What happened on December 23? There are more than 272 events that were made this day in history. Here are the important historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
Interesting Facts & Myths About December 23
December 23 is the 358th day of the year 2024. There are 8 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Monday. This day falls under the 52nd week of the year 2024.
On this day in Sabine Pass, Texas 77655 sunrise will occur at 07:06 AM and sunset will occur at 05:23 PM (local time).
The zodiac sign of a person born on this day is Capricorn. The modern birthstone for this month is Turquoise while the mystical birthstone is Onyx.
According to the Chinese calendar, there are 37 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year (January 29, 2025).
Is your birthday coming up in two days? Are you not curious to find out who is sharing your special day? Discover all the April 21 famous birthdays. There are fun facts about that day that you must know. (Sponsored link)
Historical Events For December 23
- 962Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city of Aleppo
- 1572Theologian Johann Sylvan executed in Heidelberg for his heretical Antitrinitarian beliefs
- 1688As part of the Glorious Revolution, King James II of England flees England to Paris after being deposed in favour of his nephew, William of Orange and his daughter Mary.
- 1783George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
- 1793The Battle of Savenay, decisive defeat of the royalist counter-revolutionaries in Revolt in the Vendée during the French Revolution.
- 1823A Visit from St. Nicholas, also known as The Night Before Christmas, is published anonymously.
- 1893The opera Hänsel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck is first performed.
- 1913The Federal Reserve Act is signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson, creating the Federal Reserve.
- 1914World War I: Australian and New Zealand troops arrive in Cairo, Egypt.
- 1916World War I: Battle of Magdhaba – Allied forces defeat Turkish forces in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula.
- 1919Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 becomes law in the UK.
- 1921Visva-Bharati University is inaugurated.
- 1936Colombia becomes a signatory to the Buenos Aires copyright treaty.
- 1936First flight of the Vickers Wellington bomber.
- 1938Discovery of the first modern coelacanth in South Africa.
- 1940World War II: Greek submarine Papanikolis (Υ-2) sinks the Italian motor ship Antonietta.
- 1941World War II: After 15 days of fighting, the Japanese Imperial Army occupies Wake Island.
- 1947The transistor is first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories.
- 1948Seven Japanese convicted of war crimes by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East are executed at Sugamo Prison in Tokyo.
- 1958Dedication of Tokyo Tower, the world’s highest self-supporting iron tower.
- 1968The 82 sailors from the USS Pueblo are released after eleven months of internment in North Korea.
- 1970The North Tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York City is topped out at 1,368 feet (417 m), making it the tallest building in the world.
- 1972A 6.5 magnitude earthquake strikes the Nicaraguan capital of Managua killing more than 10,000.
- 1972The 16 survivors of the Andes flight disaster are rescued after 73 days, having survived by cannibalism.
- 1979Soviet war in Afghanistan: Soviet forces occupy Kabul, the Afghan capital.
- 1982The United States Environmental Protection Agency announces it has identified dangerous levels of dioxin in the soil of Times Beach, Missouri.
- 1986Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, lands at Edwards Air Force Base in California becoming the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without aerial or ground refueling.
- 1990History of Slovenia: In a referendum, 88.5% of Slovenia’s overall electorate vote for independence from Yugoslavia.
- 2002A MQ-1 Predator is shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25, making it the first time in history that an aircraft and an unmanned drone had engaged in combat.
- 2003PetroChina Chuandongbei natural gas field explosion, Guoqiao, Kai County, Chongqing, China, killing at least 234.
- 2007An agreement is made for the monarchy of Nepal to be abolished and the country to become a federal republic with the Prime Minister becoming head of state.
Who Were Born On December 23?
