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On This Day in History — May 23
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Highlights of May 23
- 2021 — A cable car crashed, killing 14 people near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. Read more
- 2021 — Ryanair Flight 4978 was forced to land by Belarusian authorities, who detained dissident journalist Roman Protasevich. Read more
- 2017 — Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao following the Maute Group attack on Marawi. Read more
- 2008 — The International Court of Justice awarded the Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca to Singapore, resolving a 29-year-old territorial dispute in the Singapore Strait. Read more
- 1999 — Professional wrestler Owen Hart died immediately before a World Wrestling Federation match after dropping 70 feet (21 m) onto the ring during a botched entrance. Read more
- 1980 — The Shining, the psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick (pictured), premiered on 10 screens in New York City and Los Angeles. Read more
- 1974 — The Airbus A300, the first twin-engined wide-body airliner, went into service with Air France. Read more
- 1939 — The U.S. Navy submarine Squalus sank off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, during tests, causing 26 men to drown. Read more
- 1895 — Backed by Samuel J. Tilden, the Astor Library and the Lenox Library agreed to merge and form the New York Public Library. Read more
- 1873 — The North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was established to bring law and order to and assert Canadian sovereignty over the Northwest Territories. Read more
- 1862 — American Civil War: Confederate troops under Stonewall Jackson defeated a Union force at the Battle of Front Royal in Virginia, taking around 700 prisoners. Read more
- 1706 — War of the Spanish Succession: The Grand Alliance armies routed the Franco-Spanish-Bavarian army in Ramillies, present-day Belgium. Read more
- 1568 — The Dutch Revolt broke out when rebels led by Louis of Nassau (pictured) invaded Friesland at the Battle of Heiligerlee. Read more
- 1555 — Gian Pietro Carafa became Pope Paul IV, beginning a tumultuous four-year papacy during which the Papal States suffered a serious military defeat. Read more
- 1533 — Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, annulled Henry VIII's marriage to his first wife Catherine of Aragon, beginning events that would culminate in the English Reformation. Read more
- 1430 — Hundred Years' War: Joan of Arc was captured by Burgundian forces at the Siege of Compiègne. Read more
Events
- 2022 — Anthony Albanese of the Australian Labor Party is sworn in as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia after winning the 2022 Australian federal election, ending 9 years of conservative rule. Read more
- 2021 — A cable car falls from a mountain near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, killing 14 people. Read more
- 2021 — Ryanair Flight 4978 is forced to land by Belarusian authorities to detain dissident journalist Roman Protasevich. Read more
- 2017 — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao, following the Maute's attack in Marawi. Read more
- 2016 — Two suicide bombings, conducted by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, kill at least 45 potential army recruits in Aden, Yemen. Read more
- 2016 — Eight bombings are carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Jableh and Tartus, coastline cities in Syria. One hundred eighty-four people are killed and at least 200 people injured. Read more
- 2015 — At least 30 people are killed as a result of floods and tornadoes in Texas, Oklahoma, and northern Mexico. Read more
- 2014 — Seven people, including the perpetrator, are killed and another 14 injured in the Isla Vista attacks near the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara. Read more
- 2013 — A freeway bridge carrying Interstate 5 over the Skagit River collapses in Mount Vernon, Washington. Read more
- 2008 — The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awards Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh) to Singapore, ending a 29-year territorial dispute between the two countries. Read more
