February 20
Saint’s Day for Silvano, León, Eleuterio and Nemesio.
1521 - Juan Ponce de León sets out from Spain for Florida with about 200 prospective colonists
1524 - the Holy Roman Emperor, Carlos I of Spain, orders a study into the possibility of building a canal across the Panama isthmus to the Mar del Sur – the Pacific Ocean.
Plaza Mayor - www.wikipedia.es
1777 - Carlos III bans dancing in churches.
1862 - Madrid, Angel de Saavedra was appointed director of the Royal Spanish Academy of Language.
1903 - play 'the steps of a throne', by Jose Echegaray premieres.
1907 - In Barcelona the work 'the mare', by Santiago Rusiñol opens.
1911 - the popular singer Pastora Imperio married the bullfighter Rafael Gómez Ortega, El Gallo.
1920 - In Madrid the Cajal Institute for biological research is created.
1955 - Madrid National Congress of Morality and Family, chaired by the Archbishop of Sion begins.
1976 - the Royal Basque Language Academy gets official recognition.
1978 - The Spanish government is alarmed by the possibility that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the Canary Islands qualify as "European colony."
1985 - the Plaza Mayor in Madrid is declared a historical and artistic monument.
2003 - a failure renders 8.7 million mobile phone subscribers Spanish company Vodafone.
2005 – Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout.
2005 - David Canal achieved the national record for the 400 meters indoors, setting a new record of 45.93 s.
2005 - The Spanish six a side football team proclaimed European champion for the third time in their history after defeating in the end to the selection of Russia by 2-1.
2008 - The AVE high speed train line between Madrid and Barcelona opens
1862 - Madrid, Angel de Saavedra was appointed director of the Royal Spanish Academy of Language.
1903 - play 'the steps of a throne', by Jose Echegaray premieres.
1907 - In Barcelona the work 'the mare', by Santiago Rusiñol opens.
1911 - the popular singer Pastora Imperio married the bullfighter Rafael Gómez Ortega, El Gallo.
1920 - In Madrid the Cajal Institute for biological research is created.
1955 - Madrid National Congress of Morality and Family, chaired by the Archbishop of Sion begins.
1976 - the Royal Basque Language Academy gets official recognition.
1978 - The Spanish government is alarmed by the possibility that the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the Canary Islands qualify as "European colony."
1985 - the Plaza Mayor in Madrid is declared a historical and artistic monument.
2003 - a failure renders 8.7 million mobile phone subscribers Spanish company Vodafone.
2005 – Spain becomes the first country to vote in a referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution of the European Union, passing it by a substantial margin, but on a low turnout.
2005 - David Canal achieved the national record for the 400 meters indoors, setting a new record of 45.93 s.
2005 - The Spanish six a side football team proclaimed European champion for the third time in their history after defeating in the end to the selection of Russia by 2-1.
2008 - The AVE high speed train line between Madrid and Barcelona opens
2014 - Statements made by actor Javier Bardem in Paris during the presentation of a documentary produced by him on the human rights situation in Western Sahara causes a diplomatic row between France and Morocco.
2018 - The Government has managed to get Luis de Guindos inside the European Central Bank at vice-`president and Spain returns after six years to the hard nucleus deciding the future European financial policies.
Births
1358 - Eleanor of Aragón, queen of John 1 of Castile (d. 1382)
1698 - Bernardo Tanucci, Italian statesman, adviser to the Spanish Bourbon monarchs (d. 1783)
Births
1358 - Eleanor of Aragón, queen of John 1 of Castile (d. 1382)
1698 - Bernardo Tanucci, Italian statesman, adviser to the Spanish Bourbon monarchs (d. 1783)
1774 - Vicente Sebastián Pintado, cartographer, engineer, military officer and land surveyor of Spanish Louisiana and Spanish West Florida (d. 1829)
1900 - Agustín Segura, painter (d. 1988).
1920 - Carmela Arias y Díaz de Rábago, financier (d. 2009).
1921 - Conrado San Martín, actor
1900 - Agustín Segura, painter (d. 1988).
1920 - Carmela Arias y Díaz de Rábago, financier (d. 2009).
1921 - Conrado San Martín, actor
1926 - María de la Purisima Salvat Romero, Roman Catholic nun; later canonized (d. 1998)
1926 - playwright, essayist and critic, Alfonso Sastre, who was born in Madrid
1932 - former Socialist Justice Minister, Enrique Múgica Herzog, in San Sebastián
1945 - Enrique Sánchez Abulí, historian.
1962 - Hilario Pino, journalist and newsreader.
1981 - Moisés Hurtado, footballer.
1926 - playwright, essayist and critic, Alfonso Sastre, who was born in Madrid
1932 - former Socialist Justice Minister, Enrique Múgica Herzog, in San Sebastián
1945 - Enrique Sánchez Abulí, historian.
1962 - Hilario Pino, journalist and newsreader.
1981 - Moisés Hurtado, footballer.
1996 - Mabel (McVey) English pop singer songwriter (Finders Keepers) born in Málaga
Deaths
1973 - José Antonio Junco Toral, politician (b. 1894).
2011 - Carmelo Artiles, profesor and politician (b. 1945).
