Today's Trivia and What Happened on June 23

Why did Beethoven get rid of his chickens?

Why did Beethoven get rid of his chickens? Close Large View

All they would say was "Bach, Bach, Bach".

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
13

Quote: Be the Change You Wish To See in the World. - Mohandas Gandhi (attributed)

Quote: Be the Change You Wish To See in the World. - Mohandas Gandhi (attributed) Close Large View

Thumbs Up
11
Thumbs Down
2

What Happened On

Patent and 1873 model Patent and 1873 model

Patent and 1873 model Patent and 1873 model
Close Large View

First Practical Typewriter

June 23, 1868

First practical typewriter is patented by Christopher Latham Sholes and Samuel W. Soule. It was only able to type capital letters and the numbers 2 through 9. It was improved upon until a practical version was built in 1873.

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

Cannon explodes on USS President Cannon explodes on USS President

Cannon explodes on USS President Cannon explodes on USS President
Close Large View

War of 1812 - First Shots Fired

June 23, 1812

The USS President fires on the HMS Belvidera. The U.S. had declared war on Great Britain (War of 1812) five days earlier. On the USS President's fourth cannon shot, the gun exploded allowing the HMS Belvidera to escape.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
2

Add Trivia to Your Web Page

FBI Ten Most Wanted

FBI Ten Most Wanted Close Large View

FBI Ten Most Wanted

June 23, 1951

Thomas Holden, who was the first person on the infamous FBI Ten Most Wanted list when it started in 1950, is arrested. He had killed his wife and her two brothers.
Holden and Francis Keating robbed payroll deliveries, trains, and banks, becoming one of the most notorious holdup teams by the end of the 1920s. They were captured and convicted in 1928 and each sentenced to 25 years in prison.
After two years, they escaped Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and went on to form a new gang, committing a series of daylight robberies during 1930 and 1931. They were recaptured and returned to Leavenworth, where Holden was paroled in 1947. Two and a half years later, Holden killed his wife and two of her brothers during a drunken family argument.

Thumbs Up
6
Thumbs Down
0

Join Us on Facebook

Frederick Douglass for President

Frederick Douglass for President Close Large View

Frederick Douglass for President

June 23, 1888

Frederick Douglass becomes the first African-American to have his name put forward for a presidential nomination in a major party's roll call vote, receiving one vote from the Kentucky Delegation at the Republican Convention in Chicago, although they ultimately nominated Benjamin Harrison.
While this was his first nominating vote by a major party, this was the second time Douglass had been nominated for U.S. president. The first was in 1848 at the National Liberty Party Convention.

Thumbs Up
9
Thumbs Down
0

First Baby Hospital

June 23, 1887

The first baby hospital exclusively for infants is chartered, Babies Hospital of the City of New York.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Civil War

June 23, 1865

Last formal surrender of Confederate troops.

Thumbs Up
8
Thumbs Down
0

The U.S. Secret Service

June 23, 1860

The U.S. Secret Service is established by the U.S. Congress.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

The Government Printing Office

June 23, 1860

The Government Printing Office is established.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Saxophone Photo Credit: Musik- och teatermuseet

Saxophone Photo Credit: Musik- och teatermuseet
Close Large View

Saxophone

June 23, 1846

The saxophone is patented, by Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax.

Thumbs Up
9
Thumbs Down
0

Quakers

June 23, 1683

English Quaker William Penn signs a treaty purchasing land from the Pennsylvania Indians.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Birthdays

Wilma Rudolph

Wilma Rudolph Close Large View
This is a birthday

Overcame Crippling Polio to Become the Fastest Woman in the World

Wilma Rudolph

Born June 23, 1940 d. 1994

African-American Hall of Fame sprinter. She contracted polio at the age of five, losing strength in left leg and foot and had to wear a leg brace until the age of 12. The 20th of her father's 22 children, her family members gave her daily leg massages to restore the strength in her legs. She competed in the 1956 Olympics, where her 4x100 meter relay team won the bronze medal, with a time matching the previous world record of 44.9 seconds.
In the 1960 Olympics, she won gold medals in the 100 and 200-meter dash and the 4×100-meter relay, making her the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympiad. She also set a new Olympic record of 23.2 seconds for the 200-meter dash, earning her the title, "Fastest Woman in the World."
She died at age 54 after being diagnosed with brain and throat cancer.

