Jan 20

Jan 20 What Happened on January 20 in History?

January 20 is one of the most significant dates on the American political calendar, but it also marks major milestones in international history, science, and the arts.

U.S. Presidential History

Since 1937, January 20 has been the official Inauguration Day for the President of the United States, following the ratification of the 20th Amendment.

1937: Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first president to be inaugurated on this date (his second term).
1961: John F. Kennedy was sworn in, delivering his famous line: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."
1981: Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. In a dramatic turn of events, Iran released 52 American hostages just minutes after his swearing-in, ending the 444-day Iran Hostage Crisis.
2009: Barack Obama was inaugurated as the first African American President of the United States.
2021: Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2025: Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second non-consecutive term.

Global Historical Milestones

1265: The first English Parliament to include representatives from major towns met in Westminster Hall.
1649: The trial of King Charles I of England began on charges of high treason, eventually leading to his execution.
1783: The Kingdom of Great Britain signed preliminary peace articles with France, effectively ending hostilities in the American Revolutionary War.
1841: Hong Kong Island was occupied by British forces during the First Opium War.
1942: High-ranking Nazi officials met at the Wannsee Conference in Berlin to coordinate the implementation of the "Final Solution"—the systematic genocide of European Jews.
1986: Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed as a federal holiday in the U.S. for the first time.

Science, Tech & Culture

1885: LaMarcus Thompson patented the first roller coaster in the U.S. (at Coney Island).
1892: The first official basketball game was played at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts.
1934: Fujifilm was founded in Japan.
1982: Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne notoriously bit the head off a bat (which he believed was a toy) during a concert in Des Moines, Iowa.
1985: Super Bowl XIX took place, where the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins. This was the first time TV commercials sold for $1 million per minute.