- 245Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra
- 1173Louis I, Duke of Bavaria (d. 1231)
- 1513Thomas Smith, English diplomat and scholar (d. 1577)
- 1582Severo Bonini, Italian composer (d. 1663)
- 1597Martin Opitz von Boberfeld, German poet (d. 1639)
- 1613Carl Gustaf Wrangel, Swedish soldier (d. 1676)
- 1621Edmund Berry Godfrey, English magistrate (d. 1678)
- 1621Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham, Lord Chancellor of England (d. 1682)
- 1689Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, French composer (d. 1755)
- 1713Maruyama Gondazaemon, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 3rd Yokozuna (d. 1749)
- 1732Richard Arkwright, English industrialist and inventor (d. 1792)
- 1743Ippolit Bogdanovich, Russian poet (d. 1803)
- 1750King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (d. 1827)
- 1758Nathan Wilson U.S. Representative from New York (d. 1834)
- 1777Tsar Alexander I of Russia (d. 1825)
- 1790Jean-François Champollion, French Egyptologist (d. 1832)
- 1804Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve, French literary critic (d. 1869)
- 1805Joseph Smith, Jr., American religious leader (d. 1844)
- 1819Jan Jakob Lodewijk ten Kate, Dutch poet and clergyman (d. 1889)
- 1822Wilhelm Bauer, German engineer (d. 1875)
- 1839János Murkovics, Slovene writer and teacher in Hungary (d. 1917)
- 1843Richard Conner, American Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient (d. 1924)
- 1854Henry B. Guppy, British botanist (d. 1926)
- 1864Zorka of Montenegro, Princess of Serbia (d. 1890)
- 1867Madam C.J. Walker, American philanthropist and tycoon (d. 1919)
- 1874Viggo Wiehe, Danish actor (d. 1956)
- 1878Stephen Timoshenko, Ukrainian-born mechanical engineer (d. 1972)
- 1885Pierre Brissaud, French artist (d. 1964)
- 1891Alexandr Rodchenko, Russian painter and photographer (d. 1956)
- 1896Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, Sicilian writer (d. 1957)
- 1900Otto Soglow, American comics artist (d. 1975)
- 1902Charan Singh, Indian Prime Minister(d.1987)
- 1902Norman Maclean, American author (d. 1990)
- 1907Avraham Stern, Polish-born Zionist leader (d. 1942)
- 1907Manuel Lopes, Cape Verdean writer and poet (d. 2005)
- 1908Yousuf Karsh, Turkish-born, Canadian portrait photographer (d. 2002)
- 1910Kurt Meyer, German SS officer (d. 1961)
- 1911James Gregory, American actor (d. 2002)
- 1911Niels Kaj Jerne, English-born immunologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (d. 1994)
- 1916Dino Risi, Italian film director and screenwriter (d. 2008)
- 1918Helmut Schmidt, Chancellor of Germany
- 1918José Greco, Italian-born flamenco dancer (d. 2001)
- 1918Kumar Pallana, Indian-born American actor
- 1919Kenneth M. Taylor, American pilot (d. 2006)
- 1921Guy Beaulne, French Canadian actor and theatre director (d. 2001)
- 1922Micheline Ostermeyer, French athlete and musician (d. 2001)
- 1923Claudio Scimone, Italian conductor
- 1923Günther Schifter, Austrian music journalist (d. 2008)
- 1923James Stockdale, American admiral and Medal of Honor recipient (d. 2005)
- 1923Onofre Marimón, Argentine racing driver (d. 1954)
- 1924Bob Kurland, American basketball player
- 1925Duncan Hallas, British political figure (d. 2002)
- 1925Rayner Unwin, British book publisher (d. 2000)
- 1926Robert Bly, American poet
- 1928Chronis Aidonidis, Greek singer
- 1929Chet Baker, American jazz trumpet player (d. 1988)
- 1929Dick Weber, American professional tenpin bowler (d. 2005)
- 1931Ronnie Schell, American actor
- 1933Akihito, Emperor of Japan
- 1935Esther Phillips, American singer (d. 1984)
- 1935Paul Hornung, American football player
- 1936Frederic Forrest, American actor
- 1937Barney Rosenzweig, American television producer
- 1937Edward Irving Wortis, American author
- 1938Bob Kahn, American Internet pioneer
- 1940Eugene Record, American singer (The Chi-Lites) (d. 2005)
- 1940Jorma Kaukonen, American musician (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna)
- 1940Robert Labine, French-Canadian politician
- 1941Serge Reding, Belgian weightlifter (d. 1975)
- 1941Tim Hardin, American musician (d. 1980)
- 1942John Peterman, American fashion designer
- 1942Quentin Bryce, Governor-General of Australia
- 1943Elizabeth Hartman, American actress (d. 1987)
- 1943Harry Shearer, American actor
- 1943Mikhail Gromov, Russian-born mathematician
- 1943Ron Allen, American baseball player
- 1943Silvia Sommerlath, Queen of Sweden
- 1944Wesley Clark, American military officer
- 1945Ron Bushy, American drummer (Iron Butterfly)
- 1946Edita Gruberová, Slovak operatic soprano
- 1946John Sullivan, British screenwriter (d. 2011)
- 1946Susan Lucci, American actress
- 1947Graham Bonnet, English musician
- 1948Jack Ham, American football player
- 1948Jim Ferguson, American guitarist, composer, educator, author, and music journalist
- 1948Leslie Moonves, American television executive
- 1949Adrian Belew, American musician (King Crimson)
- 1950Ilchi Lee, Korean educator and author
- 1950Michael C. Burgess, American politician
- 1950Vicente del Bosque, Spanish football manager
- 1951Anthony Phillips, British musician (Genesis)
- 1952William Kristol, American political commentator
- 1953Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia
- 1955Carol Ann Duffy, Scottish poet and playwright; Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom
- 1956Dale Berra, American baseball player
- 1956Dave Murray, English musician (Iron Maiden)
- 1956Michele Alboreto, Italian Formula one driver (d. 2001)
- 1957Dan Bigras, Canadian singer
- 1957Trisha Goddard, English television presenter
- 1958Joan Severance, American actress
- 1958Victoria Williams, American singer
- 1959Geoff Willis, British engineer
- 1961Carol Smillie, British television personality
- 1961Ezzat el Kamhawi, Egyptian novelist.
