On This Day for November 20 - Mexican Revolution launched by Francisco Madero, Selma Lagerlöf is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. November 20 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Selma Lagerlöf READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1910 Mexican Revolution launched by Francisco Madero READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2015: American civil defense analyst Jonathan Jay Pollard was released from prison, having served 30 years for selling classified information to Israel. [ Read our list of 10 famous names in the espionage game.] 2006: American filmmaker Robert Altman—an unconventional and independent director whose works emphasized character and atmosphere over plot in exploring themes of innocence, corruption, and survival—died at age 81. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about movies.] 1998: American tobacco companies signed an agreement with the governments of 46 U.S. states to settle the states' claims for reimbursement of Medicaid funds they had expended to treat smoking-related illnesses, the settlement costing the tobacco manufacturers $206 billion beyond the $40 billion they had agreed to pay four other states in 1997. [ Test your knowledge of human health.] 1975: Francisco Franco, ruler of Spain since his overthrow of the democratic government in 1939, died at age 82. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about famous Europeans.] 1969: Native American activists began an occupation of Alcatraz Island, protesting what they saw as the U.S. government's ongoing economic, social, and political neglect of Native Americans; they were forced off the island in June 1971. [Take our quiz about U.S. history.] 1947: The future Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey. [ Test your knowledge of English royalty.] SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1942 Joe Biden president-elect of the United States 1925 Robert F. Kennedy American politician 1957 Goodluck Jonathan president of Nigeria 1889 Edwin Hubble American astronomer 1924 Benoit Mandelbrot Polish-born French American mathematician 1917 Robert C. Byrd United States senator SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2020 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help