Sunday, 20th October 1968 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's World Statistics Day and World Osteoporosis Day. Explore 38 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 cloudy with temperatures between 12°C and 17°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing gibbous phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Libra. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Sunday, 20th October in London, GB.
# Sunday, 20th October 1968
On this date in 1968, London experienced cloudy conditions under a waxing gibbous moon. The British capital, situated on the Thames in south-east England, has served as a major political and cultural centre for centuries and remains one of Europe's most significant cities. Those born on this day fell under the zodiac sign of Libra.
Throughout history, this calendar date has witnessed notable events across Europe and beyond. In 1939, Pope Pius XII published his first encyclical, Summi Pontificatus, which critiqued ideologies including racism, cultural superiority and totalitarianism. More recently, in 2011, Muammar Gaddafi, the deposed Libyan leader, was captured by rebel forces during the Battle of Sirte and was killed shortly thereafter, marking a significant moment during Libya's civil conflict.
The date has also recorded tragedy and significant institutional changes. In 1973, during the Watergate scandal, Attorney General Elliot Richardson and his deputy William Ruckelshaus resigned after refusing to obey President Richard Nixon's order to have independent counsel Archibald Cox dismissed. These resignations became pivotal moments in American political history, demonstrating the constitutional tensions between executive authority and judicial independence.
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Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 20th October 1968
Autumn's descent mirrors the breath before the dive – both require trust.
Fortune of the Day
20th October in the Stars – Star Sign Libra
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on October 20th blend classic Libran diplomacy with innovative Uranus influence. They appear charming and thoughtful yet naturally question established norms. Their creative streak drives them to foster harmony through unconventional means.
Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths: Intelligent mediators with artistic sensibility and originality. Weaknesses: Prone to indecision and may feel torn between innovation and harmony-seeking impulses.
Love These individuals seek intellectual connections infused with genuine passion. Partners appreciate their fairness and creative sensuality but must respect their need for freedom and mental space.
Caree & Finance Ideal for roles blending creativity with diplomatic skill: design, mediation, research, or artistic direction. Financially, impulsive decisions can create challenges; structured planning helps.
Health Nervous tension from overthinking can trigger stress-related issues. Yoga, music, and creative expression aid balance. Regular movement and social equilibrium stabilize their inner harmony.
That night, the moon was in its waxing gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Monkey (Earth).
Fun Facts About 20th October
Name Days in Your Language: Acca, Accalia, Deon, Deondre, Deonte, Hobson, Hogan
Someone born on this day in 1968 would be 57 years old today — just 20,999 days into life, which is roughly 503,994 hours, 30,239,692 minutes, or 1,814,381,574 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 294. day of the year.
As this is a leap year, there are 72 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 42 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 20th October
- Kenneth Choi, American actor (1971)
- Snoop Dogg, American rapper, producer, and actor (1971)
- Eddie Jones, American basketball player (1971)
- Kamiel Maase, Dutch runner (1971)
- Dannii Minogue, Australian singer-songwriter and actress (1971)
- Neil Heywood, English-Chinese businessman (died 2011) (1970)
- Aapo Ilves, Estonian poet and illustrator (1970)
- Michelle Malkin, American blogger and author (1970)
- Taj McWilliams-Franklin, American basketball player (1970)
- Laurie Daley, Australian rugby league player and coach (1969)
Lives Remembered on 20th October
- Barbara Dane, American folk, blues and jazz singer (born 1927) (2024)
- Fethullah Gülen, Turkish preacher and theologian (born 1941) (2024)
- Walter Jacob, American Reform rabbi (born 1930) (2024)
- Janusz Olejniczak, Polish classical pianist and actor (born 1952) (2024)
- Paul White, Baron Hanningfield, British life peer (born 1940) (2024)
- Lucy Simon, American composer and songwriter (born 1940) (2022)
- James Randi, Canadian-American stage magician and author (born 1928) (2020)
- Wim Kok, Dutch prime minister (born 1938) (2018)
- Robert E. Kramek, former United States Coast Guard admiral (born 1939) (2016)
- Michael Massee, American actor (born 1952) (2016)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 20th October
- Christian feast days: Acca of Hexham
- Christian feast days: Aderald
- Christian feast days: Artemius
- Christian feast days: Caprasius of Agen
- Christian feast days: Hedwig (in Canada, moved from Oct. 16)
- Christian feast days: Irene of Tomar
- Christian feast days: Magdalene of Nagasaki
- Christian feast days: Margaret Marie Alacoque (in Canada, moved from Oct. 16)
- Christian feast days: Paul of the Cross (in USA, moved from Oct. 19)
- Christian feast days: Maria Bertilla Boscardin
- Christian feast days: Mater Admirabilis
- Christian feast days: October 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Arbor Day (Czech Republic)
- Heroes' Day (Kenya)
- Revolution Day (Guatemala), one of the two Patriotic Days (Guatemala)
- Vietnamese Women's Day (Vietnam)
- World Osteoporosis Day
- World Statistics Day
What Happened on 20th October?
- Liz Truss steps down as British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party amid the country's political crisis, serving for the least time of any British Prime Minister (49 days). (2022)
- Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declare victory in the Raqqa campaign. (2017)
- Libyan Crisis: Rebel forces capture Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his son Mutassim in his hometown of Sirte and kill them shortly thereafter, ending the first Libyan civil war. (2011)
- The general conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passes the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. (2005)
- The Sloan Great Wall, once the largest cosmic structures known to humanity, is discovered by students at Princeton University. (2003)
- Top Gear, the revived popular British TV motoring magazine, premieres on BBC. (2002)
- Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-73. (1995)
- A 6.8 Mw earthquake strikes the Uttarkashi region of India, killing more than 1,000 people. (1991)
- A massive firestorm breaks out in the hills of Oakland and Berkeley, California killing 25 people and destroying more than 3,000 homes, apartments and condominiums. (1991)
- Aeroflot Flight 6502 crashes while landing at Kuibyshev Airport (now Kuromoch International Airport) in Kuibyshev (now present-day Samara, Russia), killing 70 people. (1986)