Wikipedia:Main Page history/2020 August 20

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George Tucker (August 20, 1775 – April 10, 1861) was an American lawyer, politician, author, and educator. He wrote the first in-depth biography of Thomas Jefferson, the first fictional account of colonial life in Virginia, and the four-volume History of the United States. Despite a social life which had been profligate, and at times even scandalous, at age 50 he was named Professor of Moral Philosophy at Jefferson’s newly founded University of Virginia and served in that post for twenty years. A son of the first mayor of Hamilton, Bermuda, he immigrated to Virginia at age 20, was educated at the College of William and Mary, and was admitted to the bar. He was elected in 1816 to the Virginia House of Delegates, then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1819 to 1825. In 1827 he wrote A Voyage to the Moon, one of America's earliest works of science fiction. He also produced diverse compositions on slavery, suffrage, morality, intracoastal navigation, wages, and banking. (Full article...)

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Did you know ...

Park Avenue Viaduct facing Grand Central Terminal

... that the Park Avenue Viaduct (pictured), designed to take traffic around New York City's Grand Central Terminal, caused gridlock soon after opening?
... that Maria Ovsiankina studied the Zeigarnik effect of how people remember unfinished tasks more than completed ones, and described the Ovsiankina effect of how likely they are to resume those tasks?
... that an industry observer noted that Perkin-Elmer's Micralign aligner "literally made the modern IC industry"?
... that future Bolivian president Evo Morales was present at the 1988 Villa Tunari Massacre, in which nine to twelve protesting coca growers were killed?
... that after Berry Boswell Brooks took his 14-year-old daughter hunting in Kenya in 1947, it was featured in Life magazine?
... that a former owner of Atlanta-area radio station WIGO took its name from Isaiah 40:31?
... that, despite a history as a reserve Gaelic football goalkeeper, Paul Callaghan played in association football matches against English clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United?
... that a "pickle train" delivered workers to the Budlong Pickle Company in the early 20th century?

In the news

COVID-19 pandemic

Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta

In Mali, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (pictured) resigns and dissolves the government after his arrest in a military coup following months of protests.
Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the World Snooker Championship, defeating Kyren Wilson in the final.
Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei sets a new world record in the men's 5000 metres.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates agree to establish diplomatic relations.

On this day

August 20: Islamic New Year (2020, 1442 AH); Day of Restoration of Independence in Estonia (1991); Saint Stephen's Day / State Foundation Day in Hungary

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

917 – Byzantine–Bulgarian wars: Bulgarian forces led by Tsar Simeon I drove the Byzantines out of Thrace with a decisive victory at the Battle of Achelous.
1882 – The 1812 Overture by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (pictured) debuted in Moscow, conducted by Ippolit Al'tani.
1920 – The American Professional Football Association, a predecessor of the National Football League, was founded.
1950 – Korean War: United Nations forces repelled an attempt by North Korea to capture the city of Taegu.
2008 – Spanair Flight 5022 crashed just after take-off from Madrid's Barajas Airport, killing 154 people.

Henry Every (b. 1659)
Bolesław Prus (b. 1847)
Kelsey Weems (d. 2019)

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Today's featured picture

The New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building in Kuching is the meeting place of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, the oldest continuously functioning legislature in Malaysia and one of the oldest in the world. The current building was officially opened by Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in July 2009. The building is shaped like a nine-pointed star, and the roof design resembles a Malaysian royal umbrella. The debating chamber, with room for up to 108 members, is located on the eighth floor, with a public viewing gallery above. The lower floors house the members' lounge, offices, function rooms, meeting rooms, an auditorium and a surau.

Photograph credit: Uwe Aranas

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