Events on Jan 23
- 0638Start of Islamic calendar
- 12651st English Parliament formally convened (some authorities)
- 1492"Pentateuch" (Jewish holy book) 1st printed
- 15522nd version of Book of Common Prayer becomes manditory in England
- 1556Most deadly earthquake kills 830,000 in Shensi Province, China
- 1570Earl of Moray, regent of Scotland, assassinated; civil war breaks out
- 1571Queen Elizabeth I opens Royal Exchange in London
- 1579Union of Utrecht signed, forming protestant Dutch Republic
- 1637Dutch Governor Johan Mauritius lands in Pernambuco Brazil
- 1643Sir Thomas Fairfax takes Leeds for Parliamentarians
- 1647Scottish Presbyterians sell captured Charles I to English parliament
- 1668England, Netherlands and Sweden signs Triple Alliance against French
- 1719Principality of Liechtenstein created within Holy Roman Empire
- 1779Charles Messier catalogs M56 (globular cluster in Lyra)
- 1789Georgetown, 1st US Catholic college, founded
- 17932nd partition of Poland, between Prussia and Russia
- 1793Humane Society of Philadelphia (1st aid society) organized
- 1796Armand-Gaston Camus becomes Chairman of Council of 500
- 18127.8 earthquake shakes New Madrid, Missouri
- 1833Joseph Pease, a Quaker, admitted to Parliament on his affirmation
- 1845Uniform US election day for President and VP authorized
- 1849Mrs Elizabeth Blackwell becomes 1st woman Physician in US
- 1849Patent granted for an envelope-making machine
- 1856Steamer Pacific lost
- 1862Agoston Haraszthy, 1st vintner in Sonoma Valley, imports 10,000
- 1870173 Blackfoot (140 women & children) killed in Montana by US Army
- 1879National Archery Association forms (Crawfordsville Ind)
- 1889Dr Daniel Hale Williams forms Provident Hospital in Chicago
- 1894G W Bunbury of Dublin sets shorthand record of 250 wpm for 10 min
- 1897Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of Abbey Grange" (BG)
Born on Jan 23
- 1574Lucas I Franchoys: Belgian painter
- 1730Joseph Hewes: US Merchant (Declaration of Independence signer)
- 1752Muzio Clementi: Italian composer
- 1761Friedrich von Matthison: German poet (Adelaide)
- 1762Christian A Vulpius: Germany -- Writer (Rinaldo Rinaldini)
- 1783Stendahl [Marie Henri Beyle]: France -- Writer (Le Rouge et de Noir)
- 1785Carl A Agardh: Sweden -- Botanist / Bishop of Karlstad
- 1813Franz Commer: Composer
- 1816Carl Herrmann: Germany -- Stage magician
- 1820Alexander Nikoleyevich Serov: Composer
- 1828Calvin Edward Pratt: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1896
- 1830Gaston AA Marquis de Gallifet: French General / Minister of War (1899-1900)
- 1833John Randolph Chambliss, Jr.: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
- 1840Ernst Abbe: Germany -- Physicist (Carl Zeiss Optics Company)
- 1843Hans Heinrich XIV Hochberg: Composer
- 1857Andrija Mohorovicic: Croatian geologist (Moho discontinuity)
- 1865Benjamin Delmonte: Theater director / actor (Black Haired Whore)
- 1867Herbert Bedford: Composer
- 1868Juventino Rosas: Composer
- 1869Carlo Felice Boghen: Composer
- 1869Herbert David Croly: US author (Promise of American Life)
- 1878Oton Zupancic: Slovenian poet (Zimzelen pod Snegom)
- 1878Rutland Boughton: Composer
- 1885Boleslaw Wallek-Walewski: Composer
- 1888Gilbert Ledward: Sculptor
- 1889Franklin Pangborn: Newark -- Actor (My Best Gal, Hats Off, Easy Living)
