Netherlands, Leopold I made King
- 1846Mormons found 1st English settlement in California (San Joaquin Valley)
- 18611st major battle of Civil War ends (Bull Run), Va-South wins
- 1866Cholera-epidemic kills hundreds in London
- 1867City Gardens on Folsom opens
- 1880Compressed air accident kills 20 workers on Hudson River tunnel, New York
- 1897Tate Gallery opens in England
- 1898Spain cedes Guam to US
- 1900Pope Leo XIII encyclical to Greek-Melkite rite
- 1904After 13 years, the 4,607-mile Trans-Siberian railway is completed
- 1904Camille Jenatzy sets world auto speed record at 65.79 mph
- 1919Dirigible crashes through bank skylight killing 13 (Chicago, Ill)
- 1921Indians (9) andYankees (7) hit a record 16 doubles
- 1923Phillies score 12 in 6th and beat Cubs 17-4
Born on July 21
- 1515St Philippus Nerius [Philippo Neri]: Italian Merchant / priest
- 1620Jean Picard: French astronomer
- 1664Matthew Prior: English poet
- 1676Anthony Collins: English philosopher (A discourse on free-thinking)
- 1693Thomas Pelham-Holles 1st Duke of Newcastle: England, United Kingdom -- Minister of finance
- 1706Pierre Lyonet: Zoologist / cryptologist (Anatomy of Wilgehoutrups)
- 1748Louis-Henry Paisible: Composer
- 1758Elizabeth Hamilton: Author (Cats: A Celebration)
- 1762Willem GF Bentinck: Dutch Earl / politician / Organist
- 1779Gottlob Wiedebein: Composer
- 1797Franz Schoberlechner: Composer
- 1802David Hunter: Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1886
- 1804Victor Schoelcher: Guadeloupe -- Abolished french slavery
- 1810Henri V Regnault: French physicist / chemist
- 1815Stewart Van Vliet: Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1901
- 1816Paul Julius Baron von Reuter: Founded Reuters news service
- 1817John Gilbert: Painter / illustrator
- 1817Joseph K Barnes: Major General (Union Army), died in 1883
- 1821Vasile Alecsandri: Romania -- Poet / Foreign Minister / diplomat
- 1822Ludwig Theodore Gouvy: Composer
- 1826James Gillpatrick Blunt: Major General (Union volunteers)
- 1828John Rutter Brooke: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers)
- 1832Henrietta Marie Morse King: Cattlewoman
- 1856Harry A P Eyres: British diplomat (Constantinople, Albania)
- 1856Louise Blanchard Bethune: 1st US woman architect
- 1863C[harles] Aubrey Smith: London, England -- Actor (Prisoner of Zenda)
- 1864Frances Folsom Cleveland: 1st lady (1885-89, 93-97)
- 1865Robert Kahn: Composer
- 1885Frances Parkinson Keyes: Novelist (Dinner at Antoine)
- 1892Anton Schnack: German writer / poet
Died on July 21
- 1160Peterus Lombardus: Italian Theologist / Bishop of Paris
- 1425Manuel Paleologus: Byzantine Emperor (1391-1425) / writer
- 1683Lord William Russell: English plotter against Charles II, beheaded
- 1782Placidus Cajetan von Camerloher: Composer, dies at 63
- 1796Robert Burns: Scottish Poet (Auld Lang Syne), dies at 37
- 1821Maurice J M Prince de Broglie: Bishop of Ghent, dies at about 55
- 1831Emil Aarestrup: Danish Physician / Poet (Ritornellen), dies at 55
- 1861Francis Stebbins Bartow: Confederate Colonel, dies in battle at 44
- 1870Josef Strauss: Austrian Composer (Dynamids), dies at 42
- 1888Matthias J Scheeben: German Theologist (Natur und Gnade), dies at 53
