February 23 in History
February 23 is the birthday of Alice Litman (2002) and the anniversary of the death of Larry Dolan (2025). Below are famous birthdays, deaths, events for February 23, plus editor's picks and genealogy records.
Ancestry
Holiday Sale: 65% off AncestryDNA. Offer ends 11/19. Terms apply.
Discover your ethnicity and find relatives with AncestryDNA.
Al-Zafir, Fatimid caliph was born in 1133, while Al-Walid I, Umayyad caliph died in 715.
Ancestry
AncestryDNA® with Traits
Ethnicity estimate, DNA matches and personal traits.
Famous people born on February 23
Famous people who died on February 23
2024
Flaco (owl) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Owl that escaped from a New York City zoo (2010–2024)
2014
Roger Hilsman (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
American soldier, statesman, teacher, and author (1919–2014)
2013
Joseph Friedenson (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Joseph Friedenson, Holocaust survivor, Holocaust historian, Yiddish writer, lecturer and editor (born 1922)
2013
Julien Ries (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Belgian religious historian, titular archbishop and cardinal of the Catholic Church
2008
Paul Frère (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Belgian racing driver and automotive journalist (1917–2008)
2007
John Ritchie (footballer, born 1941) (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
English footballer (1941–2007)
2006
Muhammad Shamsul Huq (Wikipedia, opens in a new tab)
Bangladeshi politician and educator (1912–2006)
What happened on February 23
- 2025
A snap election is held in Germany.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2021
Four simultaneous prison riots leave at least 62 people dead in Ecuador.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2020
Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old African-American citizen, is shot and murdered by three white men after visiting a house under construction while jogging at a neighborhood in Satilla Shores near Brunswick in Glynn County, Georgia.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2019
Atlas Air Flight 3591, a Boeing 767 freighter, crashes into Trinity Bay near Anahuac, Texas, killing all three people on board.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2018
Parliamentary elections are held in Djibouti.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2017
The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army captures Al-Bab from ISIL.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2012
A series of attacks across Iraq leave at least 83 killed and more than 250 injured.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2010
Unknown criminals pour more than 2+1⁄2 million liters of diesel oil and other hydrocarbons into the river Lambro, in northern Italy, sparking an environmental disaster.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2008
A United States Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber crashes on Guam, marking the first operational loss of a B-2.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2008
The Japanese WINDS satellite is launched.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2007
A train derails on an evening express service near Grayrigg, Cumbria, England, killing one person and injuring 88. This results in hundreds of points being checked over the UK after a few similar accidents.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 2002
An Ariane 4 rocket is launched from the Guiana Space Centre carrying Intelsat 904.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1999
Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Öcalan is charged with treason in Ankara, Turkey.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1999
An avalanche buries the town of Galtür, Austria, killing 31.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab) - 1998
In the United States, tornadoes in central Florida destroy or damage 2,600 structures and kill 42 people.
Wikipedia source (opens in a new tab)
Births, deaths and events from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
Editor's picks
Born on February 23
- 1133 — Al-Zafir, Fatimid caliph (died 1154)
- 1417 — Pope Paul II (died 1471)
- 1417 — Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria (died 1479)
Died on February 23
- 715 — Al-Walid I, Umayyad caliph (born 668)
- 908 — Li Keyong, Shatuo military governor during the Tang dynasty in China (born 856)
- 943 — Herbert II, Count of Vermandois, (born 884)
Source: Wikipedia historical listings for February 23
Quick answers
Who was born on February 23? Alice Litman (2002), Femke Broeders-Bol (2000), Jamal Murray (1997).
Who died on February 23? Larry Dolan (2025), Al Trautwig (2025), Flaco (owl) (2024).
Explore genealogy records
Researching someone born in February? Search birth records
Live genealogy events
This calendar is live and has its own date controls; it is separate from the February 23 historical article above.
Ancestry
Holiday Sale: 65% off AncestryDNA. Offer ends 11/19. Terms apply.
Discover your ethnicity and find relatives with AncestryDNA.
Ancestry
AncestryDNA® with Traits
Ethnicity estimate, DNA matches and personal traits.