What are the important events that happened on May 23? Here are historical events, facts, and some myths about this day.
May 23: Facts & Myths About This Day
May 23 is the 143rd day of the year 2025 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 222 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Friday.
Under the Julian calendar, this day is May 10, 2025 – a Friday. Both day of the week are the same but did you notice the difference with the Gregorian calendar?
When this day started, 485,544 hours has elapsed since midnight of January 1, 1970 – the Unix epoch.
Strange as it may, if we name this day after a polygon then it will be called ‘hectatetracontatrigon’ day.
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Gemini is the zodiac sign of a person born on this day. Emerald is the modern birthstone for this month. Sapphire is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.
According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 270 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.
The ancient Maya civilization believes that the end of the world will happen on December 21, 2012. There are now 4,536 days since this fabled cataclysmic event.
Do people and celebrities interest you? Discover all the May 23 famous birthdays who share your special day. Learn some fun facts about your birthday!
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May 23 Historical Events
1430 –
Siege of Compiègne: Joan of Arc is captured by the Burgundians while leading an army to relieve Compiègne.
1533 –
The marriage of King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon is declared null and void.
1609 –
Official ratification of the Second Charter of Virginia takes place.
1618 –
The Second Defenestration of Prague precipitates the Thirty Years’ War.
1813 –
South American independence leader Simón Bolívar enters Mérida, leading the invasion of Venezuela, and is proclaimed El Libertador (“The Liberator”).
1846 –
Mexican-American War: President Mariano Paredes of Mexico unofficially declares war on the United States.
1873 –
The Canadian Parliament establishes the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
1967 –
Egypt closes the Straits of Tiran and blockades the port of Eilat at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping.
1995 –
Oklahoma City bombing: In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the remains of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building are imploded.
2004 –
Part of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport’s Terminal 2E collapses, killing four people and injuring three others.
Who were born on May 23?
1855 –
Isabella Ford, English feminist and union activist (d. 1924)
1887 –
Thoralf Skolem, Norwegian mathematician (d. 1963)
1890 –
Herbert Marshall, English actor (d. 1966)
1923 –
Alicia de Larrocha, Spanish pianist (d. 2009)
1943 –
General Norman Johnson, American singer (Chairmen of the Board) (d. 2010)
1950 –
Bruce Hay, Scottish international rugby union player (d. 2007)
1970 –
Matt Flynn, American musician
1970 –
Nanette Burstein, American director/producer
1974 –
Charlie Yeung, Hong Kong actress and singer
1978 –
Mike González, American baseball player
Who died on May 23?
1701 –
William “Captain” Kidd, Scottish pirate (b. 1645)
1752 –
William Bradford, English-born printer (b. 1663)
1868 –
Kit Carson, American trapper, scout, and Indian agent (b. 1809)
1966 –
Demchugdongrub, Mongolian politician (b. 1902)
1975 –
Moms Mabley, American comedian (b. 1894)
1986 –
Sterling Hayden, American actor (b. 1916)
1988 –
Aya Kitō, Japanese diarist (b. 1962)
1991 –
Wilhelm Kempff, German pianist and composer (b. 1895)
1998 –
Eminem, American Musician (b. 1972)
2005 –
Fat-Tone, American rapper (b. 1981)
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