- 1889Prosper Arents: Flemish bibliographer (Rubens-bibliography)
- 1891Antonio Gramsci: Italian philosopher / marxist theorist
- 1893Frank Carlson: (Gov / Rep / Sen-R-Kansas)
- 1894Remy Angenot: Flemish actor (Patriot / Idiot)
Died on Jan 23
- 1002Otto III: German King / Emperor 983 / 996-1002, dies at 21
- 1356Margaretha of Bavaria: Emperess of Germany
- 1516Ferdinand II: King of Aragon / Sicily, dies at 63
- 1548Bernardo Pisano: Composer, dies at 57
- 1622William Baffin: British explorer, dies at about 38
- 1639Francisco Maldonado da Silva Solis: Peruvian poet, burned at stake
- 1648Francisco de Rojas Zorrilla: Spanish Poet (Del Rey Abajo), dies at 40
- 1800Edward Rutledge: US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 50
- 1805Vaclav Pichl: Composer, dies at 63
- 1806William Pitt [the Younger]: Prime Minister of Great Britain (1783-1806), dies at 46
- 1813George Clymer: US Merchant (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 73
- 1814Georg Friedrich Theodor Wolf: Composer, dies at 52
- 1838Arnold A Buyskes: Dutch Vice-Admiral / colonial director, dies at 67
- 1845Francesco Ruggi: Composer, dies at 77
- 1864Michele Puccini: Composer, dies at 50
- 1875Charles Kingsley: English vicar / writer (Westward Ho!), dies at 55
- 1879Adolf Jensen: Composer, dies at 42
- 1891Boudouin LPMCAJL: Prince of Belgium / Count of Flaanders, dies at 21
- 1893Jose Zorrilla y Moral: Spanish Poet (Granada), dies at 75
- 1898W A Remy: Composer, dies at 66
- 1908Edward Alexander MacDowell: US Composer (Indian Suite), dies at 47
- 1921Wlasyslaw Zelenski: Composer, dies at 83
- 1926Joseph Carl Breil: Composer, dies at 55
- 1931Anna Pavlova: Russian ballerina (Diaghilew, Dying Swan)
- 1936Dame Clara Butt: Alto singer (Country of Hope & Glory), dies at 62
- 1939Matthias Sindelar: Austria soccer star, commits suicide
- 1941Dobri Khristov: Composer, dies at 65
- 1943Alexander Woollcott: Critic, dies at 56 of a heart attack while on the radio
- 1944Edvard Munch: Norwegian Painter (The Scream), dies at 80
- 1945Helmuth J Moltke: German politician ("July 20th Plot"), executed at 37
Historical events on January 24
- 0772Stephen III ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 0817St. Paschal I begins his reign as Catholic Pope succeeding Stephen IV
- 1076Synod of Worms: German King Henry IV fires Pope Gregory VII
- 1118Giovanni Caetani elected Pope Gelasius II
- 1328King Edward III of England marries Philippa of Henegouwen
- 1458Matthias I Corvinus chosen King of Hungary
- 1534Francois I signs classified treaty with evangelical German monarchy
- 1556Heavy earthquake strikes Shaaxi China, kills 830,000
- 1568Abdij Church in Middelburg destroyed by fire
- 1568In Netherlands, Duke of Alva declares William of Orange an outlaw
- 1613Amsterdams Merchant Hans Bontemantel baptized
- 1616Jacques Le Maire discovers Street Lemaire / Cape Receiver
- 1634Emperor Ferdinand II declares Albrecht von Wallenstein a traitor
- 1639Connecticut colony organizes under Fundamental Orders
- 1644Battle at Nantwich Cheshire: Parliamentary armies win
- 16561st Jewish doctor in US, Jacob Lumbrozo, arrives in Maryland
- 1679King Charles II disbands English parliament
- 1722Czar Peter the Great begins civil system
