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On This Day in History — April 23
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Highlights of April 23
- 2018 — A man intentionally struck pedestrians with a van on Yonge Street in Toronto, Canada, leading to 11 deaths. Read more
- 2010 — Arizona governor Jan Brewer signed into law the controversial anti–illegal immigration bill SB 1070, much of which was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more
- 2009 — The gamma-ray burst GRB 090423 was detected coming from the most distant astronomical object of any kind known at the time. Read more
- 1982 — The ZX Spectrum (pictured), Britain's best-selling microcomputer, was released. Read more
- 1979 — Blair Peach, a New Zealand teacher, was fatally injured while taking part in an Anti-Nazi League demonstration against a National Front election meeting in Southall, London. Read more
- 1976 — The American band the Ramones released their debut album, which became highly influential on the emerging punk rock movement. Read more
- 1971 — The Rolling Stones released Sticky Fingers, the first album on their own label, Rolling Stones Records. Read more
- 1954 — Batting for the Milwaukee Braves against Vic Raschi of the St. Louis Cardinals, Hank Aaron hit the first of his 755 home runs in Major League Baseball. Read more
- 1951 — American journalist William N. Oatis was arrested for espionage by the communist government of Czechoslovakia. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: The US Army's 90th Infantry Division liberated Flossenbürg concentration camp (pictured) in Germany, freeing 1,500 prisoners. Read more
- 1942 — Second World War: In retaliation for the Royal Air Force's bombing of Lübeck, the Luftwaffe began a series of air raids across England, beginning with Exeter. Read more
- 1927 — Cardiff City defeated Arsenal 1–0 in the FA Cup final (match programme pictured) in the only time the FA Cup has been won by a non-English team. Read more
- 1920 — The Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the country's unicameral legislature, first met in Ankara in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence. Read more
- 1918 — First World War: The British Royal Navy launched unsuccessful raids on Ostend and Zeebrugge in German-occupied Belgium. Read more
- 1891 — Chilean Civil War: The armored frigate Blanco Encalada (pictured) was sunk at the Battle of Caldera Bay, the first ironclad warship lost to a self-propelled torpedo. Read more
- 1724 — Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104, illustrating the topic of the Good Shepherd in pastoral music. Read more
- 1685 — Succeeding Charles II, his late brother, James II was crowned King of England, becoming last Catholic to hold the title. Read more
- 1661 — Charles II was crowned King of England, Scotland and Ireland at Westminster Abbey. Read more
- 1467 — Albanian commander Skanderbeg entered Krujë, breaking a 10-month siege by Ottoman forces. Read more
- 1467 — Ottoman wars in Europe: Albanian leader Skanderbeg defeated an Ottoman army under Ballaban Badera to raise the siege of Krujë. Read more
- 1348 — The first knights of the Order of the Garter, an order of chivalry founded by King Edward III of England, were appointed. Read more
- 1016 — Edmund Ironside became King of England, reigning for only seven months before the country was conquered by Cnut the Great. Read more
- 1014 — The Vikings were defeated by the Irish at the Battle of Clontarf. Read more
Events
- 2024 — The 2024 Lumut mid-air collision in Malaysia kills 10 people while rehearsing for the 90th anniversary of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Read more
- 2019 — The April 2019 Hpakant jade mine collapse in Myanmar kills four miners and two rescuers, with at least 50 others missing and presumed dead. Read more
- 2018 — A vehicle-ramming attack kills 11 people and injures 15 in Toronto. A 25-year-old suspect, Alek Minassian, is arrested. Read more
- 2013 — At least 111 people are killed and 233 injured as violence breaks out in Hawija, Iraq. Read more
- 2005 — The first YouTube video, titled "Me at the zoo", is published by co-founder Jawed Karim. Read more
