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On This Day in History — February 23

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Highlights of February 23

2021 — Riots in four Ecuadorian prisons, caused by gang rivalries, resulted in the deaths of 79 inmates. Read more
2017 — Syrian civil war: Allied troops led by the Turkish Armed Forces captured the city of al-Bab from the Islamic State. Read more
2008 — A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber crashed on the runway shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam in the most expensive crash in U.S. Air Force history. Read more
1987 — SN 1987A, the first supernova that modern astronomers were able to study in great detail, was observed from Earth occurring in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Read more
1971 — Vietnam War: South Vietnamese General Đỗ Cao Trí was killed in a helicopter crash en route to taking control of the faltering Operation Lam Son 719. Read more
1945 — Second World War: An Allied bombing run on Pforzheim, Germany, killed approximately 31 percent of its population and destroyed about 83 percent of its buildings. Read more
1945 — American photographer Joe Rosenthal took the Pulitzer Prize–winning photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima during the Battle of Iwo Jima, an image that was later reproduced on the Marine Corps War Memorial. Read more
1944 — In response to an insurgency in Chechnya, the Soviet Union began the forced deportation of the native Chechen and Ingush of North Caucasus. Read more
1943 — 35 children and 1 adult employee were killed in a fire at an orphanage in the town of Cavan, Ireland. Read more
1941 — Plutonium was first chemically identified by chemist Glenn T. Seaborg and his team at the University of California, Berkeley. Read more
1886 — American inventor Charles Martin Hall discovered an inexpensive method of producing aluminium. Read more
1854 — The Orange River Convention was signed in Bloemfontein, with the United Kingdom agreeing to recognise the independence of the Orange Free State in present-day South Africa. Read more
1847 — Mexican–American War: The United States Army used artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican army at the Battle of Buena Vista near Saltillo. Read more
1778 — American Revolutionary War: Prussian military officer Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania as a volunteer for the Continental Army. Read more
1739 — The identity of English highwayman Dick Turpin was uncovered by his former schoolmate, who recognised his handwriting, leading to Turpin's trial. Read more
1725 — Johann Sebastian Bach premiered his Shepherd Cantata for the birthday of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (pictured). Read more

