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On this day in history - January 23

What Happened On This Day – January 23

  • 1986 The first artists are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    Among the first inductees were Ray Charles, James Brown, and Elvis Presley.

  • 1960 The “Trieste” dives to a record depth of 10,911 metres (35,797 ft)

    Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh reached the bottom of Challenger Deep, the Earth's deepest known point.

  • 1957 Walter Frederick Morrison sells the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O toy company

    Today, the Frisbee is used around the world as both a toy and as part of flying disc games, such as Ultimate.

  • 1950 Israel proclaims Jerusalem as its capital

    Despite international protests, the Knesset passed a resolution stating that the divided city will be the country's capital.

  • 1556 The deadliest earthquake on record kills some 830,000 people

    The epicenter was in the Wei River Valley in Shaanxi Province, China.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
January 23

  • 1984 Arjen Robben

    Dutch footballer

  • 1926 Bal Thackeray

    Indian politician

  • 1919 Ernie Kovacs

    American comedian, actor

  • 1897 Subhas Chandra Bose

    Indian politician, activist

  • 1737 John Hancock

    American politician, 1st Governor of Massachusetts

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
January 23

  • 2005 Johnny Carson

    American television host

  • 2002 Pierre Bourdieu

    French sociologist

  • 1989 Salvador Dalí

    Spanish painter

  • 1986 Joseph Beuys

    German sculptor, illustrator

  • 1944 Edvard Munch

    Norwegian painter