- 1722Edward Wigglesworth appointed 1st US Divinity Professor (Harvard)
- 1742German leaders elect Charles VII Albert Emperor
- 1764Gov Winthrop Telescope, is destroyed in a Harvard fire
- 1839Charles Darwin elected member of Royal Society
- 18471,500 New Mexican Indians and Mexicans defeated by US Col Price
- 1861Arsenal at Augusta, Georgia seized by Confederacy
- 1861Federal troops from Ft Monroe are sent to Ft Pikens
- 1862Romania principality arises under King Alexander Cuza
- 1892Battle at Mengo, Uganda: French missionaries attack British missionaries
- 1899Belgium government of Vandenpeereboom forms
- 1900Battle at Tugela-Spionkop, South Africa (Boers vs. British army)
- 1901Emily Hobhouse view lord Kitcheners concentration camp at Bloemfontein
Born on January 24
- 0076Publius A Hadrianus: 14th Roman Emperor (117-138)
- 1664John Vanbrugh: London, England -- Dramatist / architect
- 1679Christian von Wolff: German philosopher
- 1705Farinelli [Carlo Broschi]: Andria, Italy -- Castrato
- 1712Frederick II [the Great]: King of Prussia (1740-86)
- 1712Georg F Schmidt: German engraver / etcher
- 1732Pierre de Baumarchais: France -- Playwright (Barber of Seville)
- 1746Gustav III: King during Swedish Enlightenment (1771-92)
- 1750Wybo Fijnje: Dutch politician / patriot / journalist
- 1758Johann Chrysostomus Drexel: Composer
- 1767Antony CW Staring: Dutch lawyer / poet (Jaromir)
- 1774Karl Moser: Composer
- 1776Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann: German writer / judge / composer (Undine)
- 1778Charles F: Duke of Berry / Son of French King Charles X
- 1798Karl von Holtei: Silezian actor / playwright (Die Vagabunden)
- 1798Karl von Staudt: German Math Professor (projective geometrician)
- 1800Edwin Chadwick: British social Reformer
- 1820John Milton Thayer: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1906
- 1828Adam Jacoby Slemmer: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1868
- 1828Ferdinand J Cohn: German Botanist / publicist
- 1828Karol Studzinski: Composer
- 1829William Mason: Composer
- 1832John Pegram: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1865
- 1862Edith Wharton[-Jones]: United States -- Novelist (Ethan Frome, House of Mirth)
- 1874Arthur Shomburg: Famous African
- 1880Elisabeth Achelis: Creator (World Calendar)
- 1883Estelle Winwood [Goodwin]: England, United Kingdom -- Actress (Miracle on 34th Street)
- 1888Ernst Heinrich Heinkel: German inventor (1st rocket-powered aircraft)
- 1888Hedwig "Vicki" Baum: Austrian / US author (Men Never Know)
- 1891Walter Model: German Field Marshal
Died on January 24
- 0041Caligula [G C Germanicus]: Roman Emperor (37-41), assassinated at 28
- 0661Ali ibn Abu Talib: Kalief of Islam (656-61), murdered
- 0772Stefanus III / IV: Pope (768-72)
- 1336Alfonso IV [the Benignant]: King of Aragon (1327-36), dies at 36
- 1473Conrad Paumann: German blind Organist / composer
- 1639George Jenatsch: Grisons leader, assassinated
- 1666Johann Andreas Herbst: Composer, dies at 77
- 1678Joan Maetsuyker: Governor-General of the Netherlands East-Indies, dies at 72
- 1805Giacomo Conti: Composer, dies at 50
- 1812Eligio Celestino: Composer, dies at 72
- 1851Gaspare Luigi Pacifico Spontini: Italian composer, dies at 76
- 1862James McIntosh: US confederate Brigadier General, dies in battle at about 33