- 1993 — Eritreans vote overwhelmingly for independence from Ethiopia in a United Nations-monitored referendum. Read more
- 1993 — Sri Lankan politician Lalith Athulathmudali is assassinated while addressing a gathering, approximately four weeks ahead of the Provincial Council elections for the Western Province. Read more
- 1990 — Namibia becomes the 160th member of the United Nations and the 50th member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Read more
- 1985 — Coca-Cola changes its formula and releases New Coke. The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than three months. Read more
- 1979 — SAETA Flight 011 crashes in Pastaza Province, Ecuador, killing all 57 people on board. The wreckage was not discovered until 1984. Read more
- 1979 — Blair Peach, a British activist, is fatally injured after being knocked unconscious during an Anti-Nazi League demonstration against a National Front election meeting in Southall, London. Read more
- 1971 — Bangladesh Liberation War: The Pakistan Army and Razakars massacre approximately 3,000 Hindu emigrants in the Jathibhanga area of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Read more
- 1968 — Vietnam War: Student protesters at Columbia University in New York City take over administration buildings and shut down the university. Read more
- 1967 — Soviet space program: Soyuz 1 (Russian: Союз 1, Union 1), a crewed spaceflight carrying cosmonaut Colonel Vladimir Komarov, is launched into orbit. Read more
- 1966 — Aeroflot Flight 2723 crashes into the Caspian Sea off the Absheron Peninsula, killing 33 people. Read more
- 1961 — During the Algiers putsch by French generals, President Charles de Gaulle announces he has assumed emergency powers, and calls on troops and civilians to support him. Read more
- 1951 — Cold War: American journalist William N. Oatis is arrested for espionage by the Communist government of Czechoslovakia. Read more
- 1949 — Chinese Civil War: Establishment of the People's Liberation Army Navy. Read more
- 1946 — Manuel Roxas is elected the last President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Adolf Hitler's designated successor, Hermann Göring, sends him a telegram asking permission to take leadership of Nazi Germany. Martin Bormann and Joseph Goebbels advise Göring that the telegram is treasonous. Read more
- 1942 — World War II: Baedeker Blitz: German bombers hit Exeter, Bath and York in retaliation for the British raid on Lübeck. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: The Greek government and King George II evacuate Athens before the invading Wehrmacht. Read more
- 1940 — The Rhythm Club fire at a dance hall in Natchez, Mississippi, kills 198 people. Read more
- 1935 — The Polish Constitution of 1935 is adopted. Read more
- 1927 — Cardiff City defeat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, the only time it has been won by a team not based in England. Read more
- 1920 — The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is founded in Ankara. The assembly denounces the government of Sultan Mehmed VI and announces the preparation of a temporary constitution. Read more
- 1919 — The Estonian Constituent Assembly is held in Estonia, which marks the birth of the Estonian Parliament, the Riigikogu. Read more
- 1918 — World War I: The British Royal Navy makes a raid in an attempt to neutralise the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge. Read more
- 1909 — In Portugal, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes near Lisbon, killing at least 60 people and injuring 75. Read more
- 1891 — Chilean Civil War: The ironclad Blanco Encalada is sunk at Caldera Bay by torpedo boats. Read more
- 1879 — Fire burns down the second main building and dome of the University of Notre Dame, which prompts the construction of the third, and current, Main Building with its golden dome. Read more
- 1815 — The Second Serbian Uprising: A second phase of the national revolution of the Serbs against the Ottoman Empire, erupts shortly after the annexation of the country to the Ottoman Empire. Read more
- 1724 — Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104, illustrating the topic of the Good Shepherd in pastoral music. Read more
