History for June 20

History for June 20 - On-This-Day.com:
Adam Ferguson 1723 - Philosopher, historian, knonw as Ferguson of Raith, Charles Chesnutt (Charles Waddell Chesnutt) 1858 - Author, essayist, political activist, Jean Moulinn 1899 - High profile member of the French Resistance during World War II


Errol Flynn 1909 - Actor, Audie Murphy 1924 - Actor, most decorated American soldier of World War II, Martin Landau 1931 - Actor


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


1782 - The U.S. Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States.


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.


1837 - Queen Victoria ascended the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.


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.


1943 - Race-related rioting erupted in Detroit. Federal troops were sent in two days later to end the violence that left more than 30 dead.


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.


1977 - The Trans-Alaska Pipeline began operation.