- 1891Franco Faccio: Italian Composer / conductor, dies at 51
- 1910Johan Peter Selmer: Composer, dies at 66
- 1917Christopher J Forster: British RAF-pilot / Captain, dies in battle
- 1922Djemal Pasha: Dictator of Turkey, murdered
- 1928Ellen A Terry: Brits actress / director (Imperial Theatre), dies at 81
- 1943Charles William Paddock: 100m runner (1920 Olympics - Gold Medalist), dies at 42
- 1944Gerrit van den Bosch: Led illegal Dutch CPN party, dies in Dachau
- 1944Henning von Tresckow: General Major, "July 20th plotter", commits suicide
- 1948Arshile Gorky: Abstract expressionist, dies at 43
- 1948Donald Nichols Tweedy: Composer, dies at 58
- 1950Albert Riemenschneider: Composer, dies at 71
- 1957Bernard Spooner: US inventor (bulletproof jacket)
- 1966Eugeen Calleen: Flemish sculptor, dies at 83
- 1967Albert J Luthuli: President South Africa (ANC)
- 1967Basil Rathbone: Actor (Sherlock Holmes), dies of heart attack at 75
- 1967Jimmy Foxx: Baseball hall of famer (Detroit Tigers / 534 HRs), dies at 59
- 1967Pierre Kemp: Dutch Poet (English paint box), dies at 80
- 1972Jigme Dori Wangchuck: King of Bhutan
- 1973Russell Hardie: Dies after long illness at 69
- 1974Willem F K Hussem: Painter / Poet (Steltlopen on Sea), dies at 74
Events on Jul 22
- 0259Dionysius elected as Bishop of Rome, succeeding Sixtus II
- 0260St. Dionysius begins his reign as Catholic Pope
- 1298English defeat Scots at Battle of Falkirk
- 1306King Phillip the Fair, orders expulsion of Jews out of France
- 1489"Tractate Niddah" a talmudic edition, 1st printed
- 1489Treaty of Frankfurt
- 1515Anna of Bohemia (12) marries Karel van Ferdinand of Austria
- 1515Congress of Vienna settles issues between Poland and Holy Roman Empire
- 1515Louis of Hungary (9) marries Maria of Bohemia and succession to Hungarian throne
- 1535Christians captured in Tunis in uprising against Admiral Barbarossa
- 1582Willem van Orange moves from Antwerp to Delft
- 15872nd English colony forms on Roanoke Island off North Carolina
- 1632Foundation laid in Madrid for Buen Retiro-palace for King Philip IV
- 164810,000 Jews of Polannoe murdered in Chmielnick massacre
- 1686City of Albany, New York chartered
- 1691Battle at Aghrim: English / Dutch army beats France
- 1729Diamonds found in Minas Geras Brazil
- 1731Spain signs Treaty of Vienna
- 1739Turks defeats Holy Roman Emp at Crocyka Yugoslavia and threaten Belgrade
- 1775George Washington takes command of US troops
- 1796Cleveland, Ohio, founded by General Moses Cleveland
- 1812Duke of Wellington defeats French at Battle of Salamanca, Spain
- 1859V E Walker takes 10-74 in an innings for England vs. Surrey
- 1864Battle of Atlanta-Hood attacks Sherman, 8449 conf, 3641 US die
- 1865V E Walker takes 10-104 in an innings for Middlesex vs. Lancs
- 1893Katharine Lee Bates writes "America the Beautiful, " in Colorado
- 1898Belgica crew see 1st sunrise in 1600 hrs-1st to endure Antarct winter
- 1901Serbia reactivates diplomatic relations with Montenegro
- 19125th Olympic games in Stockholm closes
- 1916A bomb went off during a Preparedness Day parade in SF killing 10
Born on Jul 22
- 1478Philip I [the Handsome]: 1st Habsburg King of Spain (1504-06)
- 1597Virgilio Mazzocchi: Composer