- 1661 — King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland is crowned in Westminster Abbey. Read more
- 1660 — Treaty of Oliva is established between Sweden and Poland. Read more
- 1655 — The Siege of Santo Domingo begins during the Anglo-Spanish War, and fails seven days later. Read more
- 1635 — The first public school in the United States, the Boston Latin School, is founded. Read more
- 1521 — Battle of Villalar: King Charles I of Spain defeats the Comuneros. Read more
- 1516 — The Munich Reinheitsgebot (regarding the ingredients of beer) takes effect in all of Bavaria. Read more
- 1500 — Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvarez Cabral reaches new coastline (Brazil). Read more
- 1348 — The founding of the Order of the Garter by King Edward III is announced on St. George's Day. Read more
- 1343 — St. George's Night Uprising commences in the Duchy of Estonia. Read more
- 1016 — Edmund Ironside succeeds his father Æthelred the Unready as King of England. Read more
- 1014 — Battle of Clontarf: High King of Ireland Brian Boru defeats Viking invaders, but is killed in battle. Read more
- 711 — Dagobert III succeeds his father King Childebert III as King of the Franks. Read more
- 599 — Maya king Uneh Chan of Calakmul attacks rival city-state Palenque in southern Mexico, defeating queen Yohl Ik'nal and sacking the city. Read more
- 215 BC — A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Lake Trasimene. Read more
Born on April 23
- 2018 — Prince Louis of Wales, British royal Read more
- 2000 — Chloe Kim, American snowboarder Read more
- 2000 — Lee Jeno, South Korean rapper, vocalist and dancer Read more
- 1999 — Son Chaeyoung, South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter Read more
- 1999 — Laufey, Icelandic singer-songwriter and musician Read more
- 1997 — Zach Apple, American swimmer Read more
- 1996 — Carolina Alves, Brazilian tennis player Read more
- 1995 — Gigi Hadid, American fashion model and television personality Read more
- 1995 — Jamie Hayter, English professional wrestler Read more
- 1994 — Patrick Olsen, Danish footballer Read more
- 1994 — Song Kang, South Korean actor Read more
- 1991 — Britt Baker, American professional wrestler Read more
- 1991 — Nathan Baker, English footballer Read more
- 1991 — Caleb Johnson, American singer-songwriter Read more
- 1991 — Kyle Juszczyk, American football player Read more
- 1991 — Paul Vaughan, Australian-Italian rugby league player Read more
- 1990 — Rui Fonte, Portuguese footballer Read more
- 1990 — Dev Patel, English actor Read more
- 1989 — Nicole Vaidišová, Czech tennis player Read more
- 1988 — Victor Anichebe, Nigerian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Sandra Borch, Norwegian politician Read more
- 1988 — Alistair Brownlee, English triathlete Read more
- 1988 — Patrick Maroon, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1988 — Signe Ronka, Canadian figure skater Read more
- 1988 — Lenka Wienerová, Slovak tennis player Read more
- 1987 — Michael Arroyo, Ecuadorian footballer Read more
- 1987 — John Boye, Ghanaian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Emily Fox, American basketball player Read more
- 1986 — Sven Kramer, Dutch speed skater Read more
- 1986 — Alysia Montaño, American runner Read more
- 1986 — Rafael Fernandes, Brazilian baseball player Read more
- 1985 — Angel Locsin, Filipino actress, producer, and fashion designer Read more
- 1984 — Alexandra Kosteniuk, Russian chess player Read more
- 1984 — Moose, American professional wrestler and football player Read more
- 1984 — Jesse Lee Soffer, American actor Read more
- 1983 — Leon Andreasen, Danish international footballer Read more
- 1983 — Daniela Hantuchová, Slovak tennis player Read more
- 1983 — Ian Henderson, English rugby league player Read more
- 1982 — Kyle Beckerman, American footballer Read more
- 1982 — Tony Sunshine, American singer-songwriter Read more
Died on April 23
- 2026 — Łukasz Litewka, Polish Parliament Member (born 1989) Read more
- 2024 — Frank Field, British politician (born 1942) Read more
- 2024 — Helen Vendler, American Literary Critic (born 1933) Read more
- 2022 — Orrin Hatch, American politician, President pro tempore of the United States Senate (born 1934) Read more
