What happened on February 23

66 documented historical events happened on February 23, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Johann Sebastian Bach premiered his Shepherd Cantata for the birthday of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels (pictured). On the same day, in another year: The identity of English highwayman Dick Turpin was uncovered by his former schoolmate, who recognised his handwriting, leading to Turpin's trial. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.

152 people with a Wikipedia article were born on February 23, including Al-Zafir, Pope Paul II, Louis IX of Bavaria. The list spans every era and every field — art, science, politics, sport, entertainment — ordered by year of birth, from the earliest to the most recent. The six featured people are those most has been written about: the ordering uses the length of their Wikipedia article as an indicator of prominence. For each one you find their occupation, year of birth and a link to the full biography.

87 people with a Wikipedia article died on February 23, including Al-Walid I, Li Keyong, Emperor Zhezong. The list is in chronological order by year of death and spans all of documented history, from antiquity to the present day. For each person you find their occupation, the year and a link to the Wikipedia biography, where the full story and its sources can be read.

11 observances are celebrated on February 23 around the world: Christian feast day: Polycarp of Smyrna, Christian feast day: Blessed Rafaela Ybarra de Vilallonga, Christian feast day: Serenus the Gardener, Christian feast day: Willigis, Christian feast day: February 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics), The Emperor's Birthday, birthday of Naruhito, the current Emperor of Japan (Japan). The list gathers national holidays, international days and religious or civil observances falling on this date in different countries, as recorded on Wikipedia. Some are fixed and recur on the same day every year; others depend on the local calendar. Each links to the article explaining its origin and meaning.