What Happened on October 23?

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events

births

deaths

holidays

EVENTS ON OCTOBER 23

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

Imatra (cinema)

Year: 1927

The Imatra Cinema is destroyed in a fire in Tampere, Finland, during showing the 1924 film Wages of Virtue; 21 people die in the fire and almost 30 are injured.

Adolf Hitler

Year: 1940

Adolf Hitler and Francisco Franco meet at Hendaye to discuss the possibility of Spain entering the Second World War.

First Balkan War

Year: 1912

First Balkan War: The Battle of Kumanovo between the Serbian and Ottoman armies begins.

Italo-Turkish War

Year: 1911

The Italo-Turkish War sees the first use of an airplane in combat when an Italian pilot makes a reconnaissance flight.

Meiji Restoration

Year: 1868

Meiji Restoration: Having taken the shogunate's seat of power at Edo and declared it his new capital as Tokyo, Mutsuhito proclaims the start of the new Meiji era.

Alberto Santos-Dumont

Year: 1906

Alberto Santos-Dumont flies an airplane in the first heavier-than-air flight in Europe.

The Holocaust

Year: 1941

The Holocaust: Nazi Germany prohibits Jews from emigrating, including in its occupied territories.

Battle for Henderson Field

Year: 1942

World War II: The Battle for Henderson Field begins on Guadalcanal.

BIRTHS ON OCTOBER 23

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

Alan Gilzean

Year of birth: 1938

Alan G'ilzean, Scottish footballer and manager (died 2018)

C. V. Vigneswaran

Year of birth: 1939

C. V. Vigneswaran, Sri Lankan lawyer, judge, and politician, 1st Chief Minister of the Northern Province

Johnny Carroll

Year of birth: 1937

Johnny Carroll, American rockabilly musician (died 1995)

Carlos Lamarca

Year of birth: 1937

Carlos Lamarca, Brazilian captain (died 1971)

Charles Goodhart

Year of birth: 1936

Charles Goodhart, English economist and academic

Deven Verma

Year of birth: 1937

Deven Verma, Indian actor, director, and producer (died 2014)

Pelé

Year of birth: 1940

Pelé, Brazilian footballer and actor (died 2022)

Ellie Greenwich

Year of birth: 1940

Ellie Greenwich, American singer-songwriter and producer (died 2009)

DEATHS ON OCTOBER 23

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

Maybelle Carter

Year of death: 1978

Maybelle Carter, American singer and autoharp player (Carter Family) (born 1909)

Jessica Savitch

Year of death: 1983

Jessica Savitch, American journalist (born 1947)

Oskar Werner

Year of death: 1984

Oskar Werner, Austrian-German actor (born 1922)

Edward Adelbert Doisy

Year of death: 1986

Edward Adelbert Doisy, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1893)

Tommy Edwards

Year of death: 1969

Tommy Edwards, American singer-songwriter (born 1922)

George Bouzianis

Year of death: 1959

George Bouzianis, Greek painter (born 1885)

Hana Brady

Year of death: 1944

Hana Brady, Czech holocaust victim (born 1931)

Charles Barkla

Year of death: 1944

Charles Glover Barkla, English-Scottish physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1877)

HOLIDAYS ON OCTOBER 23

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

Christ Child

Christian feast day: Christmas or the Feast of Señor Noemi (the Child Jesus) in the Apostolic Catholic Church

Peter Pascual

Christian feast day: Peter Pascual

Romanus of Rouen

Christian feast day: Romain (Romanus) of Rouen

October 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Christian feast day: October 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

John of Capistrano

Christian feast day: John of Capistrano

Ignatios of Constantinople

Christian feast day: Ignatios of Constantinople

James, brother of Jesus

Christian feast day: James the Just (i.e. James, brother of Jesus) (Lutheran, Episcopal Church (USA), Eastern Orthodox)

Severin of Cologne

Christian feast day: Severin of Cologne

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