What Happened on June 20?

June 20 is World Refugee Day — and the date Queen Victoria became queen in 1837, Congress adopted the Great Seal in 1782, the U.S.–Soviet hotline opened in 1963, and Steven Spielberg's Jaws terrified beachgoers in 1975.

• 1782 — Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States

  On June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress approved the Great Seal — featuring the bald eagle, olive branch, and arrows — still used on official documents today. Read the full story →

• 1837 — Victoria becomes Queen of the United Kingdom

  On June 20, 1837, eighteen-year-old Princess Victoria learned that her uncle King William IV had died — and she became queen, beginning the Victorian era. Read the full story →

• 1877 — The first commercial telephone service begins operating

  On June 20, 1877, the Bell Telephone Company connected its first commercial customers in Hamilton, Ontario — among the earliest paid telephone service anywhere. Read the full story →

• 1948 — The Ed Sullivan Show debuts on television

  Toast of the Town — later renamed The Ed Sullivan Show — premiered on CBS on June 20, 1948, becoming America's longest-running variety show and a launchpad for Elvis and the Beatles. Read the full story →

• 1963 — The United States and Soviet Union establish a direct communication hotline

  After the Cuban Missile Crisis, Washington and Moscow signed an agreement on June 20, 1963, creating a direct telegraph link — the famous 'hotline' — to reduce nuclear misunderstandings. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Nicole Kidman (1967) · Lionel Richie (1949) · John Goodman (1952) · Errol Flynn (1909–1959)

Days & observances

World Refugee Day · American Eagle Day · National Ice Cream Soda Day · World Productivity Day