37 fun facts for May, 23

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
May 23rd is a day filled with various historical milestones, such as the birth of the Bahá'í Faith, the formation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the creation of Java programming language. On this day, several national and international observances take place, including World Turtle Day, Jamaica's Labor Day, and the International Day of Slavic Writing and Culture.
37 Fun facts
  1. On May 23, 1701, Captain William Kidd was executed for piracy after being arrested in Boston Harbor. He was hanged at Execution Dock in Wapping, England, and his body was later displayed over the River Thames as a deterrent to other pirates.
  2. In 1785, Benjamin Franklin announced his invention of bifocals, which combined both near-vision and distance-vision lenses, improving the lives of countless people with two different prescriptions for their eyes.
  3. On May 23, 1788, the South Carolina state convention ratified the United States Constitution, making it the eighth state to join the Union.
  4. May 23 is World Turtle Day, an annual observance founded by the American Tortoise Rescue to increase knowledge and appreciation for turtles and tortoises, as well as to promote their conservation.
  5. On this day in 1829, Cyrill Demian, an Armenian musician living in Vienna, patented the accordion, a portable musical instrument that uses a bellows to compress air and produce sound through vibrating reeds.
  6. May 23, 1844, marked the birth of the Bahá'í Faith, a monotheistic religion promoting unity, peace, and equality throughout the world. The religion's founder, the Báb, declared his mission on this date.
  7. In 1873, the Canadian Parliament established the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP), later renamed as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The NWMP was initially formed to manage law enforcement in Canada's newly acquired western territories.
  8. On May 23, 1911, the New York Public Library was dedicated by President William Howard Taft. Today, it is the second largest public library in the United States, with an extensive collection of books, manuscripts, and other materials.
  9. In 1934, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, notorious American criminals known as Bonnie and Clyde, were ambushed and killed by law enforcement officers in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Their exploits captivated the nation during the Great Depression.
  10. Nylon, a synthetic polymer first developed by DuPont, was patented on May 23, 1938, by American chemist Wallace Hume Carothers. Nylon would go on to revolutionize the textile industry and play a significant role in World War II.
  11. The Ethiopian World Federation (EWF), an international organization established in New York City on May 23, 1937, to promote unity among people of African descent, still exists today and is dedicated to social, economic, and political progress worldwide.
  12. May 23 is a national holiday in Jamaica called Labor Day. The holiday, established in 1961, celebrates the success of the labor movement and encourages voluntary community work.
  13. In 1967, the Sanguinetti Foundation in Italy discovered some of Mozart's lost symphonies on this date.
  14. On May 23, 1995, the Java programming language was officially announced by Sun Microsystems, setting the stage for a revolution in software development and leading to the creation of countless applications, websites, and platforms.
  15. In Austria, May 23 is a national holiday known as Father's Day, where families come together to celebrate and honor fathers.
  16. On May 23, 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage through a popular vote. The referendum passed with 62% in favor, marking a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights.
  17. In South Africa, May 23 is observed as Small Business Day, a day to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the nation's economy and to encourage support and growth for these enterprises.
  18. May 23, 1933, marks the birth of Joan Collins, an English actress best known for her role as Alexis Carrington in the popular soap opera "Dynasty" during the 1980s.
  19. On this day in 1984, the Surgeon General of the United States, C. Everett Koop, released a report linking smoking to numerous health issues, including lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illness. This report significantly changed public perception of smoking and led to stronger advocacy for tobacco control.
  20. May 23 is World Meteorology Day, a day to acknowledge the importance of meteorology in understanding and predicting weather patterns, and in turn, helping to manage disasters and promote safety.
  21. In 1982, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) was chosen as the ruling party in Zimbabwe's first-ever parliamentary election.
  22. On May 23, 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was established, with the adoption of the Basic Law as its constitution.
  23. On this day in 1960, Israel announced the capture of Adolf Eichmann, a former SS officer and one of the organizers of the Holocaust. He was later convicted of war crimes and executed in 1962.
  24. May 23 is Lucky Penny Day, a day to celebrate the humble one-cent coin and remind people of the importance of saving money, however small the amount.
  25. On May 23, 1829, the United States and Brazil signed a Treaty of Commerce and Navigation to establish economic cooperation and free navigation between the two nations.
  26. In 1585, Jan Huygen van Linschoten, a Dutch merchant best known for his voyages to the East Indies and his detailed accounts of his travels, discovered the Straits of Hormuz separating the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman.
  27. In 1933, famous aviator Amelia Earhart completed her first solo flight, departing from Newfoundland on May 20th and arriving in Ireland on May 23rd. Her journey marked the first successful solo transatlantic flight by a woman.
  28. May 23 is the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, a day to raise awareness about this devastating childbirth injury and promote access to treatment and prevention services.
  29. In 1813, on this day, South American independence leader Simón Bolívar entered Mérida, Venezuela, leading the Admirable Campaign to liberate the Andean highlands from Spanish rule.
  30. On this day in 2018, the first pizzeria in the United States, Lombardi's Pizza, celebrated its 100-year anniversary in New York City.
  31. French actress Fanny Ardant was born on May 23, 1949. She is best known for her roles in internationally acclaimed films such as "La Famille" and "La Femme d'à côté."
  32. On May 23, 1958, iconic American singer and novelty artist "Weird Al" Yankovic was born. Throughout his career, he has entertained audiences with his humorous parodies and original compositions.
  33. May 23, 2016, marked the announcement of Microsoft's acquisition of LinkedIn, a professional networking platform, for $26.2 billion, one of the largest technology deals in history.
  34. On this day in 2008, the International Space Station received the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), also known as "Kibo," marking Japan's first significant contribution to the orbital facility.
  35. In 1970, surrealist painting artist Salvador Dalí released a book titled "Dalí's Cookbook," which contained various surreal recipes, including "Thousand Year Old Eggs."
  36. On May 23, 2005, the popular social media platform, YouTube, was created by three former PayPal employees. Over the years, YouTube has become a major source of revenue for content creators and advertisers.
  37. May 23 is the International Day of Slavic Writing and Culture, commemorating the work of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who developed the Glagolitic alphabet and contributed to Slavic literature and culture.

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