On This Day — January 23

🕰️ Notable Events on January 23

• 2003 — A very weak signal from Pioneer 10 is detected for the last time, but no usable data can be extracted. Wikipedia ↗
• 2002 — U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl is kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan and subsequently murdered. Wikipedia ↗
• 2001 — Five people attempt to set themselves on fire in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, an act that many people later claim is staged by the Communist Party of China to frame Falun Gong and thus escalate their persecution. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Netscape announced Mozilla, with the intention to release Communicator code as open source. Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — Madeleine Albright becomes the first woman to serve as United States Secretary of State. Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts its first members: Little Richard, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — United States President Richard Nixon announces that a peace accord has been reached in Vietnam. Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Ivory Coast are established. Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Milton Keynes (England) is founded as a new town by Order in Council, with a planning brief to become a city of 250,000 people. Its initial designated area enclosed three existing towns and twenty one villages. The area to be developed was largely farmland, with evidence of continuous settlement dating back to the Bronze Age. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting the use of poll taxes in national elections, is ratified. Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — The Guinea-Bissau War of Independence officially begins when PAIGC guerrilla fighters attack the Portuguese army stationed in Tite. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — The Portuguese luxury cruise ship Santa Maria is hijacked by opponents of the Estado Novo regime with the intention of waging war until dictator António de Oliveira Salazar is overthrown. Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — The bathyscaphe USS Trieste breaks a depth record by descending to 10,911 metres (35,797 ft) in the Pacific Ocean. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — After a general uprising and rioting in the streets, President Marcos Pérez Jiménez leaves Venezuela. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison sells the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O toy company, which later renames it the "Frisbee". Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — The Knesset resolves that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: German admiral Karl Dönitz launches Operation Hannibal. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: Troops of Montgomery's Eighth Army capture Tripoli in Libya from the German-Italian Panzer Army. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: Australian and American forces defeat Japanese army and navy units in the bitterly-fought Battle of Buna-Gona. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — World War II: The Battle of Rabaul commences Japan's invasion of Australia's Territory of New Guinea. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Charles Lindbergh testifies before the U.S. Congress and recommends that the United States negotiate a neutrality pact with Adolf Hitler. Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — The trial of the anti-Soviet Trotskyist center sees seventeen mid-level Communists accused of sympathizing with Leon Trotsky and plotting to overthrow Joseph Stalin's regime. Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — The Netherlands refuses to surrender the exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany to the Allies. Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — The International Opium Convention is signed at The Hague. Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — RMS Republic, a passenger ship of the White Star Line, becomes the first ship to use the CQD distress signal after colliding with another ship, the SS Florida, off the Massachusetts coastline, an event that kills six people. The Republic sinks the next day. Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Ålesund Fire: the Norwegian coastal town Ålesund is devastated by fire, leaving 10,000 people homeless and one person dead. Kaiser Wilhelm II funds the rebuilding of the town in Jugendstil style. Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Second Boer War: The Battle of Spion Kop between the forces of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State and British forces ends in a British defeat. Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — The Malolos Constitution is inaugurated, establishing the First Philippine Republic. Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Emilio Aguinaldo is sworn in as President of the First Philippine Republic. Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — Anglo-Zulu War: the Battle of Rorke's Drift ends. Wikipedia ↗
• 1870 — In Montana, U.S. cavalrymen kill 173 Native Americans, mostly women and children, in what becomes known as the Marias Massacre. Wikipedia ↗
• 1849 — Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her M.D. by the Geneva Medical College of Geneva, New York, becoming the United States' first female doctor. Wikipedia ↗
• 1846 — Slavery in Tunisia is abolished. Wikipedia ↗
• 1795 — After an extraordinary charge across the frozen Zuiderzee, the French cavalry captured 14 Dutch ships and 850 guns, in a rare occurrence of a battle between ships and cavalry Wikipedia ↗
• 1793 — Second Partition of Poland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1789 — Georgetown College, the first Catholic university in the United States, is founded in Georgetown, Maryland (now a part of Washington, D.C.) Wikipedia ↗
• 1719 — The Principality of Liechtenstein is created within the Holy Roman Empire. Wikipedia ↗
• 1656 — Blaise Pascal publishes the first of his Lettres provinciales. Wikipedia ↗
• 1579 — The Union of Utrecht forms a Protestant republic in the Netherlands. Wikipedia ↗
• 1571 — The Royal Exchange opens in London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1570 — James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, regent for the infant King James VI of Scotland, is assassinated by firearm, the first recorded instance of such. Wikipedia ↗
• 1556 — The deadliest earthquake in history, the Shaanxi earthquake, hits Shaanxi province, China. The death toll may have been as high as 830,000. Wikipedia ↗
• 1546 — Having published nothing for eleven years, François Rabelais publishes the Tiers Livre, his sequel to Gargantua and Pantagruel. Wikipedia ↗
• 1368 — In a coronation ceremony, Zhu Yuanzhang ascends the throne of China as the Hongwu Emperor, initiating Ming dynasty rule over China that would last for three centuries. Wikipedia ↗
• 1264 — In the conflict between King Henry III of England and his rebellious barons led by Simon de Montfort, King Louis IX of France issues the Mise of Amiens, a one-sided decision in favour of Henry that later leads to the Second Barons' War. Wikipedia ↗
• 971 — Using crossbows, Song dynasty troops soundly defeat a war elephant corps of the Southern Han at Shao. Wikipedia ↗
• 393 — Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his eight-year-old son Honorius co-emperor. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on January 23

