Osun Defender History Corner: March 20 In Focus

Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashbacks and recall some events that marked this day.

March 20, 1602

The Dutch East India Company is established.

March 20, 1815

Napoleon Bonaparte enters Paris after escaping from Elba, beginning his Hundred Days rule.

March 20, 1854

The Republican Party of the United States is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin.

March 20, 1916

Albert Einstein publishes his theory of general relativity.

March 20, 1922

The USS Langley, the first United States aircraft carrier, is commissioned.

March 20, 1948

The United States announces a land aid program for Turkey, a move seen as a counter to Soviet influence in the region.

March 20, 1952

The United States Senate ratifies a peace treaty with Japan, formally ending World War II hostilities.

March 20, 1965

The first ever spacewalk is performed by Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov.

March 20, 1976

Patty Hearst, granddaughter of publisher William Randolph Hearst, is convicted of armed robbery for her involvement with the Symbionese Liberation Army.

March 20, 1985

Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

March 20, 1995

The Tokyo subway sarin attack occurs, killing 13 people and injuring thousands.

March 20, 1999

Legoland California, the third Legoland park, opens in Carlsbad, California.

March 20, 2003

The United States launches Operation Iraqi Freedom, invading Iraq.

March 20, 2006

The United Nations Security Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program.

March 20, 2012

A gunman kills seven people at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France.

March 20, 2014

A mudslide occurs in Oso, Washington, killing 43 people.

March 20, 2015

President Barack Obama visits Cuba, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to do so since 1928.

March 20, 2018

The United States imposes tariffs on $60 billion worth of Chinese goods, escalating trade tensions between the two countries.

March 20, 2019

Cyclone Idai hits Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, causing widespread devastation and killing over 1,000 people.

March 20, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic leads to lockdowns and restrictions around the world, impacting millions of lives and economies globally.

Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on March 20. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.