1. On October 20, 1781, the British army surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. While this event did not take place in Maryland, it had a significant impact on the state and the United States as a whole.

2. On October 20, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln appointed John B. Latrobe as Collector of the Port of Baltimore. Latrobe was an influential figure in Maryland politics and helped to shape the state's economic policies during the Civil War.

3. In 1892, the Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland) played its first football game against St. John's College on October 20. The game ended in a scoreless tie and marked the beginning of a long and storied football tradition at the university.

4. On October 20, 1962, the United States discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, sparking the Cuban Missile Crisis. While this event did not take place in Maryland, it had a significant impact on the state and the country, as Maryland was home to many military installations at the time.

5. In 1973, the Baltimore Orioles won their third World Series title on October 20, defeating the New York Mets in game seven. The Orioles' victory was a source of pride for many Marylanders and helped to solidify the team's place in baseball history.