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
October 23 Friday, October 23, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on October 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
1
Holidays
1707
UK history 319 years ago
The First Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain convenes.
The first Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain convenes in Westminster, following the union of England and Scotland under the Acts of Union.
History
What happened on October 23
12 verified entries Full timeline
- -4004Religion
James Ussher's purported creation date of the world according to the Bible.
James Ussher calculated that the world was created in 4004 BCE based on biblical genealogies.
- -42Roman history
Liberators' civil war: Mark Antony and Octavian decisively defeat an army under Brutus in the second part of the Battle of Philippi, with Brutus committing suicide and ending the civil war.
Mark Antony and Octavian decisively defeat Brutus at the second Battle of Philippi, leading to his suicide and ending the Liberators' civil war.
- 425Roman history
Valentinian III is elevated as Roman emperor at the age of six.
Valentinian III becomes Roman emperor at age six.
- 502Religion
The Synodus Palmaris, called by Gothic king Theoderic, absolves Pope Symmachus of all charges, thus ending the schism of Antipope Laurentius.
The Synodus Palmaris exonerates Pope Symmachus, concluding the schism with Antipope Laurentius.
- 1086War
Spanish Reconquista: At the Battle of Sagrajas, the Almoravids defeat the Castilians, but are unable to take advantage of their victory.
The Almoravids defeat the Castilians at the Battle of Sagrajas, though they fail to capitalize on their triumph.
- 1157European history
The Battle of Grathe Heath ends the Danish Civil War.
King Sweyn III defeats Canute V at the Battle of Grathe Heath, ending the Danish Civil War and securing the throne.
- 1295UK history
The first treaty forming the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France against England is signed in Paris.
Scotland and France sign a treaty in Paris, establishing the Auld Alliance against England.
- 1448War
Scotland wins a decisive victory over England at the Battle of Sark, the last pitched battle to be fought between the two kingdoms during the Medieval period.
Scotland defeats England in the Battle of Sark, marking the final pitched battle between the two kingdoms during the medieval era.
- 1641UK history
Irish Catholic gentry from Ulster attempt to seize control of Dublin Castle, the seat of English rule in Ireland, so as to force concessions.
Irish Catholic gentry from Ulster attempt to take Dublin Castle to press for concessions from English rulers.
- 1666Disaster
The most intense tornado on record in English history, an F4 storm on the Fujita scale or T8 on the TORRO scale, strikes the county of Lincolnshire, with winds of more than 213 miles per hour (343 km/h).
A tornado strikes Lincolnshire with winds exceeding 213 mph, ranking as England's most intense on record.
- 1707UK history
The First Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain convenes.
The first Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain convenes in Westminster, following the union of England and Scotland under the Acts of Union.
- 1868World history
Meiji Restoration: Having taken the shogunate's seat of power at Edo and declared it his new capital as Tokyo, Mutsuhito proclaims the start of the new Meiji era.
Mutsuhito proclaims the beginning of the Meiji era in Tokyo, marking the end of shogunate rule.
Born today
Famous birthdays on October 23
7 this date All birthdays
Fred Shero
Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach
Fred Shero, nicknamed "The Fog," was born today in 1925 and became a legendary NHL coach, leading the Philadelphia Flyers to two Stanley Cups before his death in 1990.
Born
1925
Died
1990
Pelé
Brazilian footballer and actor
1940 – 2022
Michael Crichton
American author and screenwriter
1942 – 2008
Alicia Borinsky
Argentine writer
b. 1946 · 80
Charly García
Argentine singer-songwriter and keyboard player
b. 1951 · 75
Robert Trujillo
American bass player and songwriter
b. 1964 · 62
John Lackey
American baseball player
b. 1978 · 48
Music
The number one songs on October 23
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on October 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 October 23, 1970
Gary Gabelich sets a land speed record in a rocket-powered automobile called the Blue Flame, fueled with natural gas.
Gary Gabelich breaks the land speed record in the Blue Flame, reaching over 630 mph on natural gas.
Read the story
🔬 Science October 23, 1995
Java 1.0 is unveiled
Sun Microsystems releases a programming language that will become the backbone of enterprise computing and Android.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
1 celebrated today
Mole Day (International observance)
International
Mole Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated among chemists, chemistry students, and chemistry enthusiasts on October 23 between 6:02 a