On this day

May 20, 1942

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from May 20, 1942

Notable Births

Raymond Chrétien

1942Raymond Chrétien, Canadian lawyer and diplomat, Canadian Ambassador to the United States[†]

Raymond A. J. Chrétien is a Canadian lawyer and diplomat. He served as ambassador to the United States from 1994–2000. His uncle, Jean Chrétien, was the 20th prime minister from 1993 to 2003.

Lynn Davies

1942Lynn Davies, Welsh sprinter and long jumper[†]

Lynn Davies CBE is a Welsh former track and field athlete who specialised in the long jump. He was the 1964 Olympic champion in the event.

Carlos Hathcock

1942Carlos Hathcock, American sergeant and sniper (died 1999)[†]

Carlos Norman Hathcock II was a United States Marine Corps (USMC) sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. His record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was honored by having a rifle named after him: a variant of the M21 dubbed the Springfield Armory M25 White Feather, for the nickname "White Feather" given to Hathcock by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN).

Frew McMillan

1942Frew McMillan, South African tennis player[†]

Frew Donald McMillan is a former professional tennis player from South Africa who won five grand slam doubles titles including three Wimbledons with Bob Hewitt. All together, he won 63 doubles titles, surpassed only by the Bryan brothers, Daniel Nestor, Mark Woodforde, Todd Woodbridge, John McEnroe and Tom Okker. He was also ranked No.1 in Doubles on the ATP Computer for a significant period from 1977 to 1979 when he was aged 37.

Notable Deaths

Hector Guimard

1942Hector Guimard, French Architect (born 1867)[†]

Hector Guimard was a French architect and designer prominent for his Art Nouveau style designs including Paris Metro entrances. He achieved early fame with his design for the Castel Beranger, the first Art Nouveau apartment building in Paris, which was selected in an 1899 competition as one of the best new building façades in the city. He is best known for the glass and iron edicules or canopies, with ornamental Art Nouveau curves, which he designed to cover the entrances of the first stations of the Paris Metro.