See what makes February 23 special at Famous Daily.
History, birthdays, holiday, and a quote!
What happened on February 23
- February 23, 1455 "Johannes Gutenberg prints first book, the Bible (estimated date)"
- February 23, 1455 "Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed from movable type."
- February 23, 1574 France begins 5th Holy War against Huguenots
- February 23, 1660 Charles XI becomes king of Sweden
- February 23, 1668 "Fire in Wiener Hofburg in Vienna, emperor Leopold I rescued"
- February 23, 1672 Joan Blaeus publishers destroyed by fire in Amsterdam
- February 23, 1689 Dutch prince William III proclaimed king of England
- February 23, 1778 Baron von Steuben joins the Continental Army at Valley Forge
- February 23, 1792 Humane Society of Massachusetts incorporated (erected life-saving stations for distressed mariners)
- February 23, 1792 "Joseph Haydn's 94th Symphony in G, premieres"
- February 23, 1797 French Forces launch a failed invasion of Britain. See Last invasion of Britain
- February 23, 1804 "Conspirators against Napoleon, for restoration of Louis XVIII"
- February 23, 1813 First US raw cotton-to-cloth mill founded in Waltham MA
- February 23, 1820 Cato Street Conspiracy: A plot to murder all the British cabinet ministers is exposed.
- February 23, 1821 College of Apothecaries organized in Philadelphia; first US pharmacy college
- February 23, 1822 Boston is incorporated as a city.
- February 23, 1830 "Oxford, Ohio, home of Miami University, is incorporated."
- February 23, 1836 "The Siege of the Alamo begins in San Antonio, Texas."
- February 23, 1847 General Zachary Taylor leads US troops to defeat Mexican General Santa Anna and his army at the Battle of Buena Vista in Mexico.
- February 23, 1848 A revolution in Paris brought the expulsion of King Louis-Philippe and established a Second Republic in France under Louis Napoleon (1808-1873).
- February 23, 1848 "John Quincy Adams, 6th president of the US, dies of a stroke at age 80."
- February 23, 1852 """H M S Birkenhead"" sinks off South Africa killing 420 troops"
- February 23, 1854 Great-Britain & Orange Free state sign Convention of Bloemfontein
- February 23, 1854 The official independence of the Orange Free State is declared.
- February 23, 1861 "By popular referendum, Texas becomes 7th state to secede from US"
- February 23, 1861 Dutch Premier Floris A van Hall resigns
- February 23, 1861 "President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington, D.C., after an assassination attempt in Baltimore, Maryland."
- February 23, 1866 "Lebanon Valley College is founded in Annville, Pennsylvania."
- February 23, 1869 Louisiana governor signs public accommodations law
- February 23, 1870 Military control of Mississippi ends and it is readmitted to the Union.
- February 23, 1870 "Mississippi is readmitted to the Union, after the Civil War."
- February 23, 1874 "Major Walter Winfield patents game called ""sphairistike"" (lawn tennis)"
- February 23, 1883 Alabama becomes the first U.S. state to enact an antitrust law.
- February 23, 1883 American Anti-Vivisection Society organized (Philadelphia)
- February 23, 1886 Aluminum manufacturing process developed
- February 23, 1886 London Times publishes world's first classified ad
- February 23, 1886 "Tsjaikovski's symphony ""Manfred,"" premieres"
- February 23, 1887 Congress grants Seal Rocks to San Francisco
- February 23, 1887 "French/Italian Riviera struck by Earthquake; 2,000 die"
- February 23, 1887 "The French Riviera is hit by a large earthquake, killing around 2,000."
- February 23, 1892 "First college student government established, Bryn Mawr PA"
- February 23, 1893 Rudolf Diesel receives a patent for the diesel engine.
- February 23, 1894 Stanley Cup Montr‚al AAA's awarded cup by trustees as Ottawa refuses to travel to Toronto to play
- February 23, 1895 Jaap Eden skates world record 10 km (17:56)
- February 23, 1895 "William Heard, AME minister & educator, named minister to Liberia"
- February 23, 1896 Tootsie Roll introduced by Leo Hirshfield
- February 23, 1898 "In France, Emile Zola is imprisoned for writing his ""J'accuse"" letter accusing government of anti-Semitism & wrongly jailing Alfred Dreyfus"
- February 23, 1898 "mile Zola is imprisoned in France after writing ""J'accuse"", a letter accusing the French government of anti-Semitism and wrongfully placing Captain Alfred Dreyfus in jail."
- February 23, 1900 "Battle at Hart's Hill, South-Africa (Boers vs British army)"
- February 23, 1900 In South Africa the Boers and British troops fight in the Battle of Hart's Hill.
