On This Day in History

April 23

Historical Events

1014 King Brian Boru of Ireland defeats Viking forces at the Battle of Clontarf, freeing Ireland from foreign control.

1516 Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria endorses "The German Beer Purity Law" (Reinheitsgebot) and adds to it standards for the sale of beer in Bavaria, ensuring beer is only brewed from three ingredients – water, malt and hops

1597 William Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" is first performed, with Queen Elizabeth I of England in attendance.

1861 Robert E. Lee named commander of Virginia Confederate forces.

1968 First decimal coins issued in Britain (5 & 10 new pence, replacing shilling and two-shilling pieces).

1984 AIDS-virus identified as HTLV-III (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

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Famous Birthdays

William Shakespeare 1564 - 1616 James Buchanan 1791 - 1868

Shirley Temple 1928 - 2014 Michael Moore 70th Birthday

Also Maarten Tromp and J. M. W. Turner.

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Famous Deaths

William Wordsworth 1770 - 1850 Boris Yeltsin 1931 - 2007

Also William Shakespeare and James Earl Ray.

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Who Wrote Shakespeare?

Could the son of a provincial glove-maker, born on this day in history, be the author of the world's greatest plays? The argument rages on.

The Writing of William Shakespeare