- 1864Otto Jonas Lindblad: Composer, dies at 54
- 1864Stephen Gardner Champlin: Brigadier General (Union), dies at about 36
- 1883Friedrich von Flotow: German Baron / composer, dies at 70
- 1884Johann Christian Gebauer: Composer, dies at 75
- 1885Martin R Delany: Politician and black nationalist, dies at 72
- 1901Simon Hassler: Composer, dies at 68
- 1904Franz Coenen: Composer, dies at 77
- 1911Carl Eilhardt: Composer, dies at 67
- 1913Gustav Luders: Composer, dies at 47
- 1924Thephilo Braga: Portuguese Poet / politician, dies at 80
- 1929Willem Royaards: Theater directeor (Adam in Ballingschap)
- 1940Emile van Bosch: Revue / operetta-artist, dies at 52
- 1943John Burns: English Minister of Local Government (1905-14)
- 1947Felix Timmermans: Writer / Painter (Gift from St Nicholas), dies at 60
- 1950Bull Montana: Actor (Son of Sheik), dies at 62
- 1953[Karl R] Gerd von Rundstedt: Gen-field marshal (Normandy), dies at 77
- 1960John Miljan: Actor (Charlie Chan in Paris, Yankee Clipper), dies at 66
- 1961Willem J M van Eysinga: People rights scholar, dies at 82
Events on Jan 25
- 0844Gregory IV begins and ends his reign as Catholic Pope
- 1139Godfried II the Young becomes Duke of Brabant
- 1327King Edward III accedes to British throne
- 1348Earthquake destroys Villach, killing 5,000
- 1494Alfonso II replaces his father as King of Naples
- 1554Sir Thomas Wyatt gathers an army in Kent, rebels against Queen Mary
- 1579Treaty of Utrecht signed, marks beginning of Dutch Republic
- 1721Czar Peter the Great ends Russian-orthodox patriarchy
- 1775Americans drag cannon up hill to fight British (Gun Hill Road, Bronx)
- 17991st US patent for a seeding machine, Eliakim Spooner, Vermont
- 1802Napoleon elected President of Italian (Cisalpine) Republic
- 18251st US engineering college opens, Rensselaer Polytechnic, Troy, New York
- 1835Opera "I Puritani, " premieres in Paris
- 1844Recontre between Reps Weller and Shriver, US House of Representative
- 1856Battle of Seattle; skirmish between settlers and Indians
- 1863Battle of Kinston, North Carolina
- 1863General Joseph Hooker replaces Burnside as head of Army of Potomac
- 1865CSS Shenandoah arrives in Melbourne, Australia
- 1870Soda fountain patented by Gustavus Dows
- 1875Anti-slavery society forms (NY)
- 1877Congress determines presidential election between Hayes-Tilden
- 1882Bilu, a Russian Zionist organization, forms
- 1890National Afro-American League forms in Chicago
- 1890United Mine Workers of America forms
- 1894James J Corbett KOs Charley Mitchell in 3 for heavyweight boxing title
- 1904179 die in coal mine explosion at Cheswick, Pennsylvania
- 1905Largest diamond, Cullinan (3106 carets), found in South Africa
- 1907Julia Ward Howe is 1st woman elected to National Institute of Arts & Letters
- 19101st stumping by a 12th man in Tests (N C Tufnell, South Africa vs. England)
- 1910Children initiate idea of planting trees in Jerusalem
Born on Jan 25
- 0749Leo IV [the Khazar]: Byzantine Emperor (775-80)
- 1477Anna de Bretagne: Wife of Maximilian of Austria and Louis XII
- 1509Giovanni Morone: Italian theologist / diplomat / Cardinal / "heretic"
- 1540Edmund Campion: London, England -- Saint / Jesuit martyr (Decem Rationes)
- 1615Govert Flinck: Dutch painter (Isaac blesses Jacob)
