Today in History for 23rd May 2025
Historical Events
1932 – Australian cyclist Hubert Opperman sets paced world records 1,384km in 24 hours, and 1,609km (1,000 miles) in 28 hours, 55 minutes, 39 seconds at Melbourne Motordrome
1969 – 22nd Cannes Film Festival: “If…” directed by Lindsay Anderson wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film
1983 – Radio Moscow announcer Vladimir Danchev praises Afghanistan Muslims standing up to Russia; he is removed from the air
1990 – Cost of rescuing savings and loan failures is put at up to $130 billion
2001 – 9th UEFA Champions League Final: Bayern Munich beats Valencia (1-1, 5-4 on penalties) at Milan
Famous Birthdays
1820 – James Buchanan Eads, American engineer and inventor (Eads Bridge-St Louis), born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana (d. 1887)
1923 – Alicia de Larrocha, Spanish pianist (Orquesta Sinfonica), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2009)
1942 – Zalman King, American actor and director (Wild Orchid), born in Trenton, New Jersey (d. 2012)
1965 – Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo, Real Madrid footballer
1970 – Bryan Herta, American race car driver
Famous Deaths
1691 – Adrien Auzout, French astronomer who improved measuring instruments (moon crater “Auzout”), dies at 69
1838 – Jan Willem Janssens, Dutch nobleman, military officer, and Governor-General of Cape colony and Dutch-Indies, dies at 75
1841 – Franz Xaver von Baader, German philosopher and theologist, dies at 76
1934 – Clyde Barrow, American bank robber and outlaw (Bonnie and Clyde), killed in police ambush in Louisiana at 25
2021 – Max Mosley, British auto racer and lawyer (President Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile [FIA] 1993-2009), dies from cancer at 81
