History for June 20

History for June 20 - On-This-Day.com
Charles Chesnutt (Charles Waddell Chesnutt) 1858 - Author, essayist, political activist, Jean Moulinn 1899 - High profile member of the French Resistance during World War II, Audie Murphy 1924 - Actor, most decorated American soldier of World War II 
 

Martin Landau 1931 - Actor, Brian Wilson 1942 - Musician (Beach Boys), Anne Murray (Morna Anne Murray) 1945 - Singer 


1756 - In India, 150 British soldiers were imprisoned in a cell that became known as the "Black Hole of Calcutta."


1793 - Eli Whitney applied for a cotton gin patent. He received the patent on March 14. The cotton gin initiated the American mass-production concept.


1910 - Mexican President Porfirio Diaz proclaimed martial law and arrested hundreds.


1941 - The U.S. Army Air Forces was established, replacing the Army Air Corps. The Army Air Forces were abolished with the creation of the United States Air Force in 1947.


1947 - Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was murdered in Beverly Hills, CA, at the order of mob associates angered over the soaring costs of his project, the Flamingo resort in Las Vegas, NV.


1950 - Willie Mays graduated from high school and immediately signed with the New York Giants.


1967 - Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted. The U.S. Supreme Court later overturned the conviction.


1977 - The Trans-Alaska Pipeline began operation.