• 1995 — Luke Bateman, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Tuimoala Lolohea, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Addison Russell, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Reina Triendl, Japanese model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Şener Özbayraklı, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Alex Silva, Canadian wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Martyn Waghorn, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Australian-New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Leo Komarov, Finnish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Michael Stevens, American YouTuber and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Gelete Burka, Ethiopian runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Marc Laird, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — José Enrique, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Steven Taylor, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Dong Fangzhuo, Chinese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Doutzen Kroes, Dutch model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Yevgeny Lukyanenko, Russian pole vaulter Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Aselefech Mergia, Ethiopian runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jeff Samardzija, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Robbie Farah, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Arjen Robben, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Irving Saladino, Panamanian long jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Wily Mo Peña, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Andrew Rock, American sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Rob Friend, Canadian soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Dawn O'Porter, Scottish-English fashion designer and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Juan Rincón, Venezuelan baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Larry Hughes, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Brandon Duckworth, American baseball player and scout Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Phil Dawson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Glen Chapple, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Yosvani Pérez, Cuban baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Richard T. Slone, English painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Tiffani Thiessen, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Ewen Bremner, Scottish actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Scott Gibbs, Welsh-South African rugby player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Kevin Mawae, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Marc Nelson, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Adam Parore, New Zealand cricketer and mountaineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Lisa Snowdon, English television and radio presenter and fashion model Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Spyridon Vasdekis, Greek long jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Andrei Kanchelskis, Ukrainian-Russian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Brendan Shanahan, Canadian ice hockey player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Susen Tiedtke, German long jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Taro Hakase, Japanese violinist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Petr Korda, Czech-Monacan tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Owen Cunningham, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Damien Hardman, Australian surfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Haywoode Workman, American basketball player and referee Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Louie Clemente, American drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Jonatha Brooke, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mariska Hargitay, American actress and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyanese economist and politician, 7th President of Guyana Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mario Roberge, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — David Arnold, English composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Aivar Lillevere, Estonian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Elvira Lindo, Spanish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Neil Henry, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Yelena Sinchukova, Russian long jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Jean-François Sauvé, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Greg Ritchie, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Clive Bull, English radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Sergey Litvinov, Russian hammer thrower Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Caroline, Princess of Hanover Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Trevor Hohns, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — John Luther Adams, American composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Alister McGrath, Irish priest, historian, and theologian Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Antonio Villaraigosa, American politician, 41st Mayor of Los Angeles Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Robin Zander, American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Omar Henry, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Margaret Bailes, American sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Chesley Sullenberger, American captain and pilot Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Richard Dean Anderson, American actor, producer, and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Bill Cunningham, American bass player and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — John Greaves, Welsh bass player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Suzanne Scotchmer, American economist and academic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Luis Alberto Spinetta, Argentinian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and poet (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Anita Pointer, American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Tom Carper, American captain and politician, 71st Governor of Delaware Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesian politician, 5th President of Indonesia Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Arnoldo Alemán, Nicaraguan lawyer and politician, President of Nicaragua Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Boris Berezovsky, Russian-English businessman and mathematician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Zvonko Bušić, Croatian terrorist, hijacker of TWA Flight 355 (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Don Whittington, American racing driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Mike