May 20th
1506
Christopher Columbus died in Spain at age 54.
1873
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive a U.S. patent for blue jeans with copper rivets.
1902
Cuba gains independence from the United States. Tomás Estrada Palma becomes the first President of Cuba.
1916
The Saturday Evening Post publishes its first cover with a Norman Rockwell painting ("Boy with Baby Carriage").
1927
Charles Lindbergh began the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight, departing from Long Island aboard the Spirit of Saint Louis.
1932
Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
1978
Mavis Hutchinson, 53, became the first woman to run across America. The 3,000-mile trek took her 69 days. She ran an average of 45 miles each day.
1982
The final episode of "Barney Miller" aired
1984
Roger Clemens got his first victory.
1989
Comedian Gilda Radner died of cancer at age 42.
1993
The final episode of "Cheers" aired on NBC.
1996
The final episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" aired on NBC.
1997
The final episode of "Roseanne" aired on ABC.
2002
East Timor became the newest nation.
2006
San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the career list with his 714th home run.
Birthdays
82 Bud Grant Hall of Fame football coach
79 James McEachin Actor
73 Anthony Zerbe Actor
67 David Proval Actor
65 Joe Cocker Rock singer
63 Cher Singer, actress
60 Dave Thomas Actor, comedian (SCTV)
57 Warren Cann Rock musician
55 David Paterson New York Gov
53 Dean Butler Actor
51 Jane Wiedlin Rock musician (The Go-Go's)
50 Bronson Pinchot Actor
49 John Billingsley Actor
49 Tony Goldwyn Actor
46 David 'Boomer' Wells Baseball player
44 Ted Allen TV personality ("Queer Eye for the Straight Guy")
43 Mindy Cohn Actress ("The Facts of Life")
43 Gina Ravera Actress ("The Closer")
41 Timothy Olyphant Actor ("Deadwood," "Damages")
38 Tony Stewart Race car driver
37 Busta Rhymes Rapper
34 Ryan Martinie Rock musician (Mudvayne)
32 Matt Czuchry Actor ("The Gilmore Girls")
32 Angela Goethals Actress
4 Paige Cook Daughter of MedicCook (Ryan)
?? Don_Truini Cigar Asylum Inmate
63 William George Fargo 5/20/1818 - 8/3/1881 American businessman; co-founded Wells, Fargo & Company
85 John Jacob Astor 5/20/1886 - 7/19/1971 English journalist and chief proprietor of The London Times (1922-66)
42 R. J. Mitchell 5/20/1895 - 6/11/1937 English aircraft designer; developed the Spitfire fighter plane
89 James Stewart 5/20/1908 - 7/2/1997 American motion-picture actor