October 23 in history — What Happened Today in History
Curious what October 23 in history holds? From 2022 back through the centuries, our timeline gathers everything that happened on October 23 — events, birthdays and deaths on one cozy page.
On this page, October 23 in history is arranged as a timeline of major events in reverse order, with birthdays and deaths in their own sections, plus a short FAQ about October 23 in history at the bottom.
Major Events on October 23 in History 40
- 2022
Xi Jinping is elected as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party by the Central Committee, beginning a third term of the paramount leader of China.
- 2022
Myanmar Air Force airstrikes a concert in Hpakant Township, Kachin state killing at least 80 people, including senior Kachin Independence Organisation officials, in the Hpakant massacre.
- 2020
Second Libyan Civil War: The Second Libyan Civil War comes to an end as all parties to the 5+5 Joint Libyan Military Commission agree to a ceasefire.
- 2017
War against the Islamic State: Philippine defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana declares the end of the Siege of Marawi.
- 2015
The lowest sea-level pressure in the Western Hemisphere, and the highest reliably-measured non-tornadic sustained winds, are recorded in Hurricane Patricia, which strikes Mexico hours later, killing at least 13 and causing over $280 million in damages.
- 2011
A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Van Province, Turkey, killing 582 people and injuring thousands.
- 2011
The Libyan National Transitional Council deems the Libyan Civil War over.
- 2011
Motorcycle racer Marco Simoncelli dies in a racing accident at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
- 2007
A storm causes the Mexican Kab 101 oil platform to collide with a wellhead, leading to the death and drowning of 22 people during rescue operations after evacuation of the platform.
- 2007
Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-120, with Pamela Melroy becoming the second female space shuttle commander.
- 2004
A powerful earthquake and its aftershocks hit Niigata Prefecture in northern Japan, killing 35 people, injuring 2,200, and leaving 85,000 homeless or evacuated.
- 2002
Second Chechen War: Chechen separatist terrorists seize the House of Culture theater in Moscow and take approximately 700 theater-goers hostage.
All entries for October 23（+28）
- 2001
Apple Computer releases the iPod.
- 1998
Israel and the Palestinian Authority sign the Wye River Memorandum.
- 1995
Yolanda Saldívar is found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of popular Latin singer Selena.
- 1993
The Troubles: A Provisional IRA bomb prematurely detonates in Belfast, killing the bomber and nine civilians.
- 1991
Signing of the Paris Peace Accords which ends the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.
- 1989
The Hungarian Republic officially replaces the communist Hungarian People's Republic.
- 1989
Bankruptcy of Wärtsilä Marine, the biggest bankruptcy in the Nordic countries up until then.
- 1989
An explosion at the Houston Chemical Complex in Pasadena, Texas, which registered a 3.5 on the Richter magnitude scale, kills 23 and injures 314.
- 1983
Lebanese Civil War: The U.S. Marines Corps barracks in Beirut is hit by a truck bomb, killing 241 U.S. military personnel. A French Army barracks in Lebanon is also hit that same morning, killing 58 troops.
- 1982
A gunfight breaks out between police officers and members of a religious cult in Arizona. The shootout leaves two cultists dead and dozens of cultists and police officers injured.
- 1978
Aeroflot Flight 6515 crashes off Syvash, killing all 26 people aboard.
- 1972
Vietnam War: Operation Linebacker, a US bombing campaign against North Vietnam in response to its Easter Offensive, ends after five months.
- 1970
Gary Gabelich sets a land speed record in a rocket-powered automobile called the Blue Flame, fueled with natural gas.
- 1965
Vietnam War: The 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, launches an operation seeking to destroy Communist forces during the siege of Plei Me.
- 1959
Aeroflot Flight 200 crashes while attempting to land at Vnukovo International Airport, killing 28.
- 1958
Canada's Springhill mining disaster kills seventy-five miners, while ninety-nine others are rescued.
- 1958
Belgian artist Peyo's comic characters, the Smurfs, make their debut in Spirou magazine.
- 1956
Secret police shoot several anti-communist protesters, igniting the Hungarian Revolution.
- 1955
Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm defeats former emperor Bảo Đại in a referendum and founds the Republic of Vietnam.
- 1955
The people of the Saar region vote in a referendum to unite with West Germany instead of France.
- 1945
Jackie Robinson of the Kansas City Monarchs signs a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers' minor league team, the Montreal Royals, breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier.
- 1944
World War II: The Battle of Leyte Gulf begins.
- 1942
World War II: Allied forces commence the Second Battle of El Alamein, which proves to be the key turning point in the North African campaign.
- 1942
All 12 passengers and crewmen aboard American Airlines Flight 28 are killed when it collides with a U.S. Army Air Force bomber near Palm Springs, California.