Events

2025 — A snap election is held in Germany. Read more
2021 — Four simultaneous prison riots leave at least 62 people dead in Ecuador. Read more
2020 — Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old African-American citizen, is shot and murdered by three white men after visiting a house under construction while jogging at a neighborhood in Satilla Shores near Brunswick in Glynn County, Georgia. Read more
2019 — Atlas Air Flight 3591, a Boeing 767 freighter, crashes into Trinity Bay near Anahuac, Texas, killing all three people on board. Read more
2018 — Parliamentary elections are held in Djibouti. Read more
2017 — The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army captures Al-Bab from ISIL. Read more
2012 — A series of attacks across Iraq leave at least 83 killed and more than 250 injured. Read more
2010 — Unknown criminals pour more than 2+1⁄2 million liters of diesel oil and other hydrocarbons into the river Lambro, in northern Italy, sparking an environmental disaster. Read more
2008 — A United States Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber crashes on Guam, marking the first operational loss of a B-2. Read more
2008 — The Japanese WINDS satellite is launched. Read more
2007 — A train derails on an evening express service near Grayrigg, Cumbria, England, killing one person and injuring 88. This results in hundreds of points being checked over the UK after a few similar accidents. Read more
2002 — An Ariane 4 rocket is launched from the Guiana Space Centre carrying Intelsat 904. Read more
1999 — Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Öcalan is charged with treason in Ankara, Turkey. Read more
1999 — An avalanche buries the town of Galtür, Austria, killing 31. Read more
1998 — In the United States, tornadoes in central Florida destroy or damage 2,600 structures and kill 42 people. Read more
1991 — In Thailand, General Sunthorn Kongsompong leads a bloodless coup d'état, deposing Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan. Read more
1988 — Saddam Hussein begins the Anfal genocide against Kurds and Assyrians in northern Iraq. Read more
1987 — Supernova 1987a is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Read more
1983 — The United States Environmental Protection Agency announces its intent to buy out and evacuate the dioxin-contaminated community of Times Beach, Missouri. Read more
1981 — In Spain, Antonio Tejero attempts a coup d'état by capturing the Spanish Congress of Deputies. Read more
1980 — Iran hostage crisis: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini states that Iran's parliament will decide the fate of the American embassy hostages. Read more
1974 — The Symbionese Liberation Army demands $4 million more to release kidnap victim Patty Hearst. Read more
1971 — Operation Lam Son 719: South Vietnamese General Do Cao Tri was killed in a helicopter crash en route to taking control of the faltering campaign. Read more
1966 — In Syria, Ba'ath Party member Salah Jadid leads an intra-party military coup that replaces the previous government of General Amin al-Hafiz, also a Baathist. Read more
1958 — Five-time Argentine Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio is kidnapped by rebels involved in the Cuban Revolution, on the eve of the Cuban Grand Prix. He was released the following day after the race. Read more
1954 — The first mass inoculation of children against polio with the Salk vaccine begins in Pittsburgh. Read more
1950 — General elections are held in the United Kingdom. Read more
1947 — International Organization for Standardization is founded. Read more
1945 — World War II: During the Battle of Iwo Jima, a group of United States Marines reach the top of Mount Suribachi on the island and are photographed raising the American flag. Read more
1945 — World War II: The 11th Airborne Division, with Filipino guerrillas, free all 2,147 captives of the Los Baños internment camp, in what General Colin Powell later would refer to as "the textbook airborne operation for all ages and all armies". Read more
1945 — World War II: The capital of the Philippines, Manila, is liberated by combined Filipino and American forces. Read more
1945 — World War II: Capitulation of German garrison in Poznań. The city is liberated by Soviet and Polish forces. Read more
1945 — World War II: The German town of Pforzheim is annihilated in a raid by 379 British bombers. Read more
1945 — American Airlines Flight 009 crashes near Rural Retreat, Virginia, killing 17. Read more
1944 — The Soviet Union begins the forced deportation of the Chechen and Ingush people from the North Caucasus to Central Asia. Read more
1943 — The Cavan Orphanage fire kills thirty-five girls and an elderly cook. Read more
1943 — Greek Resistance: The United Panhellenic Organization of Youth is founded in Greece. Read more
1942 — World War II: Japanese submarines fire artillery shells at the coastline near Santa Barbara, California. Read more
1941 — Plutonium is first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg. Read more
1934 — Leopold III becomes King of Belgium. Read more
1927 — U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs a bill by Congress establishing the Federal Radio Commission (later replaced by the Federal Communications Commission) which was to regulate the use of radio frequencies in the United States. Read more
1927 — German theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg writes a letter to fellow physicist Wolfgang Pauli, in which he describes his uncertainty principle for the first time. Read more
1917 — First demonstrations in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The beginning of the February Revolution (March 8 in the Gregorian calendar). Read more
1909 — The AEA Silver Dart makes the first powered flight in Canada and the British Empire. Read more
1905 — Chicago attorney Paul Harris and three other businessmen meet for lunch to form the Rotary Club, the world's first service club. Read more
1903 — Cuba leases Guantánamo Bay to the United States "in perpetuity". Read more
1900 — Second Boer War: During the Battle of the Tugela Heights, the first British attempt to take Hart's Hill fails. Read more
1898 — Émile Zola is imprisoned in France after writing J'Accuse...!, a letter accusing the French government of antisemitism and wrongfully imprisoning Captain Alfred Dreyfus. Read more
1887 — The French Riviera is hit by a large earthquake, killing around 2,000. Read more
1886 — Charles Martin Hall produced the first samples of aluminium from the electrolysis of aluminium oxide, after several years of intensive work. He was assisted in this project by his older sister, Julia Brainerd Hall. Read more
1885 — Sino-French War: French Army gains an important victory in the Battle of Đồng Đăng in the Tonkin region of Vietnam. Read more
1883 — Alabama becomes the first U.S. state to enact an anti-trust law. Read more
1870 — Reconstruction Era: Post-U.S. Civil War military control of Mississippi ends and it is readmitted to the Union. Read more
1861 — President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington, D.C., after the thwarting of an alleged assassination plot in Baltimore, Maryland. Read more
1854 — The official independence of the Orange Free State, South Africa is declared. Read more
1847 — Mexican–American War: Battle of Buena Vista: In Mexico, American troops under future president General Zachary Taylor defeat Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Read more
1836 — Texas Revolution: The Siege of the Alamo (prelude to the Battle of the Alamo) begins in San Antonio, Texas. Read more
1820 — Cato Street Conspiracy: A plot to murder all the British cabinet ministers is exposed and the conspirators arrested. Read more
1778 — American Revolutionary War: Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to help train the Continental Army. Read more
1763 — Berbice slave uprising in Guyana: The first major slave revolt in South America. Read more

Born on February 23

2002 — Alice Litman, English transgender woman Read more
2000 — Femke Broeders-Bol, Dutch hurdler and sprinter Read more
1997 — Jamal Murray, Canadian basketball player Read more
1996 — D'Angelo Russell, American basketball player Read more
1996 — Nick Schmaltz, American ice hockey player Read more
1995 — Andrew Wiggins, Canadian basketball player Read more
1994 — Triptii Dimri, Indian actress Read more
1994 — Neviana Vladinova, Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast Read more
1992 — Casemiro, Brazilian footballer Read more
1992 — Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Greek footballer Read more
1990 — Kevin Connauton, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1990 — Marco Scandella, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1989 — Evan Bates, American ice dancer Read more
1989 — Jérémy Pied, French footballer Read more
1989 — Wilin Rosario, Dominican baseball player Read more
1988 — Nicolás Gaitán, Argentine footballer Read more
1987 — Ab-Soul, American rapper Read more
1987 — Malik Hairston, American basketball player Read more
1987 — Theophilus London, Trinidadian-American singer-songwriter and producer Read more
1986 — Emerson Conceição, Brazilian footballer Read more
1986 — Skylar Grey, American singer-songwriter Read more
1986 — Kazuya Kamenashi, Japanese singer-songwriter and actor Read more
1986 — Jerod Mayo, American football player and coach Read more
1986 — Ola Svensson, Swedish singer-songwriter Read more
1983 — Mido, Egyptian footballer, manager and sportscaster Read more
1983 — Dijon Thompson, American basketball player Read more
1982 — Jia Perkins, American basketball player and coach Read more
1982 — Karan Singh Grover, Indian actor Read more
1981 — Gareth Barry, English footballer Read more
1981 — Charles Tillman, American football player Read more
1978 — Dan Snyder, Canadian ice hockey player (died 2003) Read more
1977 — Kristina Šmigun-Vähi, Estonian skier Read more
1976 — Kelly Macdonald, Scottish actress Read more
1976 — Jeff O'Neill, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1975 — Michael Cornacchia, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Read more
1974 — Herschelle Gibbs, South African cricketer Read more
1974 — Robbi Kempson, South African rugby player Read more
1973 — Jeff Nordgaard, American-Polish basketball player Read more
1972 — Alessandro Sturba, Italian footballer Read more
1972 — Rondell White, American baseball player Read more