- February 23, 1900 "Steamer ""Rio de Janeiro"" sinks in San Francisco Bay"
- February 23, 1903 "Cuba leases Guantanamo Bay to the United States ""in perpetuity""."
- February 23, 1903 Cuban state of Guantanamo leased to USA
- February 23, 1904 For $10 million the United States gains control of the Panama Canal Zone.
- February 23, 1905 "Chicago, Illinois attorney Paul Harris and three other businessmen meet for lunch to form the Rotary Club, the world's first service club."
- February 23, 1905 Rotary Club International established by 4 men in Chicago
- February 23, 1906 Tommy Burns beats Marvin Hart for heavyweight boxing champion in 20 rounds
- February 23, 1909 "At Baddeck, Nova Scotia J. A. D. McCurdy flies the Bell designed Silver Dart at an altitude of about 10 metres for nearly one kilometre across Baddeck Bay; first airplane flight in Canada by a Canadian; first powered flight in British Empire."
- February 23, 1909 Russian tsar Nicolas II dissolves Finnish Diet
- February 23, 1909 The AEA Silver Dart makes the first powered flight in Canada and the British Empire.
- February 23, 1910 First radio contest held (Philadelphia)
- February 23, 1914 "In British Columbia a Fraser River rockslide nearly wipes out the area's salmon fishing industry, much later we do the same thing"
- February 23, 1915 Germany sinks US ships Carib & Evelyn & torpedoes Norwegian ship Regin
- February 23, 1915 Nevada enforces convenient divorce law
- February 23, 1916 Congress authorizes McKinley Memorial $1 gold coin
- February 23, 1916 French artillery kills entire French 72nd division at Samogneux Verdun
- February 23, 1917 February revolution begins in Russia
- February 23, 1917 "First demonstrations in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The beginning of the February Revolution."
- February 23, 1918 First victory of Red Army over the Kaiser's German troops near Narva and Pskov. Since 1923 this date become the Day of Red Army in honour of this victory.
- February 23, 1919 Benito Mussolini forms the Fascist Party in Italy.
- February 23, 1921 First US transcontinental air mail flight arrives in New York NY from San Francisco CA
- February 23, 1923 German Republic day with laws against worker
- February 23, 1923 Great Britain lowers import duty on German products from 26% to 5%
- February 23, 1927 The Federal Radio Commission (later renamed the Federal Communications Commission) begins to regulate the use of radio frequencies.
- February 23, 1934 Casey Stengel becomes manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers
- February 23, 1934 Coronation of King Leopold III of Belgium
- February 23, 1934 Lopold III becomes King of Belgium.
- February 23, 1936 "First rocket air mail flight, Greenwood Lake NY"
- February 23, 1938 Joe Louis KOs Nathan Mann in 3 for heavyweight boxing title
- February 23, 1939 "Lou Thesz beats E Marshall in St Louis, to become wrestling champion"
- February 23, 1940 "Walt Disney's animated movie ""Pinocchio,"" released"
- February 23, 1941 Plutonium was first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg.
- February 23, 1942 Japanese sub fires on oil refinery in Ellwood CA
- February 23, 1943 German troops pull back through Kasserine-pass Tunisia
- February 23, 1944 forced deportation of the Chechen and Ingush people to Central Asia
- February 23, 1945 2nd Dutch government of Gerbrandy forms in London
- February 23, 1945 Canadian troops occupy Kalkar
- February 23, 1945 Operation Grenade General Simpson's 9th Army crosses Ruhr
- February 23, 1945 "US Marines raise the American flag after taking Mount Suribachi on the island Iwo Jima, during WWII."
- February 23, 1945 "World War II: Capitulation of German garrison in Pozna, city is liberated by Soviet and Polish forces."
- February 23, 1945 "World War II: The capital of the Philippines, Manila, is liberated by American forces."
- February 23, 1945 World War II: The Verona Philharmonic Theatre is bombed by Allied forces (re-opened 1975).
- February 23, 1947 General Eisenhower opens drive to raise $170 million in aid for European Jews
- February 23, 1947 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is founded.
- February 23, 1951 In Korea Canadian troops with 27th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade make first contact with enemy.
- February 23, 1954 "Pittsburgh begins the first mass inoculation of children against polio in the US, using the vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk."
- February 23, 1954 Syrian army drives out President Adib el-Shishakli
- February 23, 1954 "The first mass vaccination of children against polio begins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania."
- February 23, 1955 Edgar Faure forms French government
- February 23, 1955 First meeting of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
- February 23, 1956 Russian party leader Khrushchev attacks memory of Stalin
- February 23, 1957 """Mr Wonderful"" closes at Broadway Theater NYC after 383 performances"
- February 23, 1957 The founding congress of the Senegalese Popular Bloc is opened in Dakar.
