✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 357th day of the year

December 23

A look at December 23 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Jean-François Champollion and Chet Baker, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneTurquoise ❀Birth flowerHolly
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 1984

    Aeroflot Flight 3519

    After experiencing an engine fire, Aeroflot Flight 3519 attempts to make an emergency landing at Krasnoyarsk International Airport but crashes, killing 110 of the 111 people on board.

    1984 aviation accident in
  2. 1970

    Democratic Republic of the Congo

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo officially becomes a one-party state.

    Country in Central Africa
  3. 1948

    Japan

    Seven Japanese military and political leaders convicted of war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East are executed by Allied occupation authorities at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo, Japan.

    Country in East Asia
  4. 1947

    Transistor

    The transistor is first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories.

    Solid-state electrically operated switch
  5. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: After 15 days of fighting, the Imperial Japanese Army occupies Wake Island.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1936

    Colombia

    Colombia becomes a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty.

    Country in South America
  7. 1919

    Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919

    Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 becomes law in the United Kingdom, allowing women to serve as lawyers, civil servants, and in other professions, as well as to serve on juries.

    UK law granting women
  8. 1914

    World War I

    World War I: Australian and New Zealand troops arrive in Cairo, Egypt.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  9. 1783

    George Washington

    George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.

    U.S. Founding Father, president
  10. 583

    Yohl Ikʼnal

    Maya queen Yohl Ik'nal is crowned ruler of Palenque.

    Queen of the Mayan
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 23

Jean-François Champollion

b. 1790

French philologist, orientalist, and scholar

Chet Baker

b. 1929

American jazz trumpet player, flugelhorn player, and singer

Helmut Schmidt

b. 1918

German soldier, economist, and politician, 5th Chancellor of Germany

Emperor Zhenzong

b. 968

of Song, emperor of the Song dynasty

Anna J. Harrison

b. 1912

American organic chemist and academic

Tianqi Emperor

b. 1605

Chinese emperor

Alexander I of Russia

b. 1777

Emperor of Russia from 1801 to 1825

Dost Mohammad Khan

b. 1793

emir of Afghanistan

Deaths

  • 2024Shyam Benegal, Indian director and screenwriter
  • 2024Dési Bouterse, Surinamese general and politician, 9th President of Suriname
  • 1961Kurt Meyer, German SS general and convicted war criminal
  • 1834Thomas Robert Malthus, English economist and demographer
  • 1638Barbara Longhi, Italian painter
  • 679AD 679, Frankish king (probable; b. 650)

Holidays & observances

  • —Birthday of the Queen Silvia, an official flag flying day (Sweden)
  • —Children's Day (South Sudan and Sudan)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Abassad (Coptic Church)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Coptic Church)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Dagobert II
  • —Christian Feast Day: John Cantius
  • —Christian Feast Day: O Emmanuel
  • —Christian Feast Day: Psote (Coptic Church)

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