What happened on October 20

38 documented historical events happened on October 20, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Under the terms of the Pragmatic Sanction, Maria Theresa (pictured) ascended the Habsburg throne. On the same day, in another year: British woman Mabel Freer was refused entry to Australia after failing a dictation test given in Italian, leading to a debate over Australia's immigration policy. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.

160 people with a Wikipedia article were born on October 20, including Art Buchwald, Tom Dowd, Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu. The list spans every era and every field — art, science, politics, sport, entertainment — ordered by year of birth, from the earliest to the most recent. The six featured people are those most has been written about: the ordering uses the length of their Wikipedia article as an indicator of prominence. For each one you find their occupation, year of birth and a link to the full biography.

114 people with a Wikipedia article died on October 20, including Aelia Eudocia, Henry the Proud, Pope Urban III. The list is in chronological order by year of death and spans all of documented history, from antiquity to the present day. For each person you find their occupation, the year and a link to the Wikipedia biography, where the full story and its sources can be read.

18 observances are celebrated on October 20 around the world: Christian feast days: Acca of Hexham, Christian feast days: Aderald, Christian feast days: Artemius, Christian feast days: Caprasius of Agen, Christian feast days: Hedwig (in Canada, moved from Oct. 16), Christian feast days: Irene of Tomar. The list gathers national holidays, international days and religious or civil observances falling on this date in different countries, as recorded on Wikipedia. Some are fixed and recur on the same day every year; others depend on the local calendar. Each links to the article explaining its origin and meaning.