- February 23, 1958 5-time world driving champion Juan Fangio kidnapped by Cuban rebels
- February 23, 1958 Arturo Frondizi elected President of Argentina
- February 23, 1958 Cuban rebels kidnap 5-time world driving champion Juan Manuel Fangio.
- February 23, 1958 "Last Municipal arc light, Mission & 25th removed (installed in 1913)"
- February 23, 1959 Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Lake Worth Golf Open
- February 23, 1959 KVIE TV channel 6 in Sacramento-Stockton CA (PBS) begins broadcasting
- February 23, 1960 Demolition begins on Brooklyn's Ebbets Field (opened in 1913)
- February 23, 1961 Number one hit on UK music charts - Petula Clark - Sailor
- February 23, 1964 Charlie Finley signs a 4 year lease to keep A's in Kansas City
- February 23, 1965 "Comedian Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame, dies in Santa Monica, CA."
- February 23, 1965 Constance Baker Motley elected Manhattan Borough president
- February 23, 1965 In Ottawa the Government approves collective bargaining and arbitration in the Civil Service but takes it away when it is convenient
- February 23, 1966 A military coup in Syria replaces the previous government.
- February 23, 1966 Aldo Moro forms Italian government
- February 23, 1966 Military coup in Syria ends Bitar government
- February 23, 1966 Premier Obote grabs power in Uganda
- February 23, 1967 25th amendment (Presidential succession) declared ratified
- February 23, 1967 "John Herbert's ""Fortune & Men's Eyes,"" premieres in New York NY"
- February 23, 1967 Ted Workman replaces Senator Keith Davey as CFL commissioner
- February 23, 1967 US troops begin largest offensive of Vietnam War
- February 23, 1968 "Wilt Chamberlain becomes first NBAer to score 25,000 points"
- February 23, 1969 Nayif Hawatimah forms Democratic People's Front for Liberation of Palestine
- February 23, 1969 Start of hovercraft service between Vancouver and Nanaimo; first scheduled hovercraft service in Canada didn't last too many logs in the water
- February 23, 1970 Guyana becomes a republic (National Day)
- February 23, 1970 Holy Eucharist given by women for first time in Roman Catholic service
- February 23, 1971 Boston Bruins begin 13 NHL game win streak
- February 23, 1971 George Harrison is fined & his driving license is suspended for 1 year as a result of several speeding tickets
- February 23, 1971 Lieutenant Calley confesses & implicates Captain Medina
- February 23, 1973 Gold goes up $10 overnight to record $95 an ounce in London
- February 23, 1974 Number one hit on UK music charts - Suzi Quatro - Devil Gate Drive
- February 23, 1974 "Teri Garr appears on Bob Newhart Show in ""Confessions of an Orth"""
- February 23, 1975 Amy Alcott wins LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Classic
- February 23, 1975 "In response to the energy crisis, daylight saving time commences nearly two months early in the United States."
- February 23, 1976 Owners announce spring training won't open without a labor contract
- February 23, 1978 "20th Grammy Awards Hotel California, Fleetwood Mac, Debbie Boone win"
- February 23, 1978 "William H. Webster took the oath of office as FBI Director. Director Webster continued Director Kelley's emphasis on ""quality"" investigations."
- February 23, 1979 """Sarava"" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 140 performances"
- February 23, 1979 Cameron Mclanahan is born in California
- February 23, 1979 Frank Peterson Jr named first black general in Marine Corps
- February 23, 1979 W.A.C. Bennett dies at age 78; Premier of British Columbia from 1952 to 1972
- February 23, 1980 Eric Heiden wins all 5 speed skating golds at Lake Placid Olympics
- February 23, 1980 "Oil tanker explosion off Pilos, Greece, causes 37-million-gallon spill"
- February 23, 1981 "23-F, Antonio Tejero attempts a coup d'tat by capturing the Spanish Congress of Deputies."
- February 23, 1981 People magazine features drug ordeal of Mackenzie & Papa John Phillips
- February 23, 1981 Spanish coup under Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejero Molina fails
- February 23, 1982 "Michael Frayn's ""Noises Off,"" premieres in London"
- February 23, 1983 "25th Grammy Awards Rosanna, Toto IV, Men at Work win"
- February 23, 1983 "The Spanish Socialist government of Felipe Gonzlez and Miguel Boyer nationalizes Rumasa, a holding of Jos Mara Ruiz Mateos."
