Did you know
Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Notable Deaths on April 23
1616 — William Shakespeare
English playwright and poet (born 1564)
April 23 has 125 recorded notable deaths across history, from 303 to 2026. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Notable Deaths
125 source records
303 – 2026
Today in history
Major events on April 23
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 2005 The first YouTube video, titled "Me at the zoo", is published by co-founder Jawed Karim. Source
- 1949 Chinese Civil War: Establishment of the People's Liberation Army Navy. Source
- 1920 The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is founded in Ankara. The assembly denounces the government of Sultan Mehmed VI and announces the preparation of a temporary constitution. Source
- 1635 The first public school in the United States, the Boston Latin School, is founded. Source
Did you know
Brian first made himself king of Munster, then subjugated Leinster, eventually becoming High King of Ireland.
Did you know
Alfred Griner Packer, also known as the "Colorado Cannibal", was an American prospector and self-proclaimed wilderness guide who confessed to cannibalism during the winter of 1874.
Did you know
Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1172 and 1196.
Did you know
Æthelred of Wessex (born 837) was the fourth of five sons of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, four of whom in turn became king.
More major people who died on April 23
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1014
Brian Boru
Irish king (born 941)
Brian Boru was the High King of Ireland from 1002 to 1014. He ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill, and is likely responsible for ending Viking invasions of Ireland.
1907
Alferd Packer
American prospector and convicted cannibal (born 1842)
Alfred Griner Packer, also known as the "Colorado Cannibal", was an American prospector and self-proclaimed wilderness guide who confessed to cannibalism during the winter of 1874.
1196
Béla III of Hungary (born c. 1148)
Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1172 and 1196. He was the second son of King Géza II and Géza's wife, Euphrosyne of Kiev.
871
Æthelred of Wessex (born 837)
Æthelred I was King of Wessex from 865 until his death in 871. He was the fourth of five sons of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, four of whom in turn became king.
1200
Zhu Xi
Chinese philosopher (born 1130)
Zhu Xi, formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese philosopher, historian, politician, poet, and calligrapher of the Southern Song dynasty.
1985
Sam Ervin
American lawyer and politician (born 1896)
Samuel James Ervin Jr. was an American politician who served as a U.S. senator from North Carolina from 1954 to 1974.
1616
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
Spanish writer and historian (born 1539)
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, born Gómez Suárez de Figueroa and known as El Inca, was a chronicler and writer born in the Viceroyalty of Peru.
1966
George Ohsawa
Japanese founder of the Macrobiotic diet (born 1893)
George Ohsawa was a Japanese author and proponent of alternative medicine who was the founder of the macrobiotic diet.
2024
Frank Field
British politician (born 1942)
Frank Ernest Field, Baron Field of Birkenhead, was a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Birkenhead for 40 years, from 1979 to 2019, serving as a Labour MP until 2018 and thereafter sitting as…
1794
Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes
French lawyer and politician (born 1721)
Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes, often referred to as Malesherbes or Lamoignon-Malesherbes, was a French statesman and minister in the Ancien Régime, and later counsel for the defense of Louis XVI.
2014
Jaap Havekotte
Dutch speed skater and producer of ice skates (born 1912)
Jaap Havekotte was a Dutch speed skater. He skated in several Dutch championships during the 1940s, but is best known as the founder of Viking Schaatsenfabriek, a Dutch producer of ice skates.
1986
Harold Arlen
American composer (born 1905)
Harold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide.
1995
John C. Stennis
American lawyer and politician (born 1904)
John Cornelius Stennis was an American politician who served as a U.S. senator from the state of Mississippi.
997
Adalbert of Prague
Czech bishop, missionary, and saint (born 956)
Adalbert of Prague, known in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia by his birth name Vojtěch, was a Czech missionary and Christian saint.
1915
Rupert Brooke
English poet (born 1887)
Rupert Chawner Brooke was an English poet known for his idealistic war sonnets written during the First World War, such as "The Dead" and "The Soldier".
2016
Banharn Silpa-archa
Thai politician, Prime Minister from 1995 to 1996 (born 1932)
Banharn Silpa-archa was a Thai politician who served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1995 to 1996.
1217
Inge II of Norway (born 1185)
Inge II was King of Norway from 1204 to 1217. His reign was within the later stages of the period known in Norwegian history as the age of civil wars. Inge was the king of the birkebeiner faction.
1983
Buster Crabbe
American swimmer and actor (born 1908)
Clarence Linden "Buster" Crabbe II was an American two-time Olympic swimmer and film and television actor.
2014
F. Michael Rogers
American general (born 1921)
Felix Michael Rogers, usually known as Michael Rogers, was a general in the United States Air Force and the former commander of the Air Force Logistics Command, with headquarters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,…