On This Day - What Happened On September 20 | Britannica

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1870 Rome incorporated into Italy On this day in 1870, Italian troops occupied Rome, leading to the eventual incorporation of Rome into the Kingdom of Italy and the limiting of papal governing authority to the Vatican itself and a small district around it. © Stephen Simpson/FPG International

Featured Biography

Upton Sinclair American novelist bornSeptember 20, 1878Baltimore, MarylanddiedNovember 25, 1968 (aged 90)Bound Brook, New JerseyEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1954 Lloyd Blankfein American executive 1948 George R.R. Martin American writer 1934 Sophia Loren Italian actress 1917 Red Auerbach American coach 1899 Leo Strauss American political philosopher See All Biographies On This Day

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2017 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing more than $90 billion in damages and, according to government officials, nearly 3,000 deaths. Test your knowledge of historical disasters© cestes001—iStock/Getty Images 2011 Don't Ask, Don't Tell—a U.S. military policy that theoretically lifted a ban on homosexuals in the armed forces, provided that individuals kept their sexuality private—officially ended. Take our quiz about U.S. historyChuck Kennedy—Official White House Photo 1998 American professional baseball player Cal Ripken, Jr., ended his streak of 2,632 consecutive games played. How much do you know about baseball?© Elsa/Getty Images 1973 In a much-publicized “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs. Sort fact from fiction in our tennis quizFocus on Sport/Getty Images 1946 Delayed because of World War II, the first Cannes film festival began, and it became one of cinema's major annual events. Test your knowledge of movies© Vinicius Tupinamba/Shutterstock.com 1938 E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company and scientist Wallace Hume Carothers are granted a patent for nylon, the first commercially produced synthetic polymer fiber. Initially popular in fashion, the material gained further prominence during World War II because of its strength, elasticity, lighter weight, and resistance to mildew and heat. Learn about the people, places, and events that shaped the 1930sEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1886 The South African city of Johannesburg was founded. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about South Africa© Neil Wigmore/Shutterstock.com 1854 British and French forces defeated the Russians at the Battle of the Alma, a victory that left the Russian naval base of Sevastopol vulnerable and endangered the entire Russian position in the Crimean War. Take our history of war quizEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1792 The French Legislative Assembly was replaced by the National Convention, marking the formal beginning of the First Republic. Test your knowledge of French historyEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1761 The Portuguese Jesuit Gabriel Malagrida was burned to death for his involvement in the Conspiracy of the Távoras. 1519 Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan departed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain, on a quest to circumnavigate the globe; although he died during the voyage, the expedition achieved its goal. Take our exploration and discovery quiz© Universal Art Archive/Alamy SIGN UP FOR History's Biggest Headlines Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors. SIGN UP Thanks for signing up for Today in History. Your first newsletter will arrive soon! SIGN UP By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.