- February 23, 1983 USFL New Jersey Generals sign Heisman winner Herschel Walker (3 years-$5 million)
- February 23, 1985 Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight throws a chair during a game
- February 23, 1985 US Senate confirms Edwin Meese III as Attorney General
- February 23, 1986 "Despite losing, Red Sox Wade Boggs gets largest arbitration ($1.35M)"
- February 23, 1986 Mary Beth Zimmerman wins LPGA Standard Register/Samaritan Golf Classic
- February 23, 1986 Nelli Fiere-Cooman runs world record 60 meter indoor (7.00 seconds)
- February 23, 1987 A supernova is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud (see Supernova 1987a).
- February 23, 1987 "Dick Howser retires from managing Kansas City Royals, due to brain tumor"
- February 23, 1987 Russian Writers Union accepts Boris Pasternak posthumous as member
- February 23, 1987 Supernova 1987A in LMC first seen; first naked-eye supernova since 1604
- February 23, 1988 Chicago gives Cubs right to install lights & play up to 18 night games
- February 23, 1988 Yvonne van Gennip skates female record 3k (4:11.94)
- February 23, 1990 "Ian Smith 173 New Zealand vs India, 136 balls, world record for no 9 bat"
- February 23, 1990 "Jose Napoleon Duarte, former Salvadoran president, dies at age 64."
- February 23, 1991 "Greg Haugen scores a split decision over Hector ""Macho"" Camacho"
- February 23, 1991 "Gulf War: Ground troops cross the Saudi Arabia border and enter Iraq, thus starting the ground-phase of the war."
- February 23, 1991 "In Thailand, General Sunthorn Kongsompong leads a bloodless coup d'tat, deposing Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan."
- February 23, 1991 "Military coup in Thailand, Premier Choonhaven arrested"
- February 23, 1991 "North Carolina is first NCAA basketball team to win 1,500 games"
- February 23, 1991 Patty Sheehan wins LPGA Orix Hawaiian Ladies Golf Open
- February 23, 1991 US insists Iraq publicly announce it is leaving Kuwait by 12 PM EST
- February 23, 1992 "Andy Flower scores 115 on ODI debut, Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka"
- February 23, 1992 The Socialist Labour Party is founded in Georgia.
- February 23, 1993 "Gary Coleman wins $1,280,000 lawsuit against parents for high fees"
- February 23, 1993 India complete a 3-0 series drubbing of England
- February 23, 1993 Sacramento Gold Miners admitted as CFL's 9th franchise (1st US team)
- February 23, 1995 Antoine Nduwayo appointed Premier of Burundi
- February 23, 1995 "On Wall Street, The Dow Jones industrial average closes above 4,000 for the first time, ending the day at 4003.33."
- February 23, 1996 "Mark Waugh scores 130 in World Cup vs Kenya, 207 w/brother Steve"
- February 23, 1996 Rajindra Dhanraj takes 9-97 for Trinidad against Leeward Islands
- February 23, 1997 "A large fire occurs in the Russian Space station, Mir."
- February 23, 1997 Ali Abu Kamal opens fire in Empire State Building & kills 1
- February 23, 1997 American Express Senior Golf Invitational
- February 23, 1997 Jeff Sluman wins Tucson Golf Classic
- February 23, 1997 "NBC TV shows ""Schindler's List,"" completely uncensored, 65 million watch"
- February 23, 1997 "Scottish scientists announce the successful cloning of an adult mammal (""Dolly"" the lamb)."
- February 23, 1997 Tucson Chrysler Golf Classic
- February 23, 1998 "Kissimmee Tornado Outbreak: Tornadoes in central Florida destroy or damage 2,600 structures and kill 42."
- February 23, 1998 Osama bin Laden publishes a fatwa declaring jihad against all Jews and Crusaders.
- February 23, 1998 Supreme Court lets Megan's Law stand
- February 23, 1998 Tornadoes in Florida kills at least 31 feb240303 first official Roman edict for persecution of Christians issued
- February 23, 1999 "An avalanche destroys the Austrian village of Galtr, killing 31."
- February 23, 1999 "Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah calan is charged with treason in Ankara, Turkey."
- February 23, 1999 Two avalanches in as many days are blamed for the death of 38 people in Austria.
- February 23, 2005 "Slovakia Summit 2005 begins, marking the first occasion when a sitting American President visits Slovakia; Bush and Putin are in attendance."
- February 23, 2005 "Vote of the controversial French law on colonialism, repealed start of 2006."
- February 23, 2006 Dubai Ports World agrees to postpone its plans to take over management of six U.S. ports after the proposal ignited harsh bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill.
- February 23, 2007 "A train derails on an evening express service near Grayrigg, Cumbria, United Kingdom, killing one person and injuring 22. This results in hundreds of points being checked over the UK after a few similar accidents."
- February 23, 2007 "Japan launches its fourth spy satellite, stepping up its ability to monitor potential threats such as North Korea."
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