- 1626John van de Cappelle: Amsterdam, Holland -- Landscape painter
- 1627Robert Boyle: Ireland -- Physicist / chemist / author (experiments with color)
- 1634Gaspar Fagel: Lawyer / pension advisor of Holland (1672-88)
- 1693Anna Ivanova Romanova: Daughter of Ivan V / empress of Russia (1730-40)
- 1708Pompeo Girolamo Batoni: Italian painter
- 1736Joseph-Louis comte de Lagrange: Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia -- French mathematician
- 1750Johann Gottfried Vierling: Composer
- 1759Robert Burns: Alloway, Scotland -- Poet (Auld Lang Syne)
- 1770Francis Burdett: British politician
- 1777Elias Canneman: Dutch liberal Minister of Finance (1813-14)
- 1796William McGillivray: Old Aberdeen, United Kingdom -- Naturalist
- 1806Daniel Maclise: Irish painter
- 1814Francis Harrison Pierpont: Governor (Union), died in 1899
- 1826Rembt T H P L A van Boneval Faure: Dutch MP
- 1834Pablo Hernandez Salces: Composer
- 1839Seldon Connor: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1917
- 1841John Arbuthnot Fisher: Ceylon -- 1st Baron Fisher / Admiral of the Fleet
- 1844Frederick E Kitziger: Composer
- 1851Arne Garborg: Norwegian playwright (Bondestudentar)
- 1851Jan Blockx: Belgium -- Opera composer (Sea Bride Princess of Herberg)
- 1858Giuseppi Radiciotti: Composer
- 1860Charles Curtis: (R) 31st US VP (1929-33)
- 1866Emile Vandervelde: Leader of Belgian BWP party
- 1874[William] Somerset Maugham: Paris, France -- Novelist / poet (Of Human Bondage)
- 1874Hewlett Johnson [Red Dean of Canterbury]: English Bishop
Died on Jan 25
- 1138Anacletus II [Pietro Pierleone]: Jewish anti-pope (1130-38)
- 1139Godfried I: With the Beard, Duke of Brabant / Earl of Leuven
- 1494Ferdinand I: Cruel King of Naples
- 1547Lieven Algoet: Flemish humanist
- 1586Lucas Cranach "the Young": German painter, dies at 70
- 1640Robert Burton: Author (Anatomy of Melancholy)
- 1733Reinier V van Hompech: Dutch General Major cavalry
- 1744Domenico Natale Sarro: Italian opera composer, dies at 64
- 1820Joseph F Weigl: German / Austria violin cellist, dies at 79
- 1821Johan Valckenier: Dutch politician / patriot, dies at 62
- 1829William Shield: Composer, dies at 80
- 1855Dorothy Wordsworth: Writer, dies at 83
- 1875Leopold Jansa: Composer, dies at 79
- 1882Peter Singer: Composer, dies at 71
- 1896Frans C Baeckelmans: Flemish Architect (Court of Justice), dies at 68
- 1896Frederic Leighton: President of the Royal Academy (1878-96)
- 1906Joseph Wheeler II: Confederate General, dies at 70
- 1906Pierre L Goossens: Belgian Archbishop of Malines / Cardinal, dies at 78
- 1920Amadeo Modigliani: Italian Sculptor / painter, dies at 35
- 1921Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych: Composer, dies at 43
- 1942Eugene Samuel-Holeman: Composer, dies at 78
- 1947Al Capone: Chicago gangster, dies of syphilis at 48
- 1949Emil Axman: Composer, dies at 61
- 1960Diana Barrymore: Actress (Ladies Courageous), dies at 38
- 1963Wilson Kettle: Nfld, dies at 102, leaving 582 living descendents
- 1965Staff Nees: Flemish Composer (Maria-oratorio), dies at 63
- 1968Virginia Maskell: Actress (Only Two Can Play), dies at 31
- 1970Eunice Hunton Carter: 1st black female DA in NY, dies at 70
- 1970Marie Benavente: Actress (Paradise), dies at 84
- 1975Vivien Kellems: TV hostess (The Power of Women), dies at 78