- 1942
World War II: The Battle for Henderson Field begins on Guadalcanal.
- 1941
The Holocaust: Nazi Germany prohibits Jews from emigrating, including in its occupied territories.
- 1940
Adolf Hitler and Francisco Franco meet at Hendaye to discuss the possibility of Spain entering the Second World War.
- 1927
The Imatra Cinema is destroyed in a fire in Tampere, Finland, during showing the 1924 film Wages of Virtue; 21 people die in the fire and almost 30 are injured.
Famous Birthdays on October 23 in History 25
- 2004
Niccolò Pisilli, Italian footballer
- 2003
Jacob Bethell, English cricketer
- 2002
Ningning, Chinese singer
- 1999
Yui Kobayashi, Japanese idol
- 1998
Amandla Stenberg, American actress
- 1998
Jordan Goodwin, American basketball player
- 1997
Nick Bosa, American football player
- 1997
Élie Okobo, French basketball player
- 1997
Jaydn Su'A, New Zealand rugby league player
- 1997
Minnie, Thai singer
- 1995
Ireland Baldwin, American model
- 1994
Margaret Qualley, American actress
All entries for October 23（+13）
- 1993
Josh Ruffels, English footballer
- 1992
Álvaro Morata, Spanish footballer
- 1991
Emil Forsberg, Swedish footballer
- 1991
Princess Mako of Akishino, member of the Japanese Imperial Family
- 1991
Jorge Taufua, Australian rugby league player
- 1989
Viktor Agardius, Swedish footballer
- 1989
Alain Baroja, Venezuelan footballer
- 1989
Zach Brown, American football player
- 1989
Jonita Gandhi, Indo-Canadian singer
- 1989
Anisya Kirdyapkina, Russian race walker
- 1989
Andriy Yarmolenko, Ukrainian footballer
- 1988
Jordan Crawford, American basketball player
- 1988
Aleksandr Salugin, Russian footballer
Notable Deaths on October 23 in History 25
- 2025
June Lockhart, American actress (b. 1925)
- 2024
Geoff Capes, British shot putter and strongman (born 1949)
- 2024
Gary Indiana, American writer, playwright and poet (born 1950)
- 2024
Jack Jones, American singer and actor (born 1938)
- 2023
Aira Samulin, Finnish entrepreneur and dance teacher (born 1927)
- 2023
Bishan Singh Bedi, Indian cricketer (born 1946)
- 2022
Adriano Moreira, Portuguese politician, Minister of the Overseas Provinces, President of the CDS – People's Party (born 1922)
- 2020
Jerry Jeff Walker, American singer-songwriter (born 1942)
- 2018
Todd Reid, Australian tennis player (born 1984)
- 2017
Walter Lassally, German cinematographer (born 1926)
- 2016
Jack Chick, American cartoonist and publisher (born 1924)
- 2016
Wim van der Voort, Dutch speed skater (born 1923)
All entries for October 23（+13）
- 2016
Pete Burns, English singer-songwriter (born 1959)
- 2015
Leon Bibb, American-Canadian singer (born 1922)
- 2015
Roger De Clerck, Belgian businessman (born 1924)
- 2015
Jim Roberts, Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach (born 1940)
- 2015
Fred Sands, American businessman and philanthropist, co-founded the Museum of Contemporary Art (born 1938)
- 2014
Ghulam Azam, Bangladeshi politician (born 1922)
- 2014
John Bramlett, American football player (born 1941)
- 2014
Bernard Mayes, English-American journalist and academic (born 1929)
- 2014
Joan Quigley, American astrologer and author (born 1927)
- 2014
Tullio Regge, Italian physicist and academic (born 1931)
- 2014
Alvin Stardust, English singer and actor (born 1942)
- 2013
Wes Bialosuknia, American basketball player (born 1945)
- 2013
Anthony Caro, English sculptor and academic (born 1924)
That is the story of October 23 in history. Bookmark this page and come back next year on October 23 to relive these world-changing moments — or take a random trip through time and see what happened on another day in history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on October 23 in history?
The biggest event on October 23 in history is: 2022 — Xi Jinping is elected as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party by the Central Committee, beginning a third term of the paramount leader of China.. In total, 40 major events are recorded for this day.
Who was born on October 23?
25 famous people were born on October 23 in history, the best known being 2004 — Niccolò Pisilli, Italian footballer.
Who died on October 23?
25 notable people died on October 23 in history, including 2025 — June Lockhart, American actress (b. 1925).
Why should I read about October 23 in history?
Exploring October 23 in history helps you grasp the day's place in history in just a few minutes: events, birthdays and deaths in one read — perfect for students, teachers and curious minds.
Browse the October calendar
Take a random trip through time
What happened on your birthday?
Enter your date of birth and travel back to the day you were born.