1842 184 years ago Notable Births September 20

James Dewar, Scottish-English chemist and physicist (died 1923)

On September 20, in the year 1842, James Dewar, Scottish-English chemist and physicist (died 1923). This event is recorded as a Notable Births event in the history of September 20, one of 434 recorded events on this date across all of history.

1 notable person is associated with this event, including James Dewar. Learn more below.

Sir James Dewar was a Scottish chemist and physicist. He is best known for his invention of the vacuum flask, which he used in conjunction for his research into the liquefaction of gases. He also studied atomic and molecular spectroscopy, working in these fields for more than twenty-five years. Dewar was nominated for the Nobel Prize eight times — five times in Physics and three times in Chemistry — but he was never so honoured.

Key Facts

  • This event took place on September 20, 1842 (AD era).
  • It is categorised as a Notable Births event in recorded history.
  • Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
  • 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
  • Wikipedia source last updated on 29 August 2026.

On This Date in History 434

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Notable Deaths 2016 Sep 20 Curtis Hanson, American film director and screenwriter (born 1945)
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Notable Deaths 2015 Sep 20 Jack Larson, American actor (born 1928)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 20 Anatoly Berezovoy, Russian colonel, pilot, and cosmonaut (born 1942)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 20 Polly Bergen, American actress and singer (born 1930)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 20 Takako Doi, Japanese scholar and politician (born 1928)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 20 George Sluizer, French-Dutch director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1932)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 20 James B. Vaught, American general (born 1926)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 20 Gilles Verlant, Belgian journalist and critic (born 1957)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 20 Fortunato Baldelli, Italian cardinal (born 1935)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 20 Richard H. Cracroft, American author and academic (born 1936)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 20 Tereska Torrès, French soldier and author (born 1920)
Historical Events 2011 Sep 20 The United States military ends its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the…
Notable Deaths 2011 Sep 20 Oscar Handlin, American historian and author (born 1915)
Notable Deaths 2011 Sep 20 Burhanuddin Rabbani, Afghan academic and politician, 10th President of Afghanistan (born 1940)
Selected Events 2011 Sep 20 The United States military ended its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, consequently allowing gay and lesbian people to…
Notable Deaths 2010 Sep 20 Leonard Skinner, American soldier and educator (born 1933)
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Selected Events 2008 Sep 20 An explosive-laden truck detonated in front of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 54 people and…
Historical Events 2007 Sep 20 Between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters march on Jena, Louisiana, United States, in support of six black youths who had…
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Notable Deaths 2006 Sep 20 Sven Nykvist, Swedish director, producer, and cinematographer (born 1922)
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Notable Deaths 2005 Sep 20 Simon Wiesenthal, Austrian human rights activist, Holocaust survivor (born 1908)
Notable Deaths 2004 Sep 20 Brian Clough, English footballer and manager (born 1935)
Notable Deaths 2004 Sep 20 Townsend Hoopes, American soldier and historian (born 1922)
Historical Events 2003 Sep 20 Civil unrest in the Maldives breaks out after a prisoner is killed by guards.
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Notable Deaths 2000 Sep 20 Gherman Titov, Russian general, pilot, and astronaut (born 1935)
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Notable Deaths 1999 Sep 20 Robert Lebel, Canadian businessman (born 1905)

This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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James Dewar

British chemist and physicist (1842–1923)

birth

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