March 23
From Wikinfo
March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (83rd in Leap years). There are 283 days remaining.
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Events
- 752 - Stephen II becomes Pope.
- 1708 - James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth.
- 1775 - American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry delivers his famous speech - "give me liberty or give me death" in Williamsburg, Virginia.
- 1806 - After traveling through the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the Pacific Ocean, explorers Lewis and Clark and their "Corps of Discovery" begin their arduous journey home.
- 1839 - First recorded use of "OK" oll korrect (Boston Morning Post).
- 1857 - Elisha Otis' first elevator is installed (at 488 Broadway, New York City).
- 1868 - The University of California is founded in Oakland, California when the Organic Act is signed into law.
- 1889 - Land run: President Benjamin Harrison opens Oklahoma to white settlement starting on April 22.
- 1889 - free Woolwich Ferry officially opened in east London.
- 1903 - The Wright Brothers apply for a patent on their invention of the first successful airplane after much hard work.
- 1909 - Theodore Roosevelt leaves New York for a post-presidency safari in Africa. The trip was sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and National Geographic Society.
- 1919 - In Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini founds his Fascist political movement.
- 1933 - The Reichstag passes the Enabling Act, giving Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers over German legislation.
- 1935 - Signing of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
- 1942 - World War II: In the Indian Ocean, Japanese forces capture the Anadaman Islands.
- 1956 - Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic.
- 1965 - NASA launches Gemini 3, the United States' first two-person space flight (crew: Gus Grissom and John Young).
- 1983 - Strategic Defense Initiative: President Ronald Reagan makes his initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles. The media dub this plan "Star Wars."
- 1989 - Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann announce cold fusion at the University of Utah.
- 1989 - A 1,000-foot diameter Near-Earth asteroid misses the Earth by 400,000 miles.
- 1996 - The Republic of China on Taiwan holds its first direct elections for president
- 1999 - Gunmen assassinate Paraguay's Vice President Luis Maria Argana.
Births
- 1749 - Pierre Simon de Laplace, mathematician and astronomer (+ 1827)
- 1769 - William Smith, geologist/cartographer (+ 1839)
- 1823 - Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the United States (+ 1885)
- 1834 - Julius Reubke, composer (+ 1858)
- 1882 - Emmy Noether, mathematician (+ 1935)
- 1887 - Juan Gris, painter and graphic artist (+ 1927)
- 1889 - Yukichi Chuganji, oldest man alive on (+ 2003)
- 1900 - Erich Fromm, psychoanalyst (+ 1980)
- 1904 or 1908 - Joan Crawford, actor (+ 1977)
- 1905 - Lale Andersen, singer and cabaretist (+ 1972)
- 1910 - Akira Kurosawa, film director (+ 1998)
- 1912 - Wernher von Braun, physicist and engineer (+ 1977)
- 1929 - Sir Roger Bannister, athlete, first "Miracle Mile"
- 1942 - Walter Rodney, historian and political figure (+ 1980
- 1949 - Ric Ocasek, musician ("The Cars")
- 1952 - Kim Stanley Robinson, science fiction author
- 1953 - Chaka Khan, singer
- 1972 - [[Judith Godr�che]], actress/author
Deaths
- 1801 - Tsar Paul of Russia
- 1842 - Stendhal, writer
- 1964 - Peter Lorre, actor
- 1970 - Del Lord, pioneer Hollywood director
- 1979 - Orlando Letelier, former Chilean ambassador to the United States
- 1983 - Barney Clark, first artificial heart recipient
- 2003 - Fritz Spiegl, journalist
Holidays and observances
- Roman Empire - The fifth and final day of Quinquatria, held in honor of Minerva.
- Roman Empire - Tubilustrium was held in honor of Mars
- Ancient Latvia - Lieldienas held in honor of Mara and other goddesses
- National Day (Pakistan)
See Also:
March 22 - March 24 - February 23 - April 23 -- listing of all days
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December[[de:23. M�rz]]
References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "March 23" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_23 December 27, 2003