- 2021 — Dan Kaminsky, American internet security researcher (born 1979) Read more
- 2019 — Charity Sunshine Tillemann-Dick, American soprano singer and presenter (born 1983) Read more
- 2019 — Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (born 1921) Read more
- 2016 — Inge King, German-born Australian sculptor (born 1915) Read more
- 2016 — Banharn Silpa-archa, Thai politician, Prime Minister from 1995 to 1996 (born 1932) Read more
- 2015 — Richard Corliss, American journalist and critic (born 1944) Read more
- 2015 — Ray Jackson, Australian activist (born 1941) Read more
- 2015 — Pierre Claude Nolin, Canadian lawyer and politician, Speaker of the Canadian Senate (born 1950) Read more
- 2015 — Jim Steffen, American football player (born 1936) Read more
- 2015 — Francis Tsai, American author and illustrator (born 1967) Read more
- 2014 — Benjamín Brea, Spanish-Venezuelan saxophonist, clarinet player, and conductor (born 1946) Read more
- 2014 — Michael Glawogger, Austrian director, screenwriter, and cinematographer (born 1959) Read more
- 2014 — Jaap Havekotte, Dutch speed skater and producer of ice skates (born 1912) Read more
- 2014 — Connie Marrero, Cuban baseball player and coach (born 1911) Read more
- 2014 — F. Michael Rogers, American general (born 1921) Read more
- 2014 — Mark Shand, English conservationist and author (born 1951) Read more
- 2014 — Patric Standford, English composer and educator (born 1939) Read more
- 2013 — Bob Brozman, American guitarist (born 1954) Read more
- 2013 — Robert W. Edgar, American educator and politician (born 1943) Read more
- 2013 — Tony Grealish, English footballer (born 1956) Read more
- 2013 — Antonio Maccanico, Italian banker and politician (born 1924) Read more
- 2013 — Frank W. J. Olver, English-American mathematician and academic (born 1924) Read more
- 2013 — Kathryn Wasserman Davis, American philanthropist and scholar (born 1907) Read more
- 2012 — Lillemor Arvidsson, Swedish trade union leader and politician, 34th Governor of Gotland (born 1943) Read more
- 2012 — Billy Bryans, Canadian drummer, songwriter and producer (born 1947) Read more
- 2012 — Chris Ethridge, American bass player and songwriter (born 1947) Read more
- 2012 — Raymond Thorsteinsson, Canadian geologist and paleontologist (born 1921) Read more
- 2012 — LeRoy T. Walker, American football player and coach (born 1918) Read more
- 2011 — James Casey, English comedian, radio scriptwriter and producer (born 1922) Read more
- 2011 — Tom King, American guitarist and songwriter (born 1943) Read more
- 2011 — Geoffrey Russell, 4th Baron Ampthill, English businessman and politician (born 1921) Read more
- 2011 — Max van der Stoel, Dutch politician and Minister of State (born 1924) Read more
- 2011 — John Sullivan, English screenwriter and producer (born 1946) Read more
- 2010 — Peter Porter, Australian-born British poet (born 1929) Read more
- 2007 — Paul Erdman, Canadian-American economist and author (born 1932) Read more
- 2007 — David Halberstam, American journalist, historian and author (born 1934) Read more
Holidays & observances
Christian feast day:
Adalbert of Prague; Christian feast day:
Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus; Christian feast day:
Saint George; Christian feast day:
Blessed Giles of Assisi; Christian feast day:
Gerard of Toul; Christian feast day:
Ibar of Beggerin (Meath); Christian feast day:
Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu; Christian feast day:
Toyohiko Kagawa (Episcopal and Lutheran Church); Christian feast day:
Saint George's Day and its related observances:
Saint George's Day (Catalonia); Christian feast day:
Saint George's Day and its related observances:
Saint George's Day (England); Christian feast day:
Blessed Teresa Maria Manetti; Christian feast day:
April 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Canada Book Day (Canada); Castile and León Day (Castile and León); Khongjom Day (Manipur); National Sovereignty and Children's Day (Turkey and Northern Cyprus); Navy Day (China); World Book Day; UN English Language Day (United Nations); UN Spanish Language Day (United Nations)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “April 23”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.