🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on April 23:

1993 — Eritreans voted overwhelmingly for independence from Ethiopia in a UN-supervised referendum.

1985 — The Coca-Cola Company introduced New Coke, attempting to reformulate its flagship product, sparking widespread criticism.

1984 — US Secretary of Health and Human Services Margaret Heckler identified a retrovirus as the probable cause of AIDS, a key milestone in medical research.

1906 — Russian Tsar Nicholas II issued the Fundamental Laws, solidifying his authority amidst political unrest.

1635 — The Boston Latin School, the first public school in future United States territory, opened its doors in Massachusetts.

1016 — Edmund II, known as Edmund Ironside, succeeded his father Ethelred II as King of England during a turbulent time of Danish invasions.

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On April 23, we’re singing to:

James Buchanan (1791) — 15th president of the United States, who served during the turbulent years leading up to the Civil War.

Sergey Prokofiev (1891) — Russian composer and pianist known for his innovative compositions, including Peter and the Wolf and Romeo and Juliet.

Shirley Temple (1928) — American actress and diplomat and one of the most famous child stars of the 1930s, who later served as a US ambassador.

Michael Moore (1954) — American filmmaker and author known for his provocative documentaries, including Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine.

 🪦Who Died Today?

On April 23, we’re saying goodbye to:

Ethelred the Unready (1016) — King of England remembered for his unsuccessful struggles against Viking invasions.

William Shakespeare (1616) — English playwright and poet widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the history of the English language.

William Wordsworth (1850) — English poet and central figure in the Romantic movement, known for works such as “Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey.”

James Earl Ray (1998) — US white supremacist and lifelong criminal convicted of the murder of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Boris Yeltsin (2007) — President of Russia and the first democratically elected leader of the country, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

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