23 April 1960

A Saturday in history

Weekday

Saturday

Season

Spring (N. Hemisphere)

Century

20th century

Records

404

  1. 2018

    A man intentionally struck pedestrians with a van on Yonge Street in Toronto, Canada, leading to 11 deaths.

    Source
  2. 2010

    Arizona governor Jan Brewer signed into law the controversial anti–illegal immigration bill SB 1070, much of which was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Source
  3. 2009

    The gamma-ray burst GRB 090423 was detected coming from the most distant astronomical object of any kind known at the time.

    Source
  4. 1982

    The ZX Spectrum (pictured), Britain's best-selling microcomputer, was released.

    Source
  5. 1979

    Blair Peach, a New Zealand teacher, was fatally injured while taking part in an Anti-Nazi League demonstration against a National Front election meeting in Southall, London.

    Source
  6. 1976

    The American band the Ramones released their debut album, which became highly influential on the emerging punk rock movement.

    Source
  7. 1971

    The Rolling Stones released Sticky Fingers, the first album on their own label, Rolling Stones Records.

    Source
  8. 1954

    Batting for the Milwaukee Braves against Vic Raschi of the St. Louis Cardinals, Hank Aaron hit the first of his 755 home runs in Major League Baseball.

    Source
  9. 1951

    American journalist William N. Oatis was arrested for espionage by the communist government of Czechoslovakia.

    Source
  10. 1945

    World War II: The US Army's 90th Infantry Division liberated Flossenbürg concentration camp (pictured) in Germany, freeing 1,500 prisoners.

    Source
  11. 1942

    Second World War: In retaliation for the Royal Air Force's bombing of Lübeck, the Luftwaffe began a series of air raids across England, beginning with Exeter.

    Source
  12. 1927

    Cardiff City defeated Arsenal 1–0 in the FA Cup final (match programme pictured) in the only time the FA Cup has been won by a non-English team.

    Source
  13. 1920

    The Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the country's unicameral legislature, first met in Ankara in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence.

    Source
  14. 1918

    First World War: The British Royal Navy launched unsuccessful raids on Ostend and Zeebrugge in German-occupied Belgium.

    Source
  15. 1891

    Chilean Civil War: The armored frigate Blanco Encalada (pictured) was sunk at the Battle of Caldera Bay, the first ironclad warship lost to a self-propelled torpedo.

    Source
  16. 1724

    Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104, illustrating the topic of the Good Shepherd in pastoral music.

    Source
  17. 1685

    Succeeding Charles II, his late brother, James II was crowned King of England, becoming last Catholic to hold the title.

    Source
  18. 1661

    Charles II was crowned King of England, Scotland and Ireland at Westminster Abbey.

    Source
  19. 1467

    Albanian commander Skanderbeg entered Krujë, breaking a 10-month siege by Ottoman forces.

    Source
  20. 1467

    Ottoman wars in Europe: Albanian leader Skanderbeg defeated an Ottoman army under Ballaban Badera to raise the siege of Krujë.

    Source
  21. 1348

    The first knights of the Order of the Garter, an order of chivalry founded by King Edward III of England, were appointed.

    Source
  22. 1016

    Edmund Ironside became King of England, reigning for only seven months before the country was conquered by Cnut the Great.

    Source
  23. 1014

    The Vikings were defeated by the Irish at the Battle of Clontarf.

    Source

Photo archive

24 historic images from this day — tap to open the gallery.

What was life like?

Prices, jobs, food, music and everyday routine — the world as it felt to live in.

Sources & fact check

Every claim is traced to primary sources, archives, universities and the press — with an explicit confidence rating. Dossiers are generated once and cached permanently.