Saturday, 20th August 2011 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's World Mosquito Day. Explore 61 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings rainy with temperatures between 12°C and 20°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Leo. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Saturday, 20th August in London, GB.
Saturday, 20th August 2011, was marked by rainy conditions across London, a sprawling capital city that sits on the River Thames and serves as the United Kingdom's political, cultural and economic centre. The weather that day reflected the unpredictable nature of August in the British capital, where precipitation frequently interrupts summer months. Those born on this date fell under the Leo zodiac sign, characterised by determination and leadership qualities. The moon was in its waxing crescent phase, a period traditionally associated with new beginnings and growth.
On this date in history, significant events have shaped our world across different eras. In 1989, the pleasure boat Marchioness sank in the Thames after colliding with the dredger Bowbelle, a tragedy that claimed 51 lives and remains one of London's most devastating maritime disasters. The incident highlighted the risks inherent in river transport within the busy waterway that flows through the heart of the capital. Decades earlier, on 20th August 1998, the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan was destroyed by a missile attack launched by the United States in retaliation for embassy bombings, an operation that remains controversial due to questions about the facility's actual purpose and the resulting humanitarian impact.
The Marchioness disaster and the Sudanese bombing stand among numerous significant events recorded for this date, reflecting how history marks particular days with varied human experiences ranging from tragedy to political consequence. These events demonstrate how a single calendar date can encompass multiple turning points across geography and time.
DayAtlas provides users with weather information for any specific date and location, alongside detailed records of historical events, notable births and deaths, allowing comprehensive exploration of how particular days have unfolded throughout history.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 20th August 2011
A seed's power lies not in its size, but in what it becomes.
Fortune of the Day
20th August in the Stars – Star Sign Leo
Personality Profile
Personality People born on 20 August blend classic Leo boldness with Jupiter's expansive wisdom. They pursue grand visions and inspire others through infectious enthusiasm. An optimistic outlook and drive for personal growth deeply shape their character.
Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths include creativity, generosity, and natural leadership abilities. Jupiter's influence enhances intellectual curiosity and philosophical depth. Weaknesses emerge through overconfidence or attempting everything on a massive scale.
Love These natives seek partners who share their passion and ambitions. They love intensely and dramatically, yet crave intellectual substance too. Loyalty and admiration are essential for them to feel truly fulfilled.
Caree & Finance Well-suited to leadership roles, creative ventures, and entrepreneurship. Their expansive nature draws them toward influential projects and big-picture thinking. Financial generosity is a strength but requires conscious management.
Health Natural vitality and abundant energy characterize their physical constitution. Regular movement and creative expression keep them balanced. Channeling their intensity and avoiding burnout remain important priorities.
That night, the moon was in its waxing crescent phase.
Chinese year of the Rabbit (Metal).
Fun Facts About 20th August
Name Days in Your Language: Barnard, Bernard, Bernardo, Filbert, Philbert, Rey, Reyna, Reynalda, Reynaldo, Reynold
Someone born on this day in 2011 would be 14 years old today — just 5,355 days into life, which is roughly 128,531 hours, 7,711,891 minutes, or 462,713,512 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 232. day of the year.
There are 133 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 33 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 20th August
- Prince Gabriel of Belgium (2003)
- Lieke Klaver, Dutch track and field athlete (1998)
- Kaho Minagawa, Japanese rhythmic gymnast (1997)
- Daniel Vladař, Czech ice hockey player (1997)
- Bunty Afoa, New Zealand rugby league player (1996)
- Liana Liberato, American actress (1995)
- Mitchell Trubisky, American football player (1994)
- Tonisha Rock-Yaw, Barbadian netball player (1993)
- Matt Eisenhuth, Australian rugby league player (1992)
- Carolina Horta, Brazilian beach volleyball player (1992)
Lives Remembered on 20th August
- Anton Buslov, Russian astrophysicist and journalist (born 1983) (2014)
- Lois Mai Chan, Taiwanese-American librarian, author, and academic (born 1934) (2014)
- Boris Dubin, Russian sociologist and academic (born 1946) (2014)
- B. K. S. Iyengar, Indian yoga instructor and author, founded Iyengar Yoga (born 1918) (2014)
- Buddy MacMaster, Canadian singer-songwriter and fiddler (born 1924) (2014)
- Sava Stojkov, Serbian painter and educator (born 1925) (2014)
- Edmund Szoka, American cardinal (born 1927) (2014)
- Sathima Bea Benjamin, South African singer-songwriter (born 1936) (2013)
- Narendra Dabholkar, Indian author and activist (born 1945) (2013)
- Don Hassler, American saxophonist and composer (born 1929) (2013)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 20th August
- Christian feast day: Amadour
- Christian feast day: Bernard of Clairvaux
- Christian feast day: Blessed Georg Häfner
- Christian feast day: Heliodorus of Bet Zabdai
- Christian feast day: Maria De Mattias
- Christian feast day: Oswine of Deira
- Christian feast day: Philibert of Jumièges
- Christian feast day: Samuel (prophet)
- Christian feast day: William and Catherine Booth (Church of England)
- Christian feast day: August 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Feast of Asmá’ (Baháʼí Faith, only if Baháʼí Naw-Rúz falls on March 21)
- Indian Akshay Urja Day (India)
- Independence Restoration Day (Estonia), re-declaration of the independence of Estonia from the Soviet Union in 1991.
- Meitei Language Day, also known as Manipuri Language Day, the day on which Meitei (Manipuri) was included in the scheduled languages' list and made one of the official languages of India.
- Revolution of the King and the People (Morocco)
- Saint Stephen's Day (Hungary)
- World Mosquito Day
What Happened on 20th August?
- Seventy-two people are killed in Japan's Hiroshima Prefecture by a series of landslides caused by a month's worth of rain that fell in one day. (2014)
- A prison riot in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, kills at least 20 people. (2012)
- First Air Flight 6560 crashes 1 mile from the Resolute Bay runway, killing 12 of the 15 aboard. (2011)
- Spanair Flight 5022, from Madrid, Spain to Gran Canaria, skids off the runway and crashes at Barajas Airport. Of the 172 people on board, 146 die immediately, and eight more later die of injuries sustained in the crash. (2008)
- China Airlines Flight 120 catches fire and explodes after landing at Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan. (2007)
- Sri Lankan Civil War: Sri Lankan Tamil politician and former MP S. Sivamaharajah is shot dead at his home in Tellippalai. (2006)