- 1962Bertrand Gachot, Belgian racing driver
- 1962Kang Je-gyu, South Korean film director
- 1962Keiji Mutoh, Japanese professional wrestler
- 1963Ante Zelck, German entrepreneur and hostel pioneer.
- 1963Donna Tartt, American author
- 1963Jess Harnell, American voice actor and singer
- 1963Jim Harbaugh, American football player
- 1964Eddie Vedder, American musician (Pearl Jam)
- 1967Carla Bruni, Italian-French model and singer
- 1967Otis Grant, Jamaican-Canadian Professional Boxer
- 1967Tim Fountain, British playwright
- 1968Manuel Rivera-Ortiz, American photographer
- 1968Quincy Jones III, Swedish-American musician
- 1969Martha Byrne, American actress
- 1969Rob Pelinka, American sports agent
- 1970Catriona LeMay Doan, Canadian speed skater
- 1970Holly Samos, British radio presenter
- 1970Karine Polwart, Scottish folk singer-songwriter
- 1970Raymont Harris, American football player
- 1971Corey Haim, Canadian actor (d. 2010)
- 1971Masayoshi Yamazaki, Japanese singer-songwriter
- 1971Michalis Klokidis, Greek footballer
- 1971Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, British socialite
- 1971Wim Vansevenant, Belgian cyclist
- 1972Christian Potenza, Canadian actor
- 1974Agustín Delgado, Ecuadorian footballer
- 1975Sky Lopez, American actress
- 1975Thanasis Sentementes, Greek footballer
- 1975Vadim Sharifijanov, Russian ice hockey player
- 1976Brad Lidge, American baseball player
- 1976Dimitris Mavrogenidis, Greek footballer
- 1976Jamie Noble, American professional wrestler
- 1977Alge Crumpler, American football player
- 1977Jari Mäenpää, Finnish guitarist and singer
- 1977Matt Baker, British television presenter
- 1977Paul Shirley, American basketball player
- 1978Andra Davis, American football player
- 1978Estella Warren, Canadian model and actress
- 1978Esthero, Canadian musician and singer
- 1978Jodie Marsh, British glamour model
- 1978Víctor Martínez, Venezuelan baseball player
- 1979Holly Madison, American model
- 1979Kenny Miller, Scottish football player
- 1979Scott Gomez, American ice hockey player
- 1979Summer Altice, American model and actress
- 1980Cody Ross, American baseball player
- 1980Elvin Ng, Singaporean actor
- 1981Beth, Spanish singer
- 1981Mario Santana, Argentine footballer
- 1981Maritza Correia, American swimmer
- 1981Yuriorkis Gamboa, Cuban boxer
- 1982Brad Nelson, American baseball player
- 1982Thomas Rohregger, Austrian cyclist (Leopard Trek)
- 1983Carlos Jimenez, Spanish basketball player
- 1983Hanley Ramírez, Dominican baseball player
- 1983Michael Chopra, English footballer
- 1984Joseph Stacey, British actor
- 1984Sebastian Werle, German rugby player
- 1985Harry Judd, British drummer (McFly)
- 1985Luke O'Loughlin, Australian actor
- 1986Beau Champion, Australian Rugby League Player
- 1986TJ Oshie, American ice hockey player
- 1987Owen Franks, New Zealand All Black rugby player
- 1987Tommaso Bellazzini, Italian footballer
- 1988Eliana Ramos, Uruguayan fashion model (d. 2007)
- 1988Eri Kamei, Japanese singer
- 1990Anna Maria Perez de Taglé, American actress, model, and singer
- 1992Jeffrey Schlupp, German footballer
Who Died On December 23?