- 2006 — Alaskan stratovolcano Mount Cleveland erupts. Read more
- 2002 — The "55 parties" clause of the Kyoto Protocol is reached after its ratification by Iceland. Read more
- 1998 — The Good Friday Agreement is accepted in a referendum in Northern Ireland with roughly 75% voting yes. Read more
- 1995 — The first version of the Java programming language is released. Read more
- 1992 — Italy's most prominent anti-mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife and three body guards are killed by the Corleonesi clan with a half-ton bomb near Capaci, Sicily. His friend and colleague Paolo Borsellino will be assassinated less than two months later, making 1992 a turning point in the history of Italian Mafia prosecutions. Read more
- 1991 — Aeroflot Flight 8556 crashes at Pulkovo Airport, killing 13. Read more
- 1980 — The Shining, the psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, is premiered on 10 screens in New York City and Los Angeles on the Memorial Day weekend. Read more
- 1978 — A Tupolev Tu-144 crashes near the Russian town of Yegoryevsk, killing two. Read more
- 1971 — Seventy-eight people are killed when Aviogenex Flight 130 crashes on approach to Rijeka Airport in present-day Rijeka, Croatia (then the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia). Read more
- 1971 — The Intercontinental Hotel in Bucharest opens, becoming the second-tallest building in the city. Read more
- 1960 — A tsunami caused by an earthquake in Chile the previous day kills 61 people in Hilo, Hawaii. Read more
- 1951 — Tibetans sign the Seventeen Point Agreement with China. Read more
- 1949 — Cold War: The Western occupying powers approve the Basic Law and establish a new German state, the Federal Republic of Germany. Read more
- 1948 — Thomas C. Wasson, the US Consul-General, is assassinated in Jerusalem, Israel. Read more
- 1946 — The start of a two-day tornado outbreak across the Central United States that spawned at least 15 significant tornadoes. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Heinrich Himmler, head of the Schutzstaffel, commits suicide while in Allied custody. Read more
- 1945 — World War II: Germany's Flensburg Government under Karl Dönitz is dissolved when its members are arrested by British forces. Read more
- 1941 — World War II: German paratroopers start a series of mass executions of Greek civilians in Missiria for their participation in the ongoing Battle of Crete. Read more
- 1939 — The U.S. Navy submarine USS Squalus sinks off the coast of New Hampshire during a test dive, causing the death of 24 sailors and two civilian technicians. The remaining 32 sailors and one civilian naval architect are rescued the following day. Read more
- 1934 — American bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde are ambushed by police and killed in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Read more
- 1934 — The Auto-Lite strike culminates in the "Battle of Toledo", a five-day melée between 1,300 troops of the Ohio National Guard and 6,000 picketers. Read more
- 1932 — In Brazil, four students are shot and killed during a manifestation against the Brazilian dictator Getúlio Vargas, which resulted in the outbreak of the Constitutionalist Revolution several weeks later. Read more
- 1919 — Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji, a Kurdish sheikh and at-the-time governor of the Slêmanî Province of British Iraq, initiates the first Mahmud Barzanji revolt. Read more
- 1915 — World War I: Italy joins the Allies, fulfilling its part of the Treaty of London. Read more
- 1911 — The New York Public Library is dedicated. Read more
- 1907 — The unicameral Parliament of Finland gathers for its first plenary session. Read more
- 1905 — Abdul Hamid II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, publicly announces the creation of the Ullah millet for the Aromanians of the empire, which had been established one day earlier. For this reason, the Aromanian National Day is usually celebrated on May 23, although some do so on May 22 instead. Read more
- 1900 — American Civil War: Sergeant William Harvey Carney is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Assault on the Battery Wagner in 1863. Read more
