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On This Day · The 113th day of the year

April 23

A look at April 23 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including William Shakespeare and Max Planck, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2018

    2018 Toronto van attack

    A vehicle-ramming attack kills 11 people and injures 15 in Toronto. A 25-year-old suspect, Alek Minassian, is arrested.

    Vehicle-ramming attack in Ontario,
  2. 1979

    Death of Blair Peach

    Blair Peach, a British activist, is fatally injured after being knocked unconscious during an Anti-Nazi League demonstration against a National Front election meeting in Southall, London.

    1979 police killing of
  3. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: The Greek government and King George II evacuate Athens before the invading Wehrmacht.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  4. 1927

    Cardiff City F.C.

    Cardiff City defeat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, the only time it has been won by a team not based in England.

    Association football club in
  5. 1920

    Grand National Assembly of Turkey

    The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is founded in Ankara. The assembly denounces the government of Sultan Mehmed VI and announces the preparation of a temporary constitution.

    Unicameral legislature of Turkey
  6. 1918

    World War I

    World War I: The British Royal Navy makes a raid in an attempt to neutralise the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  7. 1891

    Chilean Civil War of 1891

    Chilean Civil War: The ironclad Blanco Encalada is sunk at Caldera Bay by torpedo boats.

    Conflict between the Army
  8. 1724

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104, illustrating the topic of the Good Shepherd in pastoral music.

    German composer (1685–1750)
  9. 1661

    Charles II of England

    King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland is crowned in Westminster Abbey.

    King of England, Scotland,
  10. 1016

    Edmund Ironside

    Edmund Ironside succeeds his father Æthelred the Unready as King of England.

    King of England in
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Famous birthday twins

Born on April 23

William Shakespeare

b. 1564

English playwright and poet

Max Planck

b. 1858

German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Annie Easley

b. 1933

American computer scientist, mathematician, and engineer

James Buchanan

b. 1791

American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 15th President of the United States

Paavo Lipponen

b. 1941

Finnish journalist and politician, 38th Prime Minister of Finland

John Cena

b. 1977

American professional wrestler and actor

Daniela Hantuchová

b. 1983

Slovak tennis player

Karl Rosenkranz

b. 1805

German philosopher and academic

Deaths

  • 2019Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000
  • 1992Satyajit Ray, Indian director, producer, and screenwriter
  • 1616William Shakespeare, English playwright and poet
  • 1200Zhu Xi, Chinese philosopher
  • 711AD 711, Frankish king
  • 303303, Roman soldier and martyr

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Adalbert of Prague
  • —Christian feast day: Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus
  • —Christian feast day: Saint George
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Giles of Assisi
  • —Christian feast day: Gerard of Toul
  • —Christian feast day: Ibar of Beggerin (Meath)
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu
  • —Christian feast day: Toyohiko Kagawa (Episcopal and Lutheran Church)

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