On This Day - What Happened On December 23 | Britannica

Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos A Britannica Newsletter Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors. SIGN UP ADD TO YOUR INBOX Thanks for signing up for Today in History. Your first newsletter will arrive soon! By clicking "Add To Your Inbox"tapping "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Home On This Day TODAY IN HISTORY December 23 What Happened On Your Bday? Go to Today's Date

Featured Event

1888 The incident at the Yellow House Vincent van Gogh cut off part of his own left ear on this day in 1888 after an argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin, with whom he had been sharing a house. Van Gogh reportedly then delivered his ear to a nearby brothel. Art historians have debated the incident, often framing it within his brief, prolific career and his struggles with mental health. Discover the ten reasons van Gogh's The Starry Night is a masterpiece © Art Media/Print Collector—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Featured Biography

Akihito emperor of Japan [born 1933] bornDecember 23, 1933 (age 92)Tokyo, JapanKiyoshi Ota—Getty Image News/Thinkstock 1955 Joseph Dunford United States general 1933 Akihito emperor of Japan [born 1933] 1929 Chet Baker American musician and vocalist 1867 Madam C.J. Walker American businesswoman and philanthropist 1805 Joseph Smith American religious leader [1805–1844] See All Biographies On This Day

More Events On This Day

2024 Shyam Benegal, a leading Indian director of nonmainstream Hindi cinema and one of its most prolific filmmakers, died in Mumbai.© Anshuman Poyrekar—Hindustan Times/Getty Images 2001 Argentina announced the suspension of payments on its external debt—the biggest debt default in history to date. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about South AmericaEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1972 Running back Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers made “the Immaculate Reception,” a dramatic catch that is regarded as one of the most famous plays in NFL history. Test your knowledge of American footballDoug Benc/Getty Images 1968 Eighty-two crewmen of the USS Pueblo were released after being held in captivity for 11 months by North Korea, which claimed the U.S. Navy intelligence ship had crossed into its waters.© Znm/Dreamstime.com 1941 Early in World War II, invading Japanese forces defeated U.S. troops at the Battle of Wake Island. Sort fact from fiction in our wars throughout history quizEncyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1929 Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker, who was noted for the plaintive, fragile tone of both his playing and his singing, was born in Yale, Oklahoma. Test your knowledge of musicPrestige Records 1913 With the signing of the Federal Reserve Act by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, the Federal Reserve System came into being. Take our quiz about the history of currency©Adam Parent/Shutterstock.com 1876 The first comprehensive constitution of the Ottoman Empire went into effect, giving the sultan full executive power. How much do you know about the Ottoman Empire?Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1815 Jane Austen published her fourth novel, Emma, which centres on a precocious young woman whose misplaced confidence in her matchmaking abilities occasions several romantic misadventures. Test your knowledge of Jane Austen© 1996 Miramax Films 1805 Joseph Smith, an American prophet who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in Sharon, Vermont. Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about religionsCourtesy of the Community of Christ, Independence, Missouri 1783 Before the Continental Congress, George Washington resigned as commander in chief of the Continental Army. Did George Washington really say, “I can't tell a lie”?Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Gift of Jean McGinley Draper, 1954.9.2 SIGN UP FOR History's Biggest Headlines Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors. SIGN UP Thanks for signing up for Today in History. Your first newsletter will arrive soon! SIGN UP By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.