Saturday, 20th May 1961 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's World Bee Day and World Metrology 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 drizzly with temperatures between 8°C and 13°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Taurus. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Saturday, 20th May in London, GB.
Saturday, 20th May 1961 fell on a drizzly day in London, a city that has long served as a major centre for politics, commerce and culture in the United Kingdom. The weather was typical of late spring in the capital, with cloud cover and persistent rain characterising the conditions. Those born on this date fell under the zodiac sign of Taurus, whilst the moon was in its waning gibbous phase, having begun its journey towards the new moon.
Historical records show that significant events have occurred on this date across different centuries and continents. In 1941, during the Second World War, German paratroopers launched the Battle of Heraklion on the island of Crete, an operation that would result in the capture of the airfield and port within ten days. Nearly a century earlier, in 1875, representatives from seventeen countries signed the Metre Convention, establishing an institute dedicated to coordinating international metrology and advancing the development of the metric system. These developments reflect humanity's efforts to wage war and to establish standardised measurements for scientific progress.
J. S. Bach, the German composer, stands out as a notable figure in cultural history, having led the first performance of his Pentecost cantata Erschallet, ihr Lieder at the chapel of Schloss Weimar in 1714. Bach's compositions have remained influential in classical music and continue to be performed worldwide by musicians and orchestras.
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Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 20th May 1961
Rigid plans shatter; flexible intentions flourish.
Fortune of the Day
20th May in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on 20 May blend Taurus steadiness with Mercurial intellect, creating thoughtful communicators grounded in practicality. They navigate life with deliberation, appreciating both sensory pleasures and mental stimulation. This combination generates quiet confidence and genuine interest in others.
Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths include patience, clear thinking, and natural charm from Venus influence. Weaknesses involve occasional stubbornness, overthinking through Mercury, and resistance to change. Finding balance between analytical mind and intuitive body requires awareness.
Love These natives seek sensual, lasting partnerships with genuine conversation. They value both physical intimacy and intellectual engagement equally. Loyalty is non-negotiable—they expect commitment and offer unwavering dedication in return.
Caree & Finance Professionally, they excel where communication meets patience: teaching, negotiation, craftsmanship, writing. Financially shrewd and methodical, they steadily build security. Analytical nature prevents impulsive decisions but may cause missed opportunities.
Health Moderate, consistent movement suits their bodies best. Mental peace matters as much as physical exercise—overthinking disrupts nervous system balance. Enjoying food mindfully, combined with gentle routine, sustains long-term wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its waning gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Ox (Metal).
Fun Facts About 20th May
Name Days in Your Language: Bernadette, Bernardina, Bernardine, Bernetta, Bernita
Someone born on this day in 1961 would be 64 years old today — just 23,700 days into life, which is roughly 568,821 hours, 34,129,293 minutes, or 2,047,757,629 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 140. day of the year.
There are 225 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 20 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 20th May
- Kōichirō Genba, Japanese politician, 80th Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (1964)
- Edin Osmanović, Slovenian footballer, coach, and manager (1964)
- Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, English journalist and author (1964)
- David Wells, American baseball player and sportscaster (1963)
- Clive Allen, English international footballer and manager (1961)
- Nick Heyward, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (1961)
- Tony Goldwyn, American actor and director (1960)
- Susan Cowsill, American singer-songwriter (1959)
- Ron Reagan, American journalist and radio host (1958)
- Jane Wiedlin, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress (1958)
Lives Remembered on 20th May
- Rudy Lewis, American singer (born 1936) (1964)
- Timothy (Szretter), a Polish Orthodox clergyman, the third Metropolitan of Warsaw and all Poland (born 1901) (1962)
- Josef Priller, German colonel and pilot (born 1915) (1961)
- Max Beerbohm, English essayist, parodist, and caricaturist (born 1872) (1956)
- Zoltán Halmay, Hungarian swimmer and trainer (born 1881) (1956)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 20th May
- Christian feast day: Abercius and Helena
- Christian feast day: Alcuin of York
- Christian feast day: Aurea of Ostia
- Christian feast day: Austregisilus
- Christian feast day: Baudilus
- Christian feast day: Bernardino of Siena
- Christian feast day: Ivo of Chartres
- Christian feast day: Lucifer of Cagliari
- Christian feast day: Sanctan
- Christian feast day: May 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Day of Remembrance (Cambodia)
- Emancipation Day (Florida)
- European Maritime Day (European Council)
- Independence Restoration Day, celebrates the independence of East Timor from Indonesia in 2002.
- Josephine Baker Day (NAACP)
- National Awakening Day (Indonesia), and its related observances: Indonesian Doctor Day (Indonesia)
- National Day (Cameroon)
- World Bee Day
- World Metrology Day
- Doug the Pug Day (Nashville, Tennessee)
What Happened on 20th May?
- Russo-Ukrainian war: Russia claims full control of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol after a nearly three-month siege. (2022)
- The International System of Units (SI): The base units are redefined, making the international prototype of the kilogram obsolete. (2019)
- The government of Singapore authorised the controversial execution of convicted murderer Kho Jabing for the murder of a Chinese construction worker despite the international pleas for clemency, notably from Amnesty International and the United Nations. (2016)
- An EF5 tornado strikes the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, killing 24 people and injuring 377 others. (2013)
- At least 27 people are killed and 50 others injured when a 6.0-magnitude earthquake strikes northern Italy. (2012)
- Mamata Banerjee is sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the first woman to hold this post. (2011)
- An Indonesian Air Force Lockheed L-100 Hercules crashes in Magetan Regency, killing 99. (2009)
- The independence of East Timor is recognized by Portugal, formally ending 23 years of Indonesian rule and three years of provisional UN administration (Portugal itself is the former colonizer of East Timor until 1976). (2002)
- Civil rights: The Supreme Court of the United States rules in Romer v. Evans against a law that would have prevented any city, town or county in the state of Colorado from taking any legislative, executive, or judicial action to protect the rights of gays and lesbians. (1996)
- The first post-Communist presidential and parliamentary elections are held in Romania. (1990)