April 20th
1769
Ottawa Indian chief Pontiac murdered.
1836
The Territory of Wisconsin was established by Congress.
1841
The first detective story, Edgar Allen Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue was published.
1902
Scientists Marie and Pierre Curie isolated the radioactive element radium.
1912
The Boston Red Sox played their first game at Fenway Park. They beat the N.Y. Highlanders (who in 1913 would become known as the Yankees) 7-6.
1912
Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, died at age 64.
1916
Chicago Cubs played their first game at Weeghman Park (currently Wrigley Field), defeating the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings
1939
Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams made his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox.
1972
The manned lunar module from Apollo 16 landed on the moon.
1999
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. 14 students (including the shooters) and 1 teacher were killed; 23 others were wounded.
1999
Professional wrestler "Ravishing" Rick Rude died at age 40.
2002
Lead singer of Alice in Chains, Layne Staley's body was found. He was 34 years old.
2008
Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history, capturing the Indy Japan 300 in her 50th career start.
Birthdays
85 Leslie Phillips Actor ("Harry Potter" films)
72 George Takei Actor ("Star Trek")
70 Johnny Tillotson Singer
68 Ryan O'Neal Actor ("Love Story," "Paper Moon")
65 Doyle Lawson Bluegrass musician (Quicksilver)
64 Steve Spurrier College football coach
63 Mel Winkler Voice actor
61 Craig Frost Rock musician (Grand Funk Railroad, Silver Bullet Band)
61 Gregory Itzin Actor ("The Mentalist")
60 Veronica Cartwright Actress
60 Jessica Lange Actress
55
ca21455 Cigar Asylum Inmate
50 Clint Howard Actor
48 Don Mattingly Baseball player
45 Crispin Glover Actor
42 Mike Portnoy Musician (Dream Theater)
40 Wade Hayes Country singer
39 Shemar Moore Actor
38 Mikey Welsh Rock musician
37 Carmen Electra Actress
37 Stephen Marley Reggae singer
33 Joey Lawrence Actor
33
JetDr Cigar Asylum Inmate
31 Clay Cook Country musician (Zac Brown Band)
64 Napoleon III of France 4/20/1808 - 1/9/1873 Emperor of the French
81 Daniel Chester French 4/20/1850 - 10/7/1931 American sculptor; works included Lincoln's Memorial
93 Charles G. Curtis 4/20/1860 - 3/10/1953 American inventor; devised a steam turbine
56 Adolf Hitler 4/20/1889 - 4/30/1945 German leader of the Nazi party and dictator of Germany (1933-45)
78 Harold Lloyd 4/20/1893 - 3/8/1971 American motion-picture comedian