On This Day in History: August 23rd
Every day is packed with historical significance, from major global events to the birthdays of influential figures. On this day, August 23rd, we look back at some of the most impactful moments in history.
India Lands on the Moon
On August 23, 2023, India became the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon, following the Chandrayaan-3 mission. This achievement marked a significant milestone for India's space program, cementing its position as a key player in global space exploration.
Georges Cuvier
French naturalist. He made important contributions to the study of fossils and proved that it was possible for species to become extinct.
More Events
Hashtag Tweet
The hashtag (#) symbol was first used in a tweet when US blogger Chris Messina posted “#barcamp” on the social media site Twitter
Baltic Chain
About 2 million people sang and held hands to form a human chain stretching more than 600 km (373 miles) through the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The protest demonstrated their shared goal of independence from Soviet rule.
Southern Cross Expedition
Led by Anglo-Norwegian explorer Carsten Borchgrevink, the first British expedition to Antarctica set sail on a ship called Southern Cross. Its crew was the first to spend winter on the Antarctic mainland.
The Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad began as Soviet forces fought the Nazis for control of the Russian city of Stalingrad.
The first photograph of Earth
The first photograph of Earth taken from orbit around the Moon was captured by NASA’s robotic spacecraft Lunar Orbiter 1.
The World Wide Web
1991 The World Wide Web was opened to the public by its inventor, Tim Berners-Lee.
Execution of William Wallace
William Wallace, a prominent Scottish resistance leader during the Wars of Scottish Independence, was executed in London on August 23, 1305, after being captured by the English. Accused of treason against King Edward I of England, Wallace was hanged, drawn, and quartered, marking a brutal end to his role in the fight for Scottish independence.
Battle of ChÄldirÄn
On August 23, 1514, the Ottoman Empire achieved a decisive victory over the į¹¢afavid dynasty of Iran at the Battle of ChÄldirÄn. The Ottomans, led by Sultan Selim I, defeated the į¹¢afavid forces, securing their dominance over eastern Anatolia and establishing Ottoman influence in the region.
Execution of Sacco and Vanzetti
On August 23, 1927, Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in Massachusetts after being convicted of murder in a controversial trial. Their case became a symbol of anti-immigrant sentiment and judicial unfairness, as many believed they were innocent and convicted due to their anarchist political beliefs.
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Signed
On August 23, 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a nonaggression agreement that shocked the world. The pact divided Eastern Europe into Nazi German and Soviet spheres of influence, leading to the invasion of Poland shortly after and the start of World War II.
Fall of Muammar al-Qaddafi
On August 23, 2011, Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi's 42-year reign came to an end after rebel forces captured his compound in Tripoli. Qaddafi had ruled with an iron fist since 1969, and his downfall marked the end of one of the longest-serving autocracies in the Arab world, following a NATO-backed intervention during the Libyan Civil War.
Births & Deaths
King Louis XVI of France
King Louis XVI, born on August 23, 1754, was the last reigning monarch of France before the French Revolution. His inability to address France's financial crisis and his eventual execution by guillotine in 1793 symbolized the end of absolute monarchy in France.
Kobe Bryant, American Basketball Legend
In Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant became one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers earned him five NBA championships and numerous accolades, making him a global sports icon before his tragic death in 2020.
Jeremy Lin
US basketball player. He is the first Asian American to win a National Basketball Association (NBA) championship.