Died on February 23

2025 — Larry Dolan, American attorney (born 1931) Read more
2025 — Chris Jasper, American singer, composer and producer (born 1951) Read more
2025 — Al Trautwig, American sports commentator (born 1956) Read more
2024 — Flaco, Eurasian eagle-owl (born 2010) Read more
2023 — Tony Earl, American politician, 40th Governor of Wisconsin (born 1936) Read more
2023 — John Motson, English football commentator (born 1945) Read more
2021 — Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Saudi Arabian politician (born 1930) Read more
2019 — Katherine Helmond, American actress (born 1929) Read more
2016 — Peter Lustig, German television host and author (born 1937) Read more
2016 — Jacqueline Mattson, American baseball player (born 1928) Read more
2015 — James Aldridge, Australian-English journalist and author (born 1918) Read more
2015 — Rana Bhagwandas, Pakistani lawyer and judge, Chief Justice of Pakistan (born 1942) Read more
2014 — Alice Herz-Sommer, Czech-English Holocaust survivor, pianist and educator (born 1903) Read more
2014 — Roger Hilsman, American soldier, academic, and politician (born 1919) Read more
2013 — Eugene Bookhammer, American soldier and politician, 18th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware (born 1918) Read more
2013 — Joseph Friedenson, Holocaust survivor, Holocaust historian, Yiddish writer, lecturer and editor (born 1922) Read more
2013 — Julien Ries, Belgian cardinal (born 1920) Read more
2013 — Lotika Sarkar, Indian lawyer and academic (born 1945) Read more
2012 — William Raggio, American lawyer and politician (born 1926) Read more
2012 — David Sayre, American physicist and mathematician (born 1924) Read more
2012 — Kazimierz Żygulski, Polish sociologist and activist (born 1919) Read more
2011 — Nirmala Srivastava, Indian religious leader, founded Sahaja Yoga (born 1923) Read more
2010 — Orlando Zapata, Cuban plumber and activist (born 1967) Read more
2008 — Janez Drnovšek, Slovenian economist and politician, 2nd President of Slovenia (born 1950) Read more
2008 — Paul Frère, Belgian racing driver and journalist (born 1917) Read more
2007 — Hanna Barysevich, the oldest female resident of Belarus not registered by the Guinness Book of World Records (born 1888) Read more
2007 — John Ritchie, English footballer (born 1941) Read more
2006 — Muhammad Shamsul Huq, Bangladeshi academic and former Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1912) Read more
2006 — Telmo Zarra, Spanish footballer (born 1921) Read more
2004 — Vijay Anand, Indian director, producer, screenwriter, and actor (born 1934) Read more
2004 — Sikander Bakht, Indian politician, Indian Minister of External Affairs (born 1918) Read more
2003 — Howie Epstein, American bass player, songwriter, and producer (born 1955) Read more
2003 — Robert K. Merton, American sociologist and academic (born 1910) Read more
2000 — Ofra Haza, Israeli singer-songwriter and actress (born 1957) Read more
2000 — Stanley Matthews, English footballer and manager (born 1915) Read more
1999 — The Renegade, American wrestler (born 1965) Read more
1998 — Philip Abbott, American actor and director (born 1924) Read more
1997 — Tony Williams, American drummer, composer, and producer (born 1945) Read more
1995 — James Herriot, English veterinarian and author (born 1916) Read more
1990 — José Napoleón Duarte, Salvadoran engineer and politician, President of El Salvador (born 1925) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Polycarp of Smyrna; Christian feast day: Blessed Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga; Christian feast day: Serenus the Gardener; Christian feast day: Willigis; Christian feast day: February 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); The Emperor's Birthday, birthday of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan (Japan); Mashramani-Republic Day (Guyana); National Day (Brunei); Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the former Soviet Union, also held in various former Soviet republics: Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russia); Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the former Soviet Union, also held in various former Soviet republics: Defender of the Fatherland and Armed Forces day (Belarus); Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the former Soviet Union, also held in various former Soviet republics: Armed Forces Day (Tajikistan) (Tajikistan)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “February 23”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.