Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
November 23 Monday, November 23, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on November 23 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
3
Holidays
1733
World history 293 years ago
The start of the 1733 slave insurrection on St. John in what was then the Danish West Indies.
Enslaved Africans on St. John launch a months-long rebellion against Danish colonial rule in what would become the U.S. Virgin Islands.
History
What happened on November 23
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -534Culture
Thespis of Icaria becomes the first recorded actor to portray a character on stage.
Thespis of Icaria becomes the first known actor to take the stage in character.
- 1248European history
Conquest of Seville by Christian troops under King Ferdinand III of Castile.
Christian forces led by King Ferdinand III conquer Seville, marking a significant victory in the Reconquista.
- 1499UK history
Seven days after being convicted of treason, Perkin Warbeck, a pretender to the throne of England, is hanged for attempting to escape from the Tower of London; his supporter John Atwater is executed with him.
Perkin Warbeck and his supporter John Atwater are executed seven days after Warbeck's treason conviction.
- 1644Culture
John Milton publishes Areopagitica, a pamphlet decrying censorship.
John Milton publishes "Areopagitica," a pamphlet arguing against government censorship.
- 1733World history
The start of the 1733 slave insurrection on St. John in what was then the Danish West Indies.
Enslaved Africans on St. John launch a months-long rebellion against Danish colonial rule in what would become the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- 1867UK history
The Manchester Martyrs are hanged in Manchester, England, for killing a police officer while freeing two Irish Republican Brotherhood members from custody.
Three Irish nationalists are hanged in Manchester for killing a police officer during a rescue of two Irish Republican Brotherhood prisoners from a police van.
- 1876Politics
Corrupt Tammany Hall leader William Magear Tweed (better known as Boss Tweed) is delivered to authorities in New York City after being captured in Spain.
William Magear Tweed, the corrupt leader of Tammany Hall, is returned to New York City after his capture in Spain.
- 1914US history
Mexican Revolution: The last of U.S. forces withdraw from Veracruz, occupied seven months earlier in response to the Tampico Affair.
U.S. troops depart Veracruz, ending a seven-month occupation that began as a response to the Tampico Affair.
- 1944WWII
World War II: The Lotta Svärd Movement is disbanded under the terms of the armistice treaty in Finland after the Continuation War.
The Lotta Svärd movement is disbanded following Finland's armistice with the Soviet Union.
- 2011World history
Arab Spring: After 11 months of protests in Yemen, Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh signs a deal to transfer power to the vice president, in exchange for legal immunity.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh agrees to step down and transfer power to his vice president, securing legal immunity in return.
- 2018Popculture
Founders of Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana issue an apology following a series of offensive advertisements on social media promoting a fashion show in Shanghai, China, which was canceled.
Dolce & Gabbana founders apologize for offensive social media ads related to their canceled Shanghai fashion show.
- 2019World history
The last Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia, Imam, dies, making the species officially extinct in the country.
Imam, the last Sumatran rhinoceros in Malaysia, dies at age 25, rendering the species extinct in the country.
Born today
Famous birthdays on November 23
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 56
Oded Fehr
Israeli-American actor
Oded Fehr, the Israeli-American actor known for playing Ardeth Bay in The Mummy films and Faris al-Farik in Sleeper Cell, turns 56 today.
Born
1970
Turns 56
today
Pope Clement IV
1190 – 1268
François-Noël Babeuf
French journalist and activist
1760 – 1797
Mary Brewster Hazelton
American painter
1868 – 1953
Joe Eszterhas
Hungarian-American screenwriter and producer
b. 1944 · 82
Helen Luz
Brazilian basketball player
b. 1972 · 54
Viktor An
South Korean speed skater
b. 1985 · 41
Music
The number one songs on November 23
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on November 23, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport November 23, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science November 23, 2015
Blue Origin's New Shepard space vehicle became the first rocket to successfully fly to space and then return to Earth for a controlled, vertical landing.
Blue Origin's New Shepard completed the first successful rocket flight to space, returning vertically to Earth.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
3 celebrated today
Labor Thanksgiving Day (Japan)
International
Labor Thanksgiving Day is an annual public holiday in Japan celebrated on November 23 of each year, unless that day falls on a Sunday, in which case the holiday is moved to Monday
Repudiation Day (Frederick County, Maryland, United States)
International
Frederick County, Maryland has a half-day bank holiday every November 23 to commemorate Repudiation Day
St George's Day (Georgia) or Giorgoba (Georgia)
International
Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George, celebrated by Christian churches, countries, regions, and cities from which he is the main patron saint, including England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Cata