March 23

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)
• 1905 - 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 Godrèche, 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)

March 22 - March 24 - February 23 - April 23 -- listing of all days

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Referenced By