March 20
1602
The Dutch East India Company was established. During its 196-year history, it became one of the world’s most powerful companies.
1727
English physicist/astronomer Sir Isaac Newton died in London at age 84.
1852
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was published.
1969
John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar.
1985
Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod.
1990
Namibia becomes an independent nation.
1995
Two members of the Japanese cult Aum Sinrikyo released poisonous gas in a Tokyo subway stop during rush hour, killing 12 people and sending over 5,000 to the hospital for treatment.
1999
Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones became the first to fly a hot-air balloon nonstop around the world.
2003
Ground troops entered Iraq and a second round of air strikes against Baghdad was launched.
Birthdays
Henrik Ibsen
Pronunciation: [hen´rik ib´sun]
1828–1906, Norwegian dramatist and poet.
Frederick W. Taylor
industrial engineer (1856)
B. F. Skinner
psychologist (1904)
Alfonso Garcia Robles
statesman, Nobel Prize winner (1911)
Carl Reiner
actor, writer, director (1922)
Fred Rogers
television personality (1928)
Bobby Orr
hockey player (1948)
William Hurt
actor (1950)
Spike Lee
filmmaker (1957)
Holly Hunter
actress (1958)