Harris, Canadian politician, 22nd Premier of Ontario Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Rutger Hauer, Dutch actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Gary Burton, American vibraphone player and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Özhan Canaydın, Turkish basketball player and businessman (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Gil Gerard, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Laurie Mayne, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Herman Tjeenk Willink, Dutch judge and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Jock R. Anderson, Australian economist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — João Ubaldo Ribeiro, Brazilian journalist, author, and academic (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Alan Cheuse, American writer and critic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Joe Dowell, American pop singer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Ed Roberts, American disability rights activist (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Giant Baba, Japanese wrestler and promoter, founded All Japan Pro Wrestling (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Georg Baselitz, German painter and sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Brian Howe, Australian minister and politician, 8th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Jerry Kramer, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Cécile Ousset, French pianist Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Mike Agostini, Trinidadian sprinter (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Tom Reamy, American author (d. 1977) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Pierre Bourgault, Canadian journalist and politician (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Bill Hayden, Australian politician, 21st Governor General of Australia Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Chita Rivera, American actress, singer, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — George Allen, English footballer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Larri Thomas, American actress and dancer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Filaret, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Mervyn Rose, Australian tennis player (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Derek Walcott, Saint Lucian poet and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Teresa Żylis-Gara, Polish operatic soprano Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Myron Cope, American journalist and sportscaster (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Phillip Knightley, Australian journalist, author, and critic (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — John Polanyi, German-Canadian chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Chico Carrasquel, Venezuelan baseball player and manager (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Jeanne Moreau, French actress (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Lars-Eric Lindblad, Swedish-American businessman and explorer (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Fred Williams, Australian painter (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Bal Thackeray, Indian journalist, cartoonist, and politician (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Marty Paich, American pianist, composer, producer, and conductor (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Frank Lautenberg, American soldier, businessman, and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Horace Ashenfelter, American runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Cot Deal, American baseball player and coach (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Walter M. Miller, Jr., American soldier and author (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Leon Golub, American painter and academic (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Henry Eriksson, Swedish runner (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Walter Frederick Morrison, American businessman, invented the Frisbee (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Frances Bay, Canadian-American actress (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Hans Hass, Austrian biologist and diver (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Ernie Kovacs, American actor and game show host (d. 1962) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Bob Paisley, English footballer and manager (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Gertrude B. Elion, American biochemist and pharmacologist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Florence Rush, American social worker and theorist (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — David Douglas Duncan, American photographer and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Airey Neave, English colonel, lawyer, and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (d. 1979) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Herma Bauma, Austrian javelin thrower and handball player (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — W. Arthur Lewis, Saint Lucian-Barbadian economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Potter Stewart, American lawyer and judge (d. 1985) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Jean-Michel Atlan, Algerian-French painter (d. 1960) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Wally Parks, American businessman, founded the National Hot Rod Association (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Boris Pokrovsky, Russian director and manager (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Django Reinhardt, Belgian guitarist and composer (d. 1953) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Dan Duryea, American actor and singer (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — Hideki Yukawa, Japanese physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Erich Borchmeyer, German sprinter (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1903 — Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, Colombian lawyer and politician, 16th Minister of National Education of Colombia (d. 1948) Wikipedia ↗
• 1901 — Arthur Wirtz, American businessman (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — William Ifor Jones, Welsh organist and conductor (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Glen Kidston, English race car driver and pilot (d. 1931) Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Georg Kulenkampff, German violinist (d. 1948) Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Randolph Scott, American actor (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1898 — Freda Utley, English scholar and author (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on January 23 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on January 23

✡️ Religious Observances

• Islamic: Birth of Sayyidina Abbas ibn `Ali (ر)