AUGUST 23 | Birthdays and Events

Notable Birthdays for August 23

Sarah Frances Whiting (1847-1927) - The first professor of physics and astronomy at Wellesley College (MA).

Harry Frank Guggenheim (1890-1971) - Co-founded the daily newspaper Newsday.

Jean Darling (1922-2015) - Silent film actress who made several acting appearances, including as a regular on Our Gang (Little Rascals).

Clifford Geertz (1926-2006) - Considered one of the most widely known and most influential anthropologists of all time.

Barbara Eden (1931-Still Living) - Successful actress who played Jeannie on I Dream of Jeannie.

Richard Sanders (1940-Still Living) - Actor who played the character Les on WKRP in Cincinnati.

Rudy Ruettiger (1948-Still Living) - Notre Dame football player whose life was depicted in the movie Rudy.

Shelley Long (1949-Still Living) - Actress easily recognized for her role as Diane in the sitcom Cheers.

Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) - NBA guard and champion 2000-02 and 2009-10; NBA MVP 2008; 18 x NBA All Star; Olympic Gold medalist 2008-12).

Memorable Events for August 23

1850 - The first National Women's Rights Convention convenes in Worcester, MA.

1869 - After 16 days, the first carload of freight containing boots and shoes arrives in San Francisco, CA.

1872 - The first Japanese commercial ship carrying tea visits San Francisco, CA.

1904 - Harry D. Weed patents the automobile tire chain.

1919 - The cartoon strip Gasoline Alley makes it debut in the Chicago Tribune.

1952 - Country artist Kitty Wells becomes the first woman to reach #1 on Billboard Country Charts (It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels).

2007 - Chris Messina invents and uses the first hashtag in a tweet.