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On This Day in History — December 23
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Highlights of December 23
- 2008 — The Guinean military engineered a coup d'état, announcing that it planned to rule the country for two years prior to a new presidential election. Read more
- 1997 — The Pioneer Helmet, one of only six Anglo-Saxon helmets to be discovered, was first placed on public display. Read more
- 1990 — About 88 percent of eligible voters in Slovenia voted to secede from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Read more
- 1984 — An engine fire caused Aeroflot Flight 3519 to crash shortly after takeoff from Krasnoyarsk, USSR, killing all but one of the 111 people on board. Read more
- 1958 — Tokyo Tower, then the world's tallest freestanding tower, opened. Read more
- 1957 — Leading the Australia national cricket team, Ian Craig became the youngest-ever Test cricket captain at the time. Read more
- 1919 — The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act was enacted, lifting most of the existing common-law restrictions on women in the United Kingdom. Read more
- 1916 — First World War: Allied forces gained a strategic victory at the Battle of Magdhaba on the Sinai Peninsula. Read more
- 1888 — During a bout of mental illness, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (pictured) severed part of his left ear and gave it to a woman in a brothel in Arles, France. Read more
- 1815 — Jane Austen's novel Emma was first published, the last novel released during her lifetime. Read more
- 1783 — George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis (painting shown). Read more
- 1776 — American Revolutionary War: American troops, overwhelmed by British reinforcements, retreated from the Battle of Iron Works Hill. Read more
- 583 — Yohl Ikʼnal (signature pictured) acceded to the throne of the Maya city-state of Palenque. Read more
Events
- 2025 — The crash of Harmony Jets Flight 185 killed all eight people on board, including the Libyan Army chief Mohammed al-Haddad in Ankara, Turkey. Read more
- 2023 — A series of massacres targeting Berom civilians unfold in the Plateau State in Nigeria, killing over 200 people and further injuring over 500. No group claims responsibility. Read more
- 2015 — A bomb explodes at Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen Airport, killing one airport cleaner. The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks claim responsibility for the attack four days later. Read more
- 2008 — A coup d'état occurs in Guinea hours after the death of President Lansana Conté. Read more
- 2007 — An agreement is made for the Kingdom of Nepal to be abolished and the country to become a federal republic with the Prime Minister becoming head of state. Read more
- 2005 — An Antonov An-140, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 217 from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Aktau, Kazakhstan, heading across the Caspian Sea, crashes, killing 23 people. Read more
- 2003 — An explosion at the PetroChina Chuandongbei natural gas field in Kai County, Chongqing, China, kills at least 234. Read more
- 2002 — A U.S. MQ-1 Predator is shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25 in the first combat engagement between a drone and conventional aircraft. Read more
- 1990 — History of Slovenia: In a referendum, 88.5% of Slovenia's overall electorate vote for independence from Yugoslavia. Read more
- 1986 — Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, lands at Edwards Air Force Base in California becoming the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without aerial or ground refueling. Read more
- 1984 — After experiencing an engine fire, Aeroflot Flight 3519 attempts to make an emergency landing at Krasnoyarsk International Airport but crashes, killing 110 of the 111 people on board. Read more
- 1979 — Soviet–Afghan War: Soviet Union forces occupy Kabul, the Afghan capital. Read more
- 1978 — Alitalia Flight 4128 crashes into the Tyrrhenian Sea while on approach to Falcone Borsellino Airport in Palermo, Italy, killing 108. Read more
- 1972 — The Immaculate Reception is caught by Franco Harris to win the Pittsburgh Steelers their first ever playoff victory, after defeating the Oakland Raiders. Read more
- 1972 — A 6.5 magnitude earthquake strikes the Nicaraguan capital of Managua killing more than 10,000. Read more
- 1972 — The 16 survivors of the Andes flight disaster are rescued after 73 days, surviving by cannibalism. Read more
- 1970 — The North Tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York, New York is topped out at 417 metres (1,368 ft), making it the tallest building in the world. Read more
- 1970 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo officially becomes a one-party state. Read more
- 1968 — The 82 sailors from the USS Pueblo are released after eleven months of internment in North Korea. Read more
- 1960 — Hilkka Saarinen née Pylkkänen is murdered in the so-called "oven homicide" case in Krootila, Kokemäki, Finland. Read more
- 1955 — The first film adaptation of Väinö Linna's novel The Unknown Soldier, directed by Edvin Laine, premieres. Read more
- 1954 — First successful kidney transplant is performed by J. Hartwell Harrison and Joseph Murray. Read more
