What Happened on January 23
Important Events
- 971 War elephant corps of the Southern Han defeated at Shao by crossbow fire from Song Dynasty troops; Southern Han state forced to submit to the Song Dynasty. 1st regular war elephant corps in Chinese army
- 1368 In a coronation ceremony, Zhu Yuanzhang ascends to the throne of China as the Hongwu Emperor, initiating Ming Dynasty rule over China that would last for three centuries.
- 1556 Shaanxi Earthquake, the deadliest ever recorded, kills 830,000 in Shaanxi Province, China
- 1950 Israeli Knesset resolves Jerusalem is capital of Israel
- 1973 US President Richard Nixon announces an accord has been reached to end Vietnam War
- 1978 Sweden becomes the first nation in the world to ban aerosol sprays, believed to be damaging to earth's ozone layer.
Jan 23 in Film & TV
- 1977 Mini-series "Roots" premieres on ABC
Jan 23 in Music
- 1986 1st induction of Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame (Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Domino, Everly Bros, Buddy Holly, J L Lewis & Elvis Presley)
Jan 23 in Sport
- 2018 LeBron James becomes the 7th and youngest (33 years 24 days) to reach the 30,000 NBA point milestone during 114-102 loss to San Antonio Spurs
Did You Know?
Agoston Haraszthy, 1st vintner in Sonoma Valley, California imports 10,000 grape vine cuttings
On January 23, 1862
Famous Birthdays
John Hancock
(1737 - 1793)- Edouard Manet
(1832 - 1883) - Django Reinhardt
(1910 - 1953) - Chesley Sullenberger
70 Years Old - Mariska Hargitay
57 Years Old - XXXTentacion
(1998 - 2018)
John Hancock
Edouard Manet
Django Reinhardt
Chesley Sullenberger
Mariska Hargitay
XXXTentacionWould You Believe?
Elva Zona Heaster is found dead in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Resulting murder trial of her husband perhaps only case in US history where the alleged testimony of a ghost helped secure a conviction.
On January 23, 1897
Famous Weddings
- 1906 Composer Igor Stravinsky (23) weds Yekaterina Nosenko
- 1976 Actor Sidney Poitier (48) weds actress Joanna Shimkus
- 1999 Princess of Monaco Caroline (42) weds dynastic head of the House of Hanover and Britain's King George I descendant Prince Ernst August (45) in Monaco
Ferdinand II of Aragon
William Pitt the Younger
Edvard Munch
Salvador Dali
Johnny Carson
Ernie BanksArticles, Photos and Quiz
January in History
The Pain Behind Cleopatra's Needle
First-time visitors to London could be surprised when they see an Egyptian obelisk standing beside the River Thames. It was welcomed to the city on this day.
January 21, 1878Pitman Shorthand: An Invention of Note
Shorthand inventor Isaac Pitman died on this day. Other systems evolved before and after Pitman, but the long and short of it is, his is the most widespread.
January 22, 1897The British: 139. Zulu Warriors: 4,000. Let Battle Begin
It was one of the most remarkable military engagements ever: the day that 139 British soldiers took on 4,000 Zulu warriors – and won.
January 22, 1879California Gold Rush
At first it was just a glint in James Marshall’s eye. But when he confirmed what he thought he had seen, the frantic California Gold Rush of the 1840s began.
January 24, 1848
