Died On This Date

May 20
Columbus, Christopher
b. September 1, 1451 d. May 20, 1506
Explorer. He is credited with discovering America for Europeans in 1492, although at the time, he believed he had discovered a new route to China. He was given the titles Admiral of the Ocean Sea and Viceroy of the Indies. Born Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colon as he called himself in Spain), the eldest of five children in Genoa, Italy, to Domenico Colombo, a wool weaver and local guildsman, and Susanna Fontanarossa, the daughter of a wool weaver. Although trained to follow in his father'.

Lafayette, Marquis de
b. September 6, 1757 d. May 20, 1834
Revolutionary War Continental Army Major General. After the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in North America, he offered his services to the colonists, and refused to take any pay for his services while spending much of his own money to outfit the American Colonial Army with shoes and clothing. Born Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier in France to a military father who was killed when he was two, at age twelve, his mother passed away and a few weeks later his wealthy grandfather.

Radner, Gilda
b. June 28, 1946 d. May 20, 1989
Actress, Comedienne. Gained wide fame in the mid-1970s as an original cast member on the hit TV comedy series "Saturday Night Live." Fondly remembered for creating many unique characters. She was married to actor Gene Wilder. Cause of death: Ovarian cancer.