- 1621Anthony Ashley Cooper: 1st Earl of Shaftesbury / Minister (1660-73)
- 1642Johann Quirsfeld: Composer
- 1647Margaretha M Alacoque: French mystic / Saint
- 1649Clement XI [Giovanni F Albani]: Italy -- Pope (1700-21)
- 1651Ferdinand Tobias Richter: Composer
- 1721Francois-Joseph Krafft: Composer
- 1784Friedrich W Bessel: German astronomer (star parallax, Bessel Function)
- 1807Karolina Pawlowa: Writer
- 1820Louis Powell Harvey: Governor (Union), died in 1862
- 1822Gregor Mendel: Monk / geneticist, discoverer of laws of heredity
- 1822Hamilton Prioleau Bee: Brigadier General (Confederate Army) died in 1897
- 1822John George Walker: Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1893
- 1830Herbert Stanley Oakeley: Composer
- 1830William Sooy Smith: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1916
- 1833Benjamin Hanby: Composer
- 1834Daniel McCook, Jr.: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1864
- 1849Emma Lazarus: Jewish poet ("New Colossus"-base of Statue of Liberty)
- 1853Victor Roger: Composer
- 1871Akos Buttykai: Composer
- 1872David D Salas: Antillian writer (Josefina)
- 1873Ettore Pozzoli: Composer
- 1878Lucien Febvre: French historian (Un destin: Martin Luther)
- 1879Gustaf Heintze: Composer
- 1882Edward Hopper: US painter (House by the Railroad)
- 1887Gustav Hertz: German quantum physicist (Nobel 1925)
- 1889Frederick Preston Search: Composer
- 1892Arthur Seyss-Inquart: Austrian chancellor (1930s) / war criminal
- 1894O M Graf: Writer
Died on Jul 22
- 1035Robert II / I: Duke of Normandy
- 1387French Ackerman: Ghent rebel / leader of Reisers, murdered at about 57
- 1461Charles VII: King of France (1422-61), dies at 58
- 1477Adolf van Egmond: Duke of Gelre / Earl of Zutphen, dies in battle at 39
- 1497Francesco Botticini: Italian painter, dies at about 52
- 1499Neithart Fox [Jonker Fox]: German passage leader, slain in battle
- 1635Pietro Antonio Tamburini: Composer, dies at 45
- 1676Clement X [Emilio Altieri]: Italian Pope (1670-76), dies at 86
- 1786Vaclav Kalous: Composer, dies at 71
- 1794Jean-Benjamin de La Borde: Composer, dies at 59
- 1802Marie-Francois-Xavier Bichat: A founder of histology
- 1826Giuseppe Piazzi: Monk / Mathematician (found 1st asteroid), dies at 80
- 1840Josef Jawurek: Composer, dies at 83
- 1848Karl Guhr: Composer, dies at 60
- 1861Barnard Elliot Bee: US Confederate Brigadier General, dies at 37
- 1863Carl Schuberth: Composer, dies at 52
- 1864James Birdseye Mcpherson: US Union General Major, dies in battle at 35
- 1864William Henry Talbot Walker: Confederate General Major, dies in battle at 47
- 1868Zikmund Michal Kolesovsky: Composer, dies at 51
- 1880Anna Caroline Oury: Composer, dies at 72
- 1909D v Liliencron: Writer, dies at 65
- 1929Bror Beckman: Composer, dies at 63
- 1929Edouard baron Empain: Belgian builder (Heliopolis), dies at 76
- 1932Roosje Vos: Dutch trade union leader, dies at 71
- 1932Roses Fox: Trade union leader, dies at 71
- 1934John Dillinger: Shot dead at Biograph Theater in Chicago, at 33
- 1950William LM King: Premier of Canada (1921-30, 35-48), dies at 75
- 1952Antonio Maria Valencia: Composer, dies at 49
- 1952August Balthazar: Belgian politician, dies at 58
- 1953Cy Kendall: Actor (Mysteries of Chinatown), dies at 55