This Day In History, April 20th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on April 20th.
On April 20, 1534, French adventurer Jacques Cartier arrived in Newfoundland and formally claimed it for his country.
On April 20, 1657, a Spanish fleet was destroyed by English Admiral Robert Blake in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
On April 20, 1792, France declared war on Austria, kicking off the French Revolutionary Wars.
1912: On April 20, 1912, Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox's home stadium, had its debut.
1999: On April 20, 1999, two teenagers opened fire at Columbine High School in Colorado, killing 13 people and injured nearly 20 more.
April 20th, 1534: Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, reached Newfoundland and claimed it for France on April 20th, 1534.
On April 20, 1534, Jacques Cartier arrived in Newfoundland, which is today a part of Canada. He annexed the territory to France and carried out explorations there and nearby, including the St. Lawrence River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This was a significant period in both Canadian history and European exploration of North America.
1657: English Admiral Robert Blake defeated a Spanish fleet in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on April 20th, 1657.
During the Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660), which lasted from April 20–21, 1657, the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife took place. Admiral Robert Blake's English fleet made an effort to take control of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a significant Spanish stronghold in the Canary Islands. Blake was forced to retreat after incurring severe losses, including the loss of one of his ships and over 700 men, while the Spanish defenders were able to stop the English onslaught. Blake's reputation as a capable naval commander was untarnished in spite of this loss, and during his career, he continued to lead England to numerous more triumphs.
France declared war on Austria, beginning the French Revolutionary Wars, on April 20th, 1792.
The French Revolutionary Wars began on April 20, 1792, when the National Convention of France declared war on Austria. Political and ideological conflicts between the conservative monarchs of Europe and the revolutionary government of France, who regarded the French Revolution as a danger to their own authority, drove the conflict. The conflict engaged several European nations, including Prussia, Britain, Spain, and Russia, and it lasted for more than two decades. Napoleon Bonaparte's ascent and the founding of the French Empire were directly influenced by the French Revolutionary Wars, which had a significant impact on European history.
Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, opened for the first time on April 20th, 1912.
The Boston Red Sox's home stadium, Fenway facility, which is the oldest baseball facility in Major League Baseball, officially opened its doors on April 20, 1912. The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders, later known as the Yankees, 7-6 in 11 innings in the first game ever played at Fenway Park. Since then, Fenway Park has served as the Boston Red Sox's home field and grown to be a well-known landmark in Boston and the baseball community.
Two students carried out a mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, killing 13 people and injuring over 20 others on April 20th, 1999.
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, two students, opened fire at Columbine High School in Colorado on April 20, 1999, killing 13 people and injured more than 20 others before dying themselves. One of the bloodiest school shootings in American history, the incident ignited debates around the country about mental health, gun control, and school safety. Since then, the Columbine High School massacre has gone down in history as a horrific and memorable incident, and it has spurred several attempts to avert similar catastrophes in the future.