- 1873 — The Canadian Parliament establishes the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Read more
- 1863 — The General German Workers' Association, a precursor of the modern Social Democratic Party of Germany, is founded in Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony. Read more
- 1846 — Mexican–American War: President Mariano Paredes of Mexico unofficially declares war on the United States. Read more
- 1844 — Báb: A merchant of Shiraz announces that he is a Prophet and founds a religious movement. He is considered to be a forerunner of the Baháʼí Faith. Read more
- 1829 — Accordion patent granted to Cyrill Demian in Vienna, Austrian Empire. Read more
- 1793 — Battle of Famars during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. Read more
- 1788 — South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the United States Constitution. Read more
- 1706 — John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, defeats a French army under Marshal François de Neufville, duc de Villeroy at the Battle of Ramillies. Read more
- 1618 — The Third Defenestration of Prague precipitates the Thirty Years' War. Read more
- 1609 — Official ratification of the Second Virginia Charter takes place. Read more
- 1568 — Dutch rebels led by Louis of Nassau defeat Jean de Ligne and his loyalist troops in the Battle of Heiligerlee, opening the Eighty Years' War. Read more
- 1533 — The marriage of King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon is declared null and void. Read more
- 1498 — Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in Florence, Italy. Read more
- 1430 — Joan of Arc is captured at the Siege of Compiègne by troops from the Burgundian faction. Read more
- 1308 — Robert the Bruce, king of Scots, defeats John Comyn, earl of Buchan, decisively in the battle of Inverurie. Read more
- 1040 — The Seljuks defeat the Ghaznavids in the battle of Dandanaqan. Read more
Born on May 23
- 2007 — Rayane Messi, French footballer Read more
- 2005 — Alexandra Eala, Filipino tennis player Read more
- 2001 — Brennan Johnson, Welsh footballer Read more
- 2000 — Felipe Drugovich, Brazilian-Italian racing driver Read more
- 2000 — Israel Reyes, Mexican footballer Read more
- 1999 — James Charles, American internet personality Read more
- 1999 — Trinidad Cardona, American singer and songwriter Read more
- 1999 — Sandro Mamukelashvili, Georgian-American basketball player Read more
- 1998 — Sérgio Sette Câmara, Brazilian racing driver Read more
- 1998 — Salwa Eid Naser, Bahraini track and field sprinter Read more
- 1998 — Luca de la Torre, American soccer player Read more
- 1997 — Pedro Chirivella, Spanish footballer Read more
- 1997 — Coy Craft, American footballer Read more
- 1997 — Joe Gomez, English footballer Read more
- 1997 — Maximilian Kilman, English footballer Read more
- 1997 — Gustaf Nilsson, Swedish footballer Read more
- 1997 — Sam Timmins, New Zealand basketball player Read more
- 1996 — Katharina Althaus, German ski jumper Read more
- 1996 — Emmanuel Boateng, Ghanaian footballer Read more
- 1996 — Răzvan Marin, Romanian footballer Read more
- 1996 — Çağlar Söyüncü, Turkish footballer Read more
- 1994 — Esa Lindell, Finnish ice hockey player Read more
- 1992 — Laerte do Vando, Brazilian politician Read more
- 1991 — Aaron Donald, American football player Read more
- 1991 — Lena Meyer-Landrut, German singer-songwriter Read more
- 1991 — César Pinares, Chilean footballer Read more
- 1990 — Dan Evans, British tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Kristína Kučová, Slovak tennis player Read more
- 1990 — Oliver Venno, Estonian volleyball player Read more
- 1989 — Ezequiel Schelotto, Argentine-Italian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Rosanna Crawford, Canadian biathlete Read more
- 1988 — Angelo Ogbonna, Italian footballer Read more
- 1988 — Morgan Pressel, American golfer Read more
- 1987 — Gracie Otto, Australian actress, director, producer, and screenwriter Read more
- 1987 — Bray Wyatt, American wrestler (died 2023) Read more
- 1986 — Ryan Coogler, American film director and screenwriter Read more
- 1986 — Alexei Sitnikov, Russian-Azerbaijani figure skater Read more
- 1986 — Alice Tait, Australian swimmer Read more
- 1986 — Ruben Zadkovich, Australian footballer Read more
