✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 54th day of the year

February 23

A look at February 23 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including George Frideric Handel and Casimir Funk, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♓ZodiacPisces ◈BirthstoneAmethyst ❀Birth flowerViolet
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2021

    February 2021 Ecuadorian prison riots

    Four simultaneous prison riots leave at least 62 people dead in Ecuador.

    Massacre in Ecuadorian prisons
  2. 1987

    SN 1987A

    Supernova 1987a is seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

    1987 supernova event in
  3. 1943

    Cavan Orphanage fire

    The Cavan Orphanage fire kills thirty-five girls and an elderly cook.

    1943 deadly fire at
  4. 1942

    World War II

    World War II: Japanese submarines fire artillery shells at the coastline near Santa Barbara, California.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  5. 1941

    Plutonium

    Plutonium is first produced and isolated by Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg.

    Chemical element with atomic
  6. 1886

    Charles Martin Hall

    Charles Martin Hall produced the first samples of aluminium from the electrolysis of aluminium oxide, after several years of intensive work. He was assisted in this project by his older sister, Julia Brainerd Hall.

    American inventor, businessman, and
  7. 1861

    Abraham Lincoln

    President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrives secretly in Washington, D.C., after the thwarting of an alleged assassination plot in Baltimore, Maryland.

    President of the United
  8. 1847

    Mexican–American War

    Mexican–American War: Battle of Buena Vista: In Mexico, American troops under future president General Zachary Taylor defeat Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna.

    1846–1848 conflict between Mexico
  9. 1778

    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War: Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to help train the Continental Army.

    1775–1783 conflict in North
  10. 1725

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    J. S. Bach leads his Tafel-Music Shepherd Cantata for the birthday of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels.

    German composer (1685–1750)
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Famous birthday twins

Born on February 23

George Frideric Handel

b. 1685

German-English organist and composer

Casimir Funk

b. 1884

Polish biochemist

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville

b. 1680

Sieur de Bienville, Canadian politician, 2nd Colonial Governor of Louisiana

Radosław Sikorski

b. 1963

Polish journalist and politician, 11th Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland

Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria

b. 1417

Duke of Bavaria-Landshut from 1450 to 1479

Victor Fleming

b. 1889

American director, cinematographer, and producer

Hans Herrmann

b. 1928

German racing driver

Karl Jaspers

b. 1883

German-Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher

Deaths

  • 1969Madhubala, Indian actress and producer
  • 1855Carl Friedrich Gauss, German mathematician, astronomer, and physicist
  • 1848John Quincy Adams, American politician, 6th President of the United States
  • 1766Stanisław Leszczyński, Polish king
  • 1464Emperor Yingzong of Ming, Emperor of China (1435–1449, 1457–1464)
  • 1100Emperor Zhezong, of Song

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Polycarp of Smyrna
  • —Christian feast day: Blessed Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga
  • —Christian feast day: Serenus the Gardener
  • —Christian feast day: Willigis
  • —Christian feast day: February 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • —The Emperor's Birthday, birthday of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan (Japan)
  • —Mashramani-Republic Day (Guyana)
  • —National Day (Brunei)

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