- 1950 — Korean War: General Walton Walker dies in a jeep accident and is replaced by General Matthew Ridgway in the Eighth United States Army. Read more
- 1948 — Seven Japanese military and political leaders convicted of war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East are executed by Allied occupation authorities at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo, Japan. Read more
- 1947 — The transistor is first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: After 15 days of fighting, the Imperial Japanese Army occupies Wake Island. Read more
- 1936 — Colombia becomes a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty. Read more
- 1936 — Spanish Civil War: The Spanish Republic legalizes the Regional Defence Council of Aragon. Read more
- 1919 — Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 becomes law in the United Kingdom, allowing women to serve as lawyers, civil servants, and in other professions, as well as to serve on juries. Read more
- 1916 — World War I: Battle of Magdhaba: Allied forces defeat Turkish forces in the Sinai Peninsula. Read more
- 1914 — World War I: Australian and New Zealand troops arrive in Cairo, Egypt. Read more
- 1914 — World War I: During the Battle of Sarikamish, Ottoman forces mistook one another for Russian troops. The following friendly fire incident leaves 2,000 Ottomans dead and many more wounded. Read more
- 1913 — The Federal Reserve Act is signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson, creating the Federal Reserve System. Read more
- 1905 — The Tampere conference, where Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin meet for the first time, is held in Tampere, Finland. Read more
- 1893 — The opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck is first performed. Read more
- 1876 — First day of the Constantinople Conference which resulted in agreement for political reforms in the Balkans. Read more
- 1823 — The poem "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," is published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel. Read more
- 1815 — The novel Emma by Jane Austen is first published. Read more
- 1793 — The Battle of Savenay: A decisive defeat of the royalist counter-revolutionaries in War in the Vendée during the French Revolution. Read more
- 1783 — George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland. Read more
- 1773 — Moscow State Academy of Choreography is founded under the reign of Catherine II. It is the second ballet school in Russia after Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet. Read more
- 1688 — As part of the Glorious Revolution, King James II of England flees from England to Paris after being deposed in favor of his son-in-law and nephew, William of Orange and his daughter Mary. Read more
- 1598 — Arauco War: Governor of Chile Martín García Óñez de Loyola is killed in the Battle of Curalaba by Mapuches led by Pelantaru. Read more
- 1299 — The Ilkhanate ruler Ghazan defeats a Mamluk army that opposes his invasion into Syria in the Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar near Homs. Read more
- 962 — The Sack of Aleppo as part of the Arab–Byzantine wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo. Read more
- 583 — Maya queen Yohl Ik'nal is crowned ruler of Palenque. Read more
- 558 — Chlothar I is crowned King of the Franks. Read more
- 484 — The Arian Vandal Kingdom ceases its persecution of Nicene Christianity. Read more
Born on December 23
- 2002 — Finn Wolfhard, Canadian actor and musician Read more
- 2000 — Victor Boniface, Nigerian footballer Read more
- 1999 — Samuel Lino, Brazilian footballer Read more
- 1996 — Bartosz Kapustka, Polish footballer Read more
- 1994 — Reed Alexander, American actor Read more
- 1992 — Spencer Daniels, American actor Read more
- 1992 — Mbwana Samatta, Tanzanian footballer Read more
- 1992 — Jeff Schlupp, German footballer Read more
- 1991 — Kyren Wilson, English snooker player Read more
- 1990 — Brice Dja Djédjé, Ivorian footballer Read more
- 1990 — Mitch Haniger, American baseball player Read more
- 1990 — Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, American actress and singer Read more
- 1989 — David Szymanski, American video game developer Read more
- 1988 — Mallory Hagan, American beauty queen, Miss America 2013 Read more
- 1987 — Tommaso Bellazzini, Italian footballer Read more
- 1987 — Owen Franks, New Zealand rugby player Read more
- 1987 — Jori Lehterä, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
- 1986 — Thomas Bourgin, French motorcycle racer (died 2013) Read more
- 1986 — Beau Champion, Australian rugby league player Read more
- 1986 — Balázs Dzsudzsák, Hungarian footballer Read more
- 1986 — T. J. Oshie, American ice hockey player Read more
- 1985 — Dev Hynes (also known as Blood Orange and formerly Lightspeed Champion), English singer, songwriter, producer, and composer Read more
- 1985 — Harry Judd, English drummer and songwriter Read more
- 1985 — Alison Sudol, American actress and singer-songwriter Read more
- 1984 — Dudu Aharon, Israeli singer-songwriter Read more
- 1984 — Bernard Pollard, American football player Read more
- 1984 — Josh Satin, American baseball player Read more
- 1984 — Sebastian Werle, German rugby player Read more