Thumbs Up
6
Thumbs Down
1

Stuart Sutcliffe

Stuart Sutcliffe Close Large View
This is a birthday

One of the Lesser-Known Beatles

Stuart Sutcliffe

Born June 23, 1940 d. 1962

Scottish painter, musician. Bass guitarist for the Beatles before they became famous (May 1960 - August 1961), but left the band to pursue his art career. He is partially credited with coming up with the name of the group, when he jokingly suggested "Beatals" as a play on Buddy Holly's Crickets. Up to then they were known as "The Quarrymen", but the name was changed to "The Silver Beetles", and later "The Beatles".
He died at the age of 21 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Although, the cause of Sutcliffe's aneurysm is unknown, it may have been the result of an earlier head injury he received in a fight after a Beatles' performance in January 1961. Fellow band members John Lennon and Pete Best went to Sutcliffe's aid, fighting off his attackers. Sutcliffe sustained a fractured skull and Lennon's little finger was broken. Sutcliffe suffered blinding headaches afterwards, but refused medical attention.

Thumbs Up
8
Thumbs Down
2

Alan Mathison Turing

Alan Mathison Turing Close Large View
This is a birthday

Alan Mathison Turing

Born June 23, 1912 d. 1954

British mathematician, computer expert, invented the Turing Test (1937), which is used to determine if a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior is equivalent to that of a human. He also cracked Germany's "unbreakable" war code Enigma.
In 1952 he was prosecuted for homosexuality by the British government and forced to undergo chemical castration in order to avoid prison. He died from eating a cyanide-laced apple. Turing was given a royal pardon in 2013.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
1

Empress Joséphine

Empress Joséphine Close Large View
This is a birthday

Empress Joséphine

Born June 23, 1763 d. 1814

French Empress, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Their marriage was dissolved (1809) when she failed to produce an heir. Her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais was guillotined during the Reign of Terror, and she was imprisoned until five days after his execution.

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
3

This is a birthday

Clarence Thomas

Born June 23, 1948

American judge, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1991‑). During his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Thomas was accused of sexually harassing Anita Hill. He denied the allegations.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
2

This is a birthday

Ted Shackelford

Born June 23, 1946

American actor. TV: Dallas (Gary Ewing) and Knots Landing (Gary Ewing).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Richard David Bach

Richard David Bach Close Large View
This is a birthday

Richard David Bach

Born June 23, 1936

American author. Writings: Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1970), which in five years sold over 7,000,000 copies in the U.S. It had been turned down by 18 publishers.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

June Carter Cash

Born June 23, 1929 d. 2003

American Grammy-winning singer, wife of Johnny Cash. TV: Grand Ole Opry.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

All That Jazz

Bob Fosse (Robert Louis Fosse)

Born June 23, 1927 d. 1987

American dancer, choreographer, director. He was the first director to win an Oscar (Cabaret, 1972), a Tony (Pajama Game, 1954), and an Emmy (Liza with a Z, 1973). He also directed his semi-autobiographical All That Jazz (1979).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Father of Advertising

David Ogilvy

Born June 23, 1911 d. 1999

English advertising genius, called "The Father of Advertising." His slogan, "Only Dove is one-quarter moisturizing cream" helped Dove become the top-selling soap in the U.S. Writings: Confessions of an Advertising Man.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Edward VIII

Edward VIII Close Large View
This is a birthday

Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David)

Born June 23, 1894 d. 1972

King of England (1936). He gave up the Throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson, after which he became Duke of Windsor.

Thumbs Up
8
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Alfred Charles Kinsey

Born June 23, 1894 d. 1956

American zoologist. His book Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) shocked the public by pointing out how many "perverted acts" were common place in American homes.

Thumbs Up
0
Thumbs Down
9

This is a birthday

Édouard Michelin

Born June 23, 1859 d. 1940

French tire maker. He and his brother founded the Michelin Tire Co. (1888) and invented a removable rubber pneumatic tire for bicycles (1889).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Deaths

Peter Falk

Peter Falk Close Large View
This is a death

Peter Falk

Died June 23, 2011 b. 1927

American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Columbo (1971-2003, title role). Film: The Princess Bride (1987, Grandpa the narrator).
Just one more thing… Falk wore an artificial eye after his right eye was surgically removed at the age of three due to a retinoblastoma. In a 1997 interview, Falk said: "I remember once in high school the umpire called me out at third base when I was sure I was safe. I got so mad I took out my glass eye, handed it to him and said, 'Try this.' I got such a laugh you wouldn't believe."

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Ed McMahon Photo Credit: Christa Chapman

Ed McMahon Photo Credit: Christa Chapman
Close Large View
This is a death

Ed McMahon (Edward Leo Peter McMahon, Jr.)

