✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 143rd day of the year

May 23

A look at May 23 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including John Bardeen and Carl Linnaeus, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♊ZodiacGemini ◈BirthstoneEmerald ❀Birth flowerLily of the Valley
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2021

    Ryanair Flight 4978

    Ryanair Flight 4978 is forced to land by Belarusian authorities to detain dissident journalist Roman Protasevich.

    2021 aviation incident in
  2. 2021

    Stresa–Mottarone cable car crash

    A cable car falls from a mountain near Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, killing 14 people.

    2021 cable car disaster
  3. 2017

    Rodrigo Duterte

    Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao, following the Maute's attack in Marawi.

    President of the Philippines
  4. 2008

    International Court of Justice

    The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awards Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh) to Singapore, ending a 29-year territorial dispute between the two countries.

    Judicial organ of the
  5. 1995

    Java (programming language)

    The first version of the Java programming language is released.

    Object-oriented programming language
  6. 1980

    The Shining (film)

    The Shining, the psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, is premiered on 10 screens in New York City and Los Angeles on the Memorial Day weekend.

    1980 film by Stanley
  7. 1932

    Brazil

    In Brazil, four students are shot and killed during a manifestation against the Brazilian dictator Getúlio Vargas, which resulted in the outbreak of the Constitutionalist Revolution several weeks later.

    Country in South America
  8. 1915

    World War I

    World War I: Italy joins the Allies, fulfilling its part of the Treaty of London.

    1914–1918 global conflict
  9. 1900

    American Civil War

    American Civil War: Sergeant William Harvey Carney is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Assault on the Battery Wagner in 1863.

    1861–1865 conflict in the
  10. 1873

    North-West Mounted Police

    The Canadian Parliament establishes the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

    Former Canadian police force
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Famous birthday twins

Born on May 23

John Bardeen

b. 1908

American physicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate

Carl Linnaeus

b. 1707

Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist

Lena Meyer-Landrut

b. 1991

German singer-songwriter

Emperor Qinzong

b. 1100

of Song

Ulla Jacobsson

b. 1929

Swedish-Austrian actress

Jean Françaix

b. 1912

French pianist and composer

Friedrich Achleitner

b. 1930

German poet and critic

Prince Augustus Ferdinand of Prussia

b. 1730

Prussian prince and general

Deaths

  • 2009Roh Moo-hyun, South Korean soldier and politician, 9th President of South Korea
  • 1999Owen Hart, Canadian-American wrestler
  • 1906Henrik Ibsen, Norwegian director, playwright, and poet
  • 1857Augustin-Louis Cauchy, French mathematician and academic
  • 1701William Kidd, Scottish pirate
  • 1370Toghon Temür, Mongol emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Aromanian National Day
  • —Christian feast day: Aaron the Illustrious (Syriac Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Desiderius of Vienne
  • —Christian feast day: Giovanni Battista de' Rossi
  • —Christian feast day: Julia of Corsica
  • —Christian feast day: Michael of Synnada
  • —Christian feast day: Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler (Episcopal Church (USA))
  • —Christian feast day: Quintian, Lucius and Julian

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