March 23

March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (83rd in Leap
years). There are 283 days remaining.

Events

   * 752 - Stephen II becomes Pope
   * 1708 - James Francis Edward Stuart lands at the Firth of Forth
   * 1775 - American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry delivers his speech -
     "give me liberty or give me death" in Williamsburg, Virginia.
   * 1806 - After traveling through the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the
     Pacific Ocean, explorers Lewis and Clark and their "Corps of Discovery"
     begin their journey home
   * 1839 - First recorded use of "OK" oll korrect (Boston Morning Post)
   * 1857 - Elisha Otis' first elevator is installed (at 488 Broadway, New
     York City)
   * 1868 - The University of California is founded in Oakland, California
     when the Organic Act is signed into law.
   * 1889 - Land Run: President Benjamin Harrison opens Oklahoma to white
     settlement starting on April 22.
   * 1903 - The Wright Brothers apply for a patent on their invention of the
     first successful airplane.
   * 1909 - Theodore Roosevelt leaves New York for a post-presidency safari
     in Africa. The trip was sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and
     National Geographic Society.
   * 1919 - In Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini founds his Fascist political
     movement.
   * 1933 - The Reichstag passes the Enabling Act, giving Adolf Hitler
     dictatorial powers over German legislation.
   * 1935 - Signing of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the
     Philippines
   * 1942 - World War II: In the Indian Ocean, Japanese forces capture the
     Anadaman Islands.
   * 1956 - Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic.
   * 1965 - NASA launches Gemini 3, the United States' first two-person
     space flight (crew: Gus Grissom and John Young).
   * 1983 - Strategic Defense Initiative: President Ronald Reagan makes his
     initial proposal to develop technology to intercept enemy missiles. The
     media dub this plan "Star Wars."
   * 1989 - Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann announce cold fusion at the
     University of Utah.
   * 1989 - A 1,000-foot diameter Near-Earth asteroid misses the Earth by
     400,000 miles.
   * 1996 - The Republic of China on Taiwan holds its first direct elections
     for president
   * 1999 - Gunmen assassinate Paraguay's Vice President Luis Maria Argana.

Births

   * 1749 - Pierre Simon de Laplace, mathematician and astronomer (+ 1827)
   * 1769 - William Smith, geologist/cartographer (+ 1839)
   * 1823 - Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the United States (+ 1885)
   * 1882 - Emmy Noether, mathematician (+ 1935)
   * 1887 - Juan Gris, painter and graphic artist (+ 1927)
   * 1900 - Erich Fromm, psychoanalyst (+ 1980)
   * 1904 or 1908 - Joan Crawford, actor (+ 1977)
   * 1910 - Lale Andersen, singer and cabaretist (+ 1972)
   * 1910 - Akira Kurosawa, film director (+ 1998)
   * 1912 - Wernher von Braun, physicist and engineer (+ 1977)
   * 1929 - Sir Roger Bannister, athlete, first "Miracle Mile"
   * 1949 - Ric Ocasek, musician ("The Cars")
   * 1952 - Kim Stanley Robinson, science fiction author
   * 1953 - Chaka Khan, singer
   * 1972 - Judith Godr�che, actress/author

Deaths:

   * 1801 - Tsar Paul of Russia
   * 1842 - Stendhal, writer
   * 1964 - Peter Lorre, actor
   * 1970 - Del Lord, pioneer Hollywood director
   * 1979 - Orlando Letelier, former Chilean ambassador to the United States
   * 1983 - Barney Clark, first artificial heart recipient

Holidays and observances

   * Roman Empire - The fifth and final day of Quinquatria, held in honor of
     Minerva.
   * Roman Empire - Tubilustrium was held in honor of Mars
   * Ancient Latvia - Lieldienas held in honor of Mara and other goddesses
   * National Day (Pakistan)