- 1985 — Sebastián Fernández, Uruguayan footballer Read more
Died on May 23
- 2024 — Caleb Carr, American military historian and author (born 1955) Read more
- 2024 — Morgan Spurlock, American filmmaker (born 1970) Read more
- 2021 — Ron Hill, English long-distance runner (born 1938) Read more
- 2021 — Eric Carle, American children's book designer, illustrator, and writer best known for The Very Hungry Caterpillar (born 1929) Read more
- 2020 — Hana Kimura, Japanese professional wrestler (born 1997) Read more
- 2017 — Roger Moore, English actor (born 1927) Read more
- 2015 — Anne Meara, American actress, comedian and playwright (born 1929) Read more
- 2015 — Aleksey Mozgovoy, Pro-Russian Ukrainian separatist leader (born 1975) Read more
- 2015 — Alicia Nash, Salvadoran-American physicist and engineer (born 1933) Read more
- 2015 — John Forbes Nash Jr., American mathematician and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1928) Read more
- 2014 — Mikhail Egorovich Alekseev, Russian linguist and academic (born 1949) Read more
- 2014 — Madhav Mantri, Indian cricketer (born 1921) Read more
- 2013 — Epy Guerrero, Dominican baseball player, coach, and scout (born 1942) Read more
- 2013 — Hayri Kozakçıoğlu, Turkish police officer and politician, 15th Governor of Istanbul Province (born 1938) Read more
- 2013 — Georges Moustaki, Egyptian-French singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1934) Read more
- 2013 — Flynn Robinson, American basketball player (born 1941) Read more
- 2012 — Paul Fussell, American historian, author, and academic (born 1924) Read more
- 2011 — Xavier Tondo, Spanish cyclist (born 1978) Read more
- 2010 — José Lima, Dominican-American baseball player (born 1972) Read more
- 2010 — Simon Monjack, English director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1970) Read more
- 2009 — Roh Moo-hyun, South Korean soldier and politician, 9th President of South Korea (born 1946) Read more
- 2008 — Iñaki Ochoa de Olza, Spanish mountaineer (born 1967) Read more
- 2008 — Utah Phillips, American singer-songwriter and poet (born 1935) Read more
- 2006 — Lloyd Bentsen, American colonel and politician, 69th United States Secretary of the Treasury (born 1921) Read more
- 2006 — Kazimierz Górski, Polish footballer and manager (born 1921) Read more
- 2002 — Big Bill Neidjie, Australian activist and last speaker of the Gaagudju language (born c. 1920) Read more
- 2002 — Sam Snead, American golfer and journalist (born 1912) Read more
- 1999 — Owen Hart, Canadian-American wrestler (born 1965) Read more
- 1998 — Telford Taylor, American general and lawyer (born 1908) Read more
- 1996 — Kronid Lyubarsky, Russian journalist and activist (born 1934) Read more
- 1994 — Olav Hauge, Norwegian poet (born 1908) Read more
- 1992 — Kostas Davourlis, Greek footballer (born 1948) Read more
- 1992 — Giovanni Falcone, Italian lawyer and judge (born 1939) Read more
- 1991 — Wilhelm Kempff, German pianist and composer (born 1895) Read more
- 1991 — Jean Van Houtte, Belgian academic and politician, 50th Prime Minister of Belgium (born 1907) Read more
- 1991 — Fletcher Markle, Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer (born 1921) Read more
- 1989 — Georgy Tovstonogov, Russian director and producer (born 1915) Read more
- 1989 — Karl Koch, German computer hacker (born 1965) Read more
- 1986 — Sterling Hayden, American actor (born 1916) Read more
- 1981 — Gene Green, American baseball player (born 1933) Read more
Holidays & observances
Aromanian National Day; Christian feast day:
Aaron the Illustrious (Syriac Orthodox Church); Christian feast day:
Desiderius of Vienne; Christian feast day:
Giovanni Battista de' Rossi; Christian feast day:
Julia of Corsica; Christian feast day:
Michael of Synnada; Christian feast day:
Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler (Episcopal Church (USA)); Christian feast day:
Quintian, Lucius and Julian; Christian feast day:
William of Perth; Christian feast day:
May 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Constitution Day (Germany); Labour Day (Jamaica); Students' Day (Mexico); World Turtle Day
Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “May 23”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.