This Day In European History
20th March
Events1413: The death of King Henry IV of England partly fulfils a prophecy saying he would die in Jerusalem: he dies in Westminster Abbey's Jerusalem Chamber.
1616: After sixteen years in prison, Walter Raleigh is released so he can search for gold abroad.
1780: Scotland's James Watt patents a letter copying machine.
1804: The Duc d'Enghien is abducted from German territory by French troops and executed the next day, all on the orders of Napoleon. Europe is shocked.
1815: Napoleon enters Paris and seizes control; the 'Hundred Days' of his second rule have begun.
1883: In Paris, eleven nations sign the International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, establishing international patent/trademark rights.
1890: Otto von Bismarck is dismissed as German Chancellor by Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Births
1735: Tobern Olof Bergman, Swedish scientist.
1741: Jean-Antoine Houdon, French sculptor.
1811: Francois-Charles-Joseph Bonaparte, son of Napoleon, King of Rome and heir to the Imperial Throne of France.
1828: Henrik Ibsen, Norwegian playwright.
1890: Beniamino Gigli, Italian tenor.