- 1983 — Michael Chopra, English footballer Read more
- 1983 — Lisa Dobriskey, English runner Read more
- 1983 — Hanley Ramírez, Dominican baseball player Read more
- 1982 — Zbyněk Michálek, Czech ice hockey player Read more
- 1982 — Shaone Morrisonn, Canadian-Croatian ice hockey player Read more
- 1982 — Thomas Rohregger, Austrian cyclist Read more
- 1981 — Maritza Correia, Puerto Rican-American swimmer Read more
- 1981 — Yuriorkis Gamboa, Cuban boxer Read more
- 1981 — Hiro Fujiwara, Japanese manga artist Read more
- 1981 — Agnes Milowka, Polish-Australian diver, explorer, photographer, and author (died 2011) Read more
- 1981 — Mario Santana, Argentine footballer Read more
- 1980 — Cody Ross, American baseball player Read more
Died on December 23
- 2024 — Shyam Benegal, Indian director and screenwriter (born 1934) Read more
- 2024 — Dési Bouterse, Surinamese general and politician, 9th President of Suriname (born 1945) Read more
- 2024 — Sophie Hediger, Swiss snowboarder (born 1998) Read more
- 2023 — William Pope.L, American performance artist (born 1955) Read more
- 2022 — Brandon Montrell, American TikTok personality and stand-up comedian (born 1979) Read more
- 2021 — Joan Didion, American writer (born 1934) Read more
- 2020 — Leslie West, American singer and guitarist (born 1945) Read more
- 2017 — Maurice Hayes, Irish educator and politician (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Alfred G. Gilman, American pharmacologist and biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1941) Read more
- 2015 — Don Howe, English footballer and manager (born 1935) Read more
- 2015 — Jean-Marie Pelt, French biologist, pharmacist, and academic (born 1933) Read more
- 2015 — Bülent Ulusu, Turkish admiral and politician, 18th Prime Minister of Turkey (born 1923) Read more
- 2014 — Edward Greenspan, Canadian lawyer and author (born 1944) Read more
- 2014 — Robert V. Hogg, American statistician and academic (born 1924) Read more
- 2013 — Chryssa, Greek-American sculptor (born 1933) Read more
- 2013 — Mikhail Kalashnikov, Russian general and weapons designer, designed the AK-47 rifle (born 1919) Read more
- 2013 — Yusef Lateef, American saxophonist, composer, and educator (born 1920) Read more
- 2013 — Ricky Lawson, American drummer and composer (born 1954) Read more
- 2013 — G. S. Shivarudrappa, Indian poet and educator (born 1926) Read more
- 2013 — Robert W. Wilson, American philanthropist and art collector (born 1928) Read more
- 2012 — Jean Harris, American educator and murderer (born 1923) Read more
- 2012 — Eduardo Maiorino, Brazilian mixed martial artist and kick-boxer (born 1979) Read more
- 2011 — Aydın Menderes, Turkish economist and politician (born 1946) Read more
- 2010 — Fred Hargesheimer, American soldier and pilot (born 1916) Read more
- 2010 — K. Karunakaran, Indian lawyer and politician, 7th Chief Minister of Kerala (born 1918) Read more
- 2009 — Robert L. Howard, American colonel, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1939) Read more
- 2009 — Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, Tibetan general and politician (born 1910) Read more
- 2009 — Edward Schillebeeckx, Belgian theologian and academic (born 1914) Read more
- 2007 — William Francis Ganong, Jr., American physiologist and academic (born 1924) Read more
- 2007 — Michael Kidd, American dancer and choreographer (born 1915) Read more
- 2007 — Oscar Peterson, Canadian pianist and composer (born 1925) Read more
- 2006 — Charlie Drake, English actor (born 1925) Read more
- 2006 — Timothy J. Tobias, American pianist and composer (born 1952) Read more
- 2006 — Johnny Vincent, English footballer (born 1947) Read more
- 2005 — Lajos Baróti, Hungarian footballer and manager (born 1914) Read more
- 2005 — Yao Wenyuan, Chinese writer and politician, member of the Gang of Four (born 1931) Read more
- 2004 — P. V. Narasimha Rao, Indian lawyer and politician, 9th Prime Minister of India (born 1921) Read more
- 2001 — Bola Ige, Nigerian lawyer and politician, 3rd Governor of Oyo State (born 1930) Read more
- 2000 — Billy Barty, American actor (born 1924) Read more
- 2000 — Victor Borge, Danish-American comedian, pianist, and conductor (born 1909) Read more
Holidays & observances
Birthday of the Queen Silvia, an official flag flying day (Sweden); Children's Day (South Sudan and Sudan); Christian Feast Day:
Abassad (Coptic Church); Christian Feast Day:
Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Coptic Church); Christian Feast Day:
Dagobert II; Christian Feast Day:
John Cantius; Christian Feast Day:
O Emmanuel; Christian Feast Day:
Psote (Coptic Church); Christian Feast Day:
Thorlac Thorhallsson, patron saint of Iceland; The last day of preparations before Christmas.; Christian Feast Day:
Victoria; Christian Feast Day:
December 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Day of all level operational control structures servicemen (Ukraine); Festivus, a secular holiday made popular by the sitcom Seinfeld; HumanLight (Secular humanism in United States); Kisan Diwas (Uttar Pradesh, India); Night of the Radishes (Oaxaca City, Mexico); Tibb's Eve (Newfoundland and Labrador); Tom Bawcock's Eve (Mousehole, Cornwall); Victory Day (Egypt)
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “December 23”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.