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August 23: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Facts & Historic Events That Happened on August 23

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August 23rd is known as Sponge Cake Day and Ride The Wind Day.

We made it to day 236 of the year and there’s only 130 days remaining in 2024.

If today is a special day for you, or you just want to know more about it then you’re going to love our selection of historical events that all happened on this day.

Did you know that on this day in 1541, French explorer Jacques Cartier arrived in the city of Quebec? He is credited with naming Canada by referring to Quebec using the native’s word for village, “kanata.”

Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about August 23rd in history!

Events

What memorable events happened on August 23 in history? Keep reading to find out!

2023

India became the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon.

OTD in 2023: India became the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon.

India followed in the footsteps of Russia, China, and the US with the touchdown of its Chandrayaan-3 Moon Lander. India’s Moon landing is quite different from all other landings, though, as it was the first to land on the Moon’s unexplored south pole.

2021

Nicki Minaj’s Super Freaky Girl debuted at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100.

2007

Chris Messina Tweeted #barcamp, which became the first use of a hashtag on Twitter.

OTD in 2007: Chris Messina Tweeted #barcamp

Messina co-founded BarCamp, a technology and web event that’s been held in more than 350 cities.

1990

Armenia declared its independence from the Soviet Union.

1970

The largest farm worker strike in US history began.

The Salad Bowl Strike, led by the United Farm Workers union, was a series of general strikes, boycotts, and mass pickets to fight for the collective bargaining rights of agricultural workers. The strikes lasted just over seven months. The farm workers got their demands met four years later when the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act was passed into law.

1966

The first-ever photograph was taken of the Earth from the surface of the Moon.

Lunar Orbiter 1 sent the photo back to earth on this day on its 16th orbit. The photograph was received by the NASA tracking station near Madrid, Spain.

1948

The World Council of Churches (WCC) was founded with 147 churches from 44 countries.

1924

Mars had a “close encounter” with Earth at 34.8 million miles apart.

OTD in 1924: Mars had a "close encounter" with Earth at 34.8 million miles apart.

1914

During World War I, Japan officially declared war on Germany.

1899

The first-ever message was sent from a ship to the shore at Cliff House, San Francisco.

The message received by the station was, “Sherman is sighted.”

1873

The Albert Bridge opened in London, England.

OTD in 1873: The Albert Bridge opened in London

The bridge, designed by Rowland Mason Ordish, crosses the River Thames connecting Chelsea to Battersea. It is 710 feet long, 41 feet wide, and 66 feet high.

1799

Napoleon Bonaparte left Egypt to return home to France.

1793

During the French Revolution, a mass levy was adopted, making it compulsory for any able-bodied men aged 18 to 25 to join military service.

1541

French explorer Jacques Cartier arrived in the city of Quebec during his third voyage to Canada.

1305

Scottish knight William Wallace was executed for treason by being hung, drawn, and quartered by order of King Edward I of England.

OTD in 1305: Scottish knight William Wallace was executed for treason by being hung

Famous Births

Is today your birthday? If so, you share this special day with Kobe Bryant! Check out more famous people born on this day below.

1978

Kobe Bryant

American

Basketball Player

Kobe Bryant

Died On:

Jan 26, 2020 (Age 41)

Born In:

Pennsylvania, USA

1970

River Phoenix

American

Actor

River Phoenix

Died On:

Oct 31, 1993 (Age 23)

Born In:

Oregon, USA

1994

Francesca Reale

American

Actress

Francesca Reale

Age:

30 years old

Born In:

California, USA

1978

Julian Casablancas

American

Singer

Julian Casablancas

Age:

46 years old

Born In:

New York, USA

Special Holidays

If you can spare some time today, here are some unique holidays you could get involved with.

August 23: National Sponge Cake Day
United States

National Sponge Cake Day

It’s hard to believe, but the simple sponge cake has only been around since the 18th century. This culinary masterpiece is seen in so many different forms of desserts you’d think it’s been around forever! Celebrate Sponge Cake Day today by eating, you guessed it, sponge cake!

August 23: National Ride The Wind Day
United States

National Ride The Wind Day

On August 23, 1977, the Gossamer Condor 2 became the world’s first successful human-powered aircraft. Celebrate National Ride The Wind Day by reading up on this momentous occasion, or try to ride the wind yourself by paragliding or windsurfing!

THe Fact Site’s

Fun Fact Of The Day

Joe Arridy had an IQ of 46 and is known as the “happiest prisoner on death row.” He went into the gas chamber with a smile. It turned out he was innocent.

Birthday & Zodiac

Everyone who was born on August 23rd shares the star sign of Virgo.

Virgo is represented by the Virgin and is the sixth sign in the zodiac. Anyone who was born between August 23 and September 22 falls into this astrological sign.

If you were born in August, Peridot is your assigned birthstone. The largest peridot stone discovered was found on Zagbargad Island, Egypt. It weighs an incredible 311.8 carats and is now located at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

For those of you who were born on Aug 23, you were likely conceived the previous year on November 30.

A baby that is conceived on August 23, 2024, will likely be born around May 16, 2025.

Fact Check

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