Today in History April 23

Today in History

April 23, the 113th day . There are 252 days left in the year.
Click this link to see a YouTube summary of this day in history Today in History April 23
April 23, is the birth date and death date of English poet and playwright William Shakespeare.
So, the most famous (possibly) Englishman was born and died on St Georges Day, St George being the Patron Saint of England

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” from Twelfth Night by Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born and died
On the very same day
Well, he didn’t last very long
I hear some of you say

If he really was born and died
On the very same day
He couldn’t have managed a sonnet
Never mind a 3 act play

Fortunately for us (but not for schoolchildren)
There were 52 years in between
The first 23rd April was in 1564
And the second in 1616

Most of his work was produced
In a 23 year period of time
Nearly 40 plays and over 150 sonnets
And some poems that don’t even rhyme

Jon Bratton 2009


Highlights in US History


1791, the 15th president of the United States, James Buchanan, was born in Franklin County, Pa.

1969, Sirhan Sirhan was sentenced to death for assassinating New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy. (The sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment.)

In 1985, the Coca-Cola Co. announced it was changing the secret flavour formula for Coke (negative public reaction forced the company to resume selling the original version).

1998, James Earl Ray, who'd confessed to assassinating the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and then insisted he'd been framed, died at a Nashville hospital at age 70.


Highlights in British and Other History

April 23, 1564, is believed to be the birth date of English poet and dramatist William Shakespeare; he died 52 years later, also on April 23.
St Georges Day in England

Famous Birthdays

1928 Shirley Temple Black, Actress-turned-diplomat.
1939 Lee Majors, Actor

For more, click the link
Today in History April 23

This ‘Today in History April 23’ blog entry is copyright of Jon Bratton 2009