Date with History: September 20

A circling globe, a decisive tennis match, and an Oscar birth all landed on one day.

One paperback for one calendar date: what happened on September 20, and who was born on it.

What happened on September 20

1519: Magellan's fleet sets sail to circle the globe

On September 20, 1519, Ferdinand Magellan left Spain with five ships and about 270 men, attempting the first circumnavigation of the globe. Only eighteen men returned three years later aboard the Victoria, but the voyage proved the world's oceans were connected.

1973: Billie Jean King wins the Battle of the Sexes

On September 20, 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 before more than 90 million television viewers. The match became a cultural touchstone that challenged assumptions about women's athletic ability.

Famous birthdays on September 20

1934 — Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, born 1934, became the first actress to win an Oscar for a foreign-language performance.

1948 — George R.R. Martin
George R.R. Martin, born 1948, reshaped fantasy with the morally complex saga A Song of Ice and Fire.

Nearby dates

September 19 · September 21 · All September dates

Part of Date with History, a 366-book collection with one book for every date of the year. 5″×8″ paperback, cream paper.

Historical selections are editorially researched. This is a date-specific book, not a personalized or custom-made product.