AUGUST 23 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on August 23
Sarah Frances Whiting
Died: September 12, 1927 (age 80 years)
The first professor of physics and astronomy at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
Harry Frank Guggenheim
Died: January 22, 1971 (age 80 years)
Co-founder of the daily newspaper Newsday.
Jean Darling
Died: September 4, 2015 (age 93 years)
Silent film actress who made several acting appearances, including as a regular on Our Gang (Little Rascals).
Clifford Geertz
Died: October 30, 2006 (age 80 years)
Considered one of the most widely known and most influential anthropologists of all time.
Barbara Eden
Successful actress who is widely recognized for her role as Jeannie on I Dream of Jeannie.
Richard Sanders
Actor who played the character Les on WKRP in Cincinnati.
Rudy Ruettiger
Notre Dame football player whose life was depicted in the movie Rudy.
Shelley Long
Actress easily recognized for her role as Diane in the sitcom Cheers.
Kobe Bryant
Died: January 26, 2020 (age 41 years)
NBA guard and champion (2000-02 and 2009-10); NBA MVP (2008); 18 x NBA All Star; Olympic Gold medalist (2008-12).
Historical Events on August 23
Events that occurred on August 23 throughout history
Western North Carolina (now eastern Tennessee) declares itself an independent state.
Western North Carolina declares itself an independent state under the name of Franklin. The name was not accepted into the U.S. and only lasts for four years. The name was eventually changed to Tennessee.
The first National Women's Rights Convention convenes.
The first National Women's Rights Convention convenes in Worcester, Massachusetts. More than 1,000 people were in attendance to discuss equal pay, better jobs, education access, and property rights for married women.
Country artist Kitty Wells becomes the first woman to reach #1 on Billboard Country Charts.
Country artist Kitty Wells becomes the first woman to reach #1 on Billboard Country Charts with the hit It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels. She had 35 top-10 singles and earned top female vocalist awards for 14 straight years during her musical career.
The first carload of freight containing boots and shoes arrives in California.
After 16 days of train transport, the first carload of freight containing boots and shoes arrives in San Francisco, California. Before this delivery, moving commercial goods from the East Coast to the West Coast required months of treacherous travel by wagon train or sailing ships navigating around Cape Horn.
Harry D. Weed receives a patent for his "Grip-Tread for Pneumatic Tires."
Harry D. Weed receives a patent for his "Grip-Tread for Pneumatic Tires." His invention was the first anti-skid automobile tire chain to make for better traction during winter and on muddy roads.
Japan declares war on Germany.
Japan declares war on Germany after Japan ordered Germany to leave Asian waters. Germany did not reply to the warning by the deadline, leading to the formal declaration of war.
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.
Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The Pact divided Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania are divided into German and Soviet land. Hitler attacked the Soviet Union within two years, breaking the agreement.
Saddam Hussein appears on Iraqi state television with a number of Western hostages.
Saddam Hussein appears on Iraqi state television with a number of Western hostages. Referring to them as "guests," Hussein used the hostages as a way to prevent the Gulf War.
West and East Germany announce that they will reunite on October 3.
West and East Germany announce that they will reunite on October 3, ending 45 years of Cold War division.
The skeletal remains of Russia's last royal family members are discovered near Yekaterinburg, Russia.
The skeletal remains of Russia's last royal family members Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia, and his sister Grand Duchess Anastasia, are discovered near Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Chris Messina invents and uses the first hashtag in a tweet.
Chris Messina invents and uses the first hashtag in a tweet after being told by Twitter executives it was "too nerdy" of a move to make on social media. The hashtag used was #barcamp.
