January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 342 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about January 23rd, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about January 23rd in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- Measure Your Feet Day
- National Handwriting Day
- National Reading Day
Historic Events
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 meters (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 claims 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.
1930-1931: “An unusual picture of one of the intrepid window washers working on the Empire State Building, as he pauses in his task to draw a lung-full of clean air at his height.” 1930-1931

1890: Menelik II, emperor of Ethiopia, 1890’s.

Famous Birthdays
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
Heartbreaking Deaths
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