What Happened on August 23?

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events

births

deaths

holidays

EVENTS ON AUGUST 23

Explore the most important historical events that happened on August 23, featuring key moments that shaped the world.

First Opium War

Year: 1839

The United Kingdom captures Hong Kong as a base as it prepares for the First Opium War with Qing China.

American Civil War

Year: 1864

American Civil War: The Union Navy captures Fort Morgan, Alabama, thus breaking Confederate dominance of all ports on the Gulf of Mexico except Galveston, Texas.

Austro-Prussian War

Year: 1866

The Austro-Prussian War ends with the Treaty of Prague.

Nat Turner's Rebellion

Year: 1831

Nat Turner's rebellion of enslaved Virginians is suppressed.

Battle of Großbeeren

Year: 1813

At the Battle of Großbeeren, the Prussians under Von Bülow repulse the French army.

North Carolina

Year: 1784

Western North Carolina (now eastern Tennessee) declares itself an independent state under the name of Franklin; it is not accepted into the United States, and only lasts for four years.

Napoleon

Year: 1799

Napoleon Bonaparte leaves Egypt for France en route to seizing power.

Albert Bridge, London

Year: 1873

The Albert Bridge in Chelsea, London opens.

BIRTHS ON AUGUST 23

Discover famous people and historical figures born on August 23, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.

Vera Miles

Year of birth: 1930

Vera Miles, American actress

Michel Rocard

Year of birth: 1930

Michel Rocard, French civil servant and politician, 160th Prime Minister of France (died 2016)

Zoltán Czibor

Year of birth: 1929

Zoltán Czibor, Hungarian footballer (died 1997)

Peter Thomson (golfer)

Year of birth: 1929

Peter Thomson, Australian golfer (died 2018)

Dick Bruna

Year of birth: 1927

Dick Bruna, Dutch author and illustrator (died 2017)

Marian Seldes

Year of birth: 1928

Marian Seldes, American actress (died 2014)

Hamilton O. Smith

Year of birth: 1931

Hamilton O. Smith, American microbiologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Barbara Eden

Year of birth: 1931

Barbara Eden, American actress and singer

DEATHS ON AUGUST 23

Look back at notable individuals who passed away on August 23, and learn about their lasting influences on history.

Deodoro da Fonseca

Year of death: 1892

Deodoro da Fonseca, Brazilian field marshal and politician, 1st President of Brazil (born 1827)

Kuroda Kiyotaka

Year of death: 1900

Kuroda Kiyotaka, Japanese general and politician, 2nd Prime Minister of Japan (born 1840)

Heinrich Berté

Year of death: 1924

Heinrich Berté, Slovak-Austrian composer (born 1856)

Rudolph Valentino

Year of death: 1926

Rudolph Valentino, Italian actor (born 1895)

William Thompson (boxer)

Year of death: 1880

William Thompson, British boxer (born 1811)

Auguste-Marseille Barthélemy

Year of death: 1867

Auguste-Marseille Barthélemy, French poet and author (born 1796)

Alexander Wilson (ornithologist)

Year of death: 1813

Alexander Wilson, Scottish-American poet, ornithologist, and illustrator (born 1766)

Oliver Hazard Perry

Year of death: 1819

Oliver Hazard Perry, American commander (born 1785)

HOLIDAYS ON AUGUST 23

See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on August 23 around the world.

Day of the National Flag (Ukraine)

August 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Christian feast day: August 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

1944 Romanian coup d'état

European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism or Black Ribbon Day (European Union and other countries), and related observances: Liberation from Fascist Occupation Day (Romania)

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

The memorial day for the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis(the August 23 shelling war) ( Taiwan)

National Doctors' Day

National Day for Physicians (Iran)

Tydfil

Christian feast day: Tydfil

Rose of Lima

Christian feast day: Rose of Lima

August