What Happened on December 23 in History?
December 23 has been a significant date for historical transitions, ranging from the resignation of George Washington to major scientific breakthroughs and cultural milestones.
Key Historical Events
George Washington's Resignation (1783): General George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
Federal Reserve Act (1913): President Woodrow Wilson signed this act into law, establishing the Federal Reserve System.
Voyager's Global Flight (1986): The aircraft Voyager completed the first nonstop, non-refueled flight around the world.
USS Pueblo Release (1968): North Korea released the surviving crew members of the USS Pueblo after 11 months of captivity.
Metric Conversion Act (1975): President Gerald Ford signed legislation declaring the metric system as the "preferred system" for U.S. trade and commerce.
Slovenian Independence Referendum (1990): Slovenia's electorate voted for independence from Yugoslavia.
War Crimes Executions (1948): Former Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and six others were executed after being convicted of war crimes.
Science & Technology
First Transistor (1947): The first successful demonstration of the transistor took place at Bell Laboratories.
First Human Kidney Transplant (1954): Dr. Joseph Murray performed the first successful human kidney transplant between identical twins.
Saturn's Moon Rhea (1672): Astronomer Giovanni Cassini discovered Rhea, the second-largest moon of Saturn.
Culture & Arts
Van Gogh's Ear (1888): Vincent van Gogh cut off part of his left ear during a mental health crisis.
"The Night Before Christmas" (1823): The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" was first published anonymously.
The Immaculate Reception (1972): Franco Harris made a famous play in NFL history with a game-winning touchdown.
Festivus: This secular holiday, popularized by Seinfeld, is celebrated annually on December 23.
Notable Births
Joseph Smith (1805): Founder of the Mormon Church.
Madam C.J. Walker (1867): Entrepreneur and philanthropist, the first female self-made millionaire in the U.S.
Akihito (1933): The Emperor Emeritus of Japan.
Chet Baker (1929): American jazz trumpeter and vocalist.