Died June 23, 2009 b. 1923

American TV personality, fighter pilot. TV: Johnny Carson's sidekick (1962-92), and a circus clown for the 1950s show Big Top.
McMahon trained to be a U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot during World War II and served as a flight instructor before being ordered to the Pacific fleet in 1945. However, his orders were canceled when Japan surrendered. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, where he flew 85 combat missions, earning six Air Medals.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Aaron Spelling

Aaron Spelling Close Large View
This is a death

Aaron Spelling

Died June 23, 2006 b. 1923

American TV and film producer. TV: The Mod Squad (1968-73), Charlie's Angels (1976-81), The Love Boat (1977–86), Fantasy Island (1977-84), Dynasty (1981-89), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000, which starred his daughter Tori), and Melrose Place (1992–99).

Thumbs Up
12
Thumbs Down
0

Salk administering the vaccine Salk administering the vaccine

Salk administering the vaccine Salk administering the vaccine
Close Large View
This is a death

Jonas Edward Salk

Died June 23, 1995 b. 1914

American physician, scientist. He discovered a polio vaccine in 1953, saving thousands from the crippling disease. In 1952 alone, polio paralyzed 21,000 people and killed 3,100.
Salk chose to not patent the vaccine in order to maximize its distribution. When asked who owned the patent, Salk replied, "Well, the people I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?" It is estimated the patent would have been worth billions had it been patented.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

DeHart Hubbard

DeHart Hubbard Close Large View
This is a death

First African-American to Win an Individual Olympic Gold Medal

DeHart Hubbard

Died June 23, 1976 b. 1903

American Hall of Fame athlete. DeHart Hubbard was the first black to win an individual Olympic gold medal (1924, running long jump). In 1925, he set a long jump world record of 25 feet 10 3⁄4 inches (7.89 m). Hubbard served as president of the National Bowling Association during the 1950s and founded a professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Tigers of the Negro American League.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

The Colosseum The Colosseum

The Colosseum The Colosseum
Close Large View
This is a death

Vespasian

Died June 23,  79 b.  9

Roman Emperor (69-79 AD). He was responsible for the building of the Roman Colosseum (aka Flavian Amphitheatre).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Penny Ann Early

Penny Ann Early Close Large View
This is a death

First Female Jockey and the First Woman to Play Professional Basketball

Penny Ann Early

Died June 23, 2023 b. 1943

American athlete. She was the first female jockey licensed to ride parimutuel horse races (1968) and the first woman to play in a professional basketball league (1968, ABA). After earning her jockey's license male jockeys refused to race with her in an attempt to block her from competing. In response, the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association signed her to their team. She played briefly for one play. At 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) and 112 pounds (50.8 kg), she was also the smallest player in a male dominated professional basketball league.
Note: She is the smallest, but tied for the shortest with Muggsy Bogues of the NBA who was also 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m), but weighed 135 lb (61 kg) making him bigger.

Thumbs Up
0
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Dick Van Patten

Died June 23, 2015 b. 1928

American actor. TV: Eight is Enough (Tom the father). He is the founder of Natural Balance Pet Foods (1989).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson Close Large View
This is a death

Richard Matheson

Died June 23, 2013 b. 1926

American author. Writings: I Am Legend (1954), which was made into the movies The Last Man on Earth (1964), The Omega Man (1971), I Am Legend (2007), and was the inspiration for Night of the Living Dead (1968). Matheson also wrote The Shrinking Man (1956) which was filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957). Film: Trilogy of Terror (1975). TV: He wrote 16 episodes for The Twilight Zone and the Star Trek episode The Enemy Within (1966).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Shana Alexander

Died June 23, 2005 b. 1925

American journalist, author of The Feminine Eye (1970). She represented the liberal view on TV's "Point/Counterpoint" segment of 60 Minutes.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

Maureen O'Sullivan

Maureen O'Sullivan Close Large View
This is a death

Tarzan's Jane

Maureen O'Sullivan

Died June 23, 1998 b. 1911

Irish-American actress. Film: Jane Porter of the Tarzan movies with Johnny Weissmuller between 1932 and 1942. She was also featured with William Powell and Myrna Loy in The Thin Man (1934).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

William S. Hart

Died June 23, 1946 b. 1864

American silent Western actor. Known as "Two-Gun Bill."

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Father of the Submarine

Simon Lake

Died June 23, 1945 b. 1866

American engineer, father of the modern submarine. He built his first sub in 1894.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Henry Hudson

Died June 23, 1611 b. 1575

English explorer. He was the first white man to go up the Hudson River (1609).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
0