Did you know
Initially a Federalist like his father, Adams spent his presidency as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, and later, in the mid-1830s, became affiliated with the Whig Party.
Notable Deaths on February 23
1848 — John Quincy Adams
American politician, 6th President of the United States (born 1767)
February 23 has 88 recorded notable deaths across history, from 715 to 2025. This focused page highlights 20 people with the strongest available profile context.
By thisDay.info Editorial Team · — Wikipedia
Notable Deaths
88 source records
715 – 2025
Today in history
Major events on February 23
See what else happened on this day in history.
- 1763 Berbice slave uprising in Guyana: The first major slave revolt in South America. Source
- 1954 The first mass inoculation of children against polio with the Salk vaccine begins in Pittsburgh. Source
- 1927 U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs a bill by Congress establishing the Federal Radio Commission (later replaced by the Federal Communications Commission) which was to regulate the use of radio frequencies in the United States. Source
- 1847 Mexican–American War: Battle of Buena Vista: In Mexico, American troops under future president General Zachary Taylor defeat Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Source
Did you know
Although her beauty became central to her public image and earned her the nickname "Venus of the Indian screen", later critics argue that her physical appeal often overshadowed her acting talent.
Did you know
John Keats's poems had been in publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculosis at the age of 25.
Did you know
Tomoyuki Yamashita's conquest of Malaya and Singapore in 70 days earned him the sobriquet "The Tiger of Malaya".
Did you know
L. S. Lowry was fascinated by the sea, and painted pure seascapes, depicting only sea and sky, from the early 1940s.
More major people who died on February 23
Notable people are ranked by substantive profile depth and public notability.
1969
Madhubala
Indian actress and producer (born 1933)
Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi, known professionally as Madhubala, was an Indian actress.
1821
John Keats
English poet (born 1795)
John Keats was an English poet of the second generation of Romantic poets, along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
1946
Tomoyuki Yamashita
Japanese general (born 1885)
Tomoyuki Yamashita was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Yamashita led Japanese forces during the invasion of Malaya and Battle of Singapore.
1976
L. S. Lowry
English painter (born 1887)
Laurence Stephen Lowry was an English artist. His drawings and paintings often depict scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England in the mid-20th century.
1447
Humphrey
Duke of Gloucester (born 1390)
Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester was an English prince, soldier and literary patron.
1792
Joshua Reynolds
English painter and academic (born 1723)
Sir Joshua Reynolds was an English painter who specialised in portraits.
2024
Flaco
Eurasian eagle-owl (born 2010)
Flaco was a male Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped his long-time enclosure at Central Park Zoo in New York City after someone cut the protective netting in February 2023.
2015
Rana Bhagwandas
Pakistani lawyer and judge, Chief Justice of Pakistan (born 1942)
Rana Bhagwandas was a Pakistani jurist who served as a judge and acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (CJP). He enjoyed extremely high reputation as a judge.
908
Li Keyong
Shatuo military governor during the Tang dynasty in China (born 856)
Li Keyong was a military general and politician of Shatuo Turk ethnicity, and from January 896 the Prince of Jin, which would become an independent state after the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907.
2013
Lotika Sarkar
Indian lawyer and academic (born 1945)
Lotika Sarkar was a noted Indian feminist, social worker, educator and lawyer, who was a pioneer in the field of women's studies and women's rights in India.
2014
Roger Hilsman
American soldier, academic, and politician (born 1919)
Roger Hilsman Jr. was an American soldier, government official, political scientist, and author.
1270
Isabel of France (born 1225)
Isabelle of France was a French princess and daughter of Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile.
1879
Albrecht von Roon
Prussian soldier and politician, 10th Minister President of Prussia (born 1803)
Albrecht Theodor Emil Graf von Roon was a Prussian soldier and statesman.
715
Al-Walid I
Umayyad caliph (born 668)
Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, commonly known as al-Walid I, was the sixth Umayyad caliph, ruling from October 705 until his death in 715. He was the eldest son of his predecessor, Caliph Abd al-Malik.
2003
Robert K. Merton
American sociologist and academic (born 1910)
Robert King Merton was an American sociologist who is considered a founding father of modern sociology, and a major contributor to the subfield of criminology.
2016
Peter Lustig
German television host and author (born 1937)
Peter Fritz Willi Lustig was a German television presenter, voice actor and author of children's books who has become especially well known as leading actor in the weekly children's television show Löwenzahn, which he…
1990
José Napoleón Duarte
Salvadoran engineer and politician, President of El Salvador (born 1925)
José Napoleón Duarte Fuentes was a Salvadoran politician who served as the 36th President of El Salvador from 1984 to 1989 during the Salvadoran Civil War.
1997
Tony Williams
American drummer, composer, and producer (born 1945)
Anthony Tillmon Williams was an American jazz drummer. Williams first gained fame as a member of Miles Davis's "Second Great Quintet", and later pioneered jazz fusion with Davis's group and his own combo, The Tony…
2004
Sikander Bakht
Indian politician, Indian Minister of External Affairs (born 1918)
Sikander Bakht was an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who served as the 15th governor of Kerala from 2002 until his death.