A look back at history on this date
Events below are loaded live for October 20th
Chile and Bolivia sign the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, delimiting the border between the two countries.
Peru and Chile sign the Treaty of Ancón, by which the Tarapacá province is ceded to the latter, bringing an end to Peru's involvement in the War of the Pacific.
Greek War of Independence: In the Battle of Navarino, a combined Turkish and Egyptian fleet is defeated by British, French and Russian naval forces in the last significant battle fought with wooden sailing ships.
The Convention of 1818 is signed between the United States and the United Kingdom, which settles the Canada-United States border on the 49th parallel for most of its length.
The United States Senate ratifies the Louisiana Purchase.
The Patent of Toleration, providing limited freedom of worship, is approved in Austria.
American Revolution: The Continental Association, a nonconsumption and nonimportation agreement against the British Isles and the British West Indies, is adopted by the First Continental Congress.
France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony refuse to honour the Pragmatic Sanction, and the War of the Austrian Succession begins.
Eighty Years' War: Three thousand Spanish soldiers wade through fifteen miles of water in one night to effect the relief of Goes.
The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats a Dutch rebel force under William the Silent.
Zhu Youzhen
emperor of Later Liang (died 923)
Born 888Giovanni di Bernardo Rucellai
Italian poet and playwright (died 1525)
Born 1475Claude
Duke of Guise (died 1550)
Born 1496Bálint Balassi
Hungarian writer and noble (died 1594)
Born 1554Richard Boyle
1st Earl of Burlington, Anglo-Irish nobleman, Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, Cavalier (died 1698)
Born 1612Thomas Bartholin
Danish physician, mathematician, and theologian (died 1680)
Born 1616Aelbert Cuyp
Dutch painter (died 1691)
Born 1620Edward Hungerford
English politician (died 1711)
Born 1632Aelia Eudocia
Byzantine wife of Theodosius II (born 401)
460Li Yixing
Chinese governor
967Ralph d'Escures
archbishop of Canterbury
1122Henry X
Duke of Bavaria (born 1108)
1139Pope Urban III
Pope Urban III
1187See how inflation has changed the value of money since you were born.
→ Inflation CalculatorSurprised by this number? Share it with friends and family