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JANUARY 20 | Birthdays and Events

3 min. read
January 20, 2025 1:41 pm CST

Notable Birthdays for January 20

Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794) - President of the Continental Congress.

David Wilmot (1814-1886) - Politician who sponsored Wilmot Proviso, which would've banned slavery.

Harriot Stanton Blatch (1856-1940) - Suffragist and organizer of women's rights events.

Ruth St. Denis (1879-1968) - Considered an early pioneer of modern dance.

Enoch L. Johnson (1883-1968) - Sheriff of Atlantic County and also a mob boss while sheriff.

Huddie William Ledbetter (1888-1949) - Blues musician who used the stage name Lead Belly.

Allan Haines Loughead (1889-1969) - Founder of the Alco Hydro-Aeroplane Co.

Harold Gray (1894-1968) - Cartoonist who created Little Orphan Annie.

George Burns (1896-1996) - Beloved actor and comedian.

Nevin Scrimshaw (1918-2013) - Scientist who developed supplements for protein, iodine, and iron deficiencies.

DeForest Kelley (1920-1999) - Actor best known for his role as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the series Star Trek.

Ray Anthony (1922-Still Living) - Bandleader, trumpeter, and last living band member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Ottis Dewey Whitman Jr. (1923-2013) - Country and western singer also known as Slim Whitman the famous yodeler.

Edward Glenn Roberts Jr. (1929-1964) - Stock car driver known as Fireball Roberts.

Buzz Aldrin (1930-Still Living) - Astronaut and second person to walk on the moon.

David Lee (1931-Still Living) - Physicist who co-discovered super-fluidity in helium-3.

Paul Stanley (1952-Still Living) - Co-founder of the rock bank KISS.

Bill Maher (1956-Still Living) - Comedian and political commentator.

Patrick K. Kroupa (1969-Still Living) - Hacker and co-founder of MindVox.

Memorable Events for January 20

1778 - The first military court martial trial begins in MA.

1785 - Samuel Ellis advertises to sell Oyster Island (Ellis Island).

1869 - Elizabeth Cady Stanton becomes the first woman to testify before Congress.

1909 - General Motors buys into the Oakland Motor Car Company, later becoming GM's Pontiac Division.

1920 - The American Civil Liberties Union is founded.

1937 - The first Presidential Inauguration (Franklin D. Roosevelt) is held on January 20th, (previously held on March 4th).

1954 - The National Negro Network is established with 40 charter member radio stations.

1986 - The first official federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. is held.