On March 23, 1903, the Wright Brothers filed an application for a patent for their flying machine, specifically highlighting their methods of flight control.

The patent was granted in May of 1906.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Society girls, members of the Junior Book Committee, American Library Association, War Service, arriving at headquarters of Gen. Scott at Camp Dix, Wrightstown, N.J. The girls visited Camp Dix to ascertain the book needs of the soldiers in training there.

March 23, 1918

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Captain Samuel McCune of Co. A, 110th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment in uniform with sword

On Sunday, March 23, 1862, Captain McCune was wounded during the First Battle of Kernstown, near Winchester, Virginia.

His opposition was led by Thomas Stonewall Jackson who expressed that he felt compelled to initiate the attack, as delaying it until the next morning could have had disastrous consequences.

Jackson, a religious man who did not favor fighting on Sundays, believed his decision was the most prudent and appropriate action given the situation, even though it went against his personal beliefs. He also prayed and hoped never to face such a challenging situation again

Image via LOC, no known restrictions

On today’s date March 23, 1775: Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech in Richmond, Virginia.

Were you aware that Henry’s well-known discourse was first published eighteen years after his death? The text appeared in William Wirt’s “Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry” which you can read here:
https://archive.org/stream/sketchesoflifech00inwirt#page/122/mode/2up/search/Give+me+Liberty

Listen to a narration of Patrick Henry’s speech here:
https://archive.org/details/liberty_or_death_librivox

Image: “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Patrick Henry delivering his great speech on the rights of the colonies, before the Virginia Assembly, convened at Richmond, March 23, 1775, concluding with the above sentiment, which became the war cry of the revolution. By Currier & Ives 1876 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On March 23, 1806, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark (left and right respectively) began the return leg of their expedition of lands acquired through the Louisiana Purchase and the Pacific Northwest. The group left Fort Clatsop in what is now Oregon, arriving exactly six months later at St. Louis, Missouri.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US {PD-US}.

On March 23, 1857, American inventor Elisha Graves Otis had his world’s first serviceable passenger elevator installed at the E.V. Haughwout and Co. Building on Broadway in Manhattan, New York.

Image: E.V. Haughwout and Co. Building two years later in 1859 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

17th Vice President of The United States Schuyler Colfax was born on March 23, 1823 in Manhattan, New York.

*”His grandfather was General William Colfax, who had been during the Revolutionary War, the commander of George Washington’s body-guard and was mentioned in terms of regard and confidence in Washington’s writings.”

*Source: Grant and Colfax: their lives and services…
by L.P. Brockett, published in 1868

Image of Schuyler Colfax via Library of Congress, no known restrictions

In just weeks following the conclusion of his 2nd term as U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt departed New York for an African safari on March 23, 1909.

Image: Theodore Roosevelt in expedition attire in 1909 from Smithsonian Institution Archives via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On today’s date March 23, 1961, Elvis Presley recorded his hit song “Can’t Help Falling in Love”

Image: Elvis Presley and Priscilla with Lisa Marie February 1968 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On March 23, 1998, the blockbuster film “Titanic” won 11 Academy Awards.

Image of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in “Titanic” from 20th Century Fox via Alamy

Joan Crawford was born on March 23, sometime between 1904-1908.
Her birth name was Lucille Fay LeSueur.

She starred in popular films such as “What Ever Happened To Baby Jane,” “Mildred Pierce” and “Sudden Fear.”

Image of American actress Joan Crawford c. 1932
via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Paratroopers board C-119s for the Munsan-ni airdrop (Operation Tomahawk) on March 23, 1951

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

“View of Lenox Avenue, Harlem, at 135th Street, showing businesses, pedestrians and shoe-shine stand.”

– March 23, 1939

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. New York Public Library Digital Collections.
No known restrictions