- 668Mor Gabriel, Syriac Orthodox Saint (b. 594)
- 679King Dagobert II of Austrasia (b. c. 650)
- 910Naum of Preslav, Bulgarian scholar
- 918Conrad I of Germany
- 1230Berengaria of Navarre, queen of Richard I of England
- 1556Nicholas Udall, English playwright (b. 1504)
- 1568Roger Ascham, tutor of Elizabeth I of England
- 1575Akiyama Nobutomo, Japanese military commander (b. 1531)
- 1588Henry I, Duke of Guise, French Catholic leader (b. 1550)
- 1631Michael Drayton, English poet (b. 1563)
- 1646François Maynard, French poet (b. 1582)
- 1652John Cotton, English-born American minister (b. 1585)
- 1675Caesar, duc de Choiseul, French marshal and diplomat (b. 1602)
- 1722Pierre Varignon, French mathematician (b. 1654)
- 1761Alestair Ruadh MacDonnell, Scottish Jacobite spy
- 1763Antoine François Prévost, French author and novelist (b. 1697)
- 1771Marie-Marguerite d'Youville, Canadian saint (b. 1701)
- 1779Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, British admiral and politician (b. 1724)
- 1789Charles-Michel de l'Épée, French philanthropist (b. 1712)
- 1795Sir Henry Clinton, British general (b. 1730)
- 1805Pehr Osbeck, Swedish explorer and naturalist (b. 1723)
- 1834Thomas Malthus, English demographer and economist (b. 1766)
- 1846Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent, French naturalist (b. 1780)
- 1902Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury (b. 1821)
- 1912Otto Schoetensack, German anthropologist (b. 1850)
- 1926Swami Shraddhanand,(b.1856)
- 1931Wilson Bentley, American scientist (b. 1865)
- 1939Anthony Fokker, Dutch aircraft manufacturer (b. 1890)
- 1946John A. Sampson, American gynecologist (b. 1873)
- 1946Kiki Preston, American socialite (b. 1898)
- 1948Akira Muto, Japanese army commander (b. 1883)
- 1948Hideki Tojo, Prime Minister of Japan (b. 1884)
- 1950Vincenzo Tommasini, Italian composer (b. 1878)
- 1953Lavrenty Beria, Soviet politician (b. 1899)
- 1954René Iché, French sculptor (b. 1897)
- 1961Kurt Meyer, German SS officer (b. 1910)
- 1970Charles Ruggles, American actor (b. 1886)
- 1971Pasha Hristova, Bulgarian singer (b. 1946)
- 1972Andrei Tupolev, Soviet aircraft designer (b. 1888)
- 1973Charles Atlas, Italian-born American bodybuilder (b. 1892)
- 1973Irna Phillips, American television writer, director, and producer (b. 1901)
- 1979Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898)
- 1982Jack Webb, American actor, producer, and director (b. 1920)
- 1983Colin Middleton, Northern Irish artist (b. 1910)
- 1984Joan Lindsay, Australian author (b. 1896)
- 1992Eddie Hazel, American guitarist (Funkadelic) (b. 1950)
- 1992Vincent Fourcade, French interior designer (b. 1934)
- 1994Sebastian Shaw, English actor (b. 1905)
- 1997Stanley Cortez, American cinematographer (b. 1908)
- 1998Michelle Thomas, American actress (b. 1968)
- 2000Billy Barty, American actor (b. 1924)
- 2000Noor Jehan, Pakistani singer and actress (b. 1926)
- 2000Victor Borge, Danish-born comedian and pianist (b. 1909)
- 2001Bola Ige, Nigerian politician (b. 1930)
- 2004P. V. Narasimha Rao, Prime Minister of India (b. 1921)
- 2005Lajos Baróti, Hungarian footballer and coach (b. 1914)
- 2005Norman D. Vaughan, American polar explorer and musher (b. 1905)
- 2006Charlie Drake, English comedian (b. 1925)
- 2006Johnny Vincent, English footballer (b. 1947)
- 2006Marilyn Waltz, American actress and model (b. 1931)
- 2006Timothy J. Tobias, American composer and musician (b. 1952)
- 2007Michael Kidd, American film and stage choreographer (b. 1915)
- 2007Oscar Peterson, Canadian jazz pianist and composer (b. 1925)
- 2007William Francis Ganong, American physiologist (b. 1924)
- 2009Edward Schillebeeckx, Belgian Roman Catholic theologian (b. 1914)
- 2009Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, Tibetan official (b. 1910)
- 2009Robert L. Howard, American Vietnam War soldier; Medal of Honor recipient (b. 1939)
- 2010Fred Hargesheimer, American World War II pilot (b. 1916)
- 2010K. Karunakaran, Indian politician (b. 1918)
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