What Happened on July 23?

July 23 is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day — America's favorite scoop — on the same date Austria-Hungary sent the ultimatum that sparked World War I in 1914, Telstar relayed the first live transatlantic TV in 1962, and Comet Hale-Bopp was discovered in 1995.

• 1885 — Ulysses S. Grant dies after finishing his memoirs

  On July 23, 1885, Civil War hero and former president Ulysses S. Grant died in New York — days after completing his famous Personal Memoirs. Read the full story →

• 1914 — Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum to Serbia

  On July 23, 1914, Vienna demanded Serbia punish conspirators in Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination — a list of terms Serbia could not fully accept. Read the full story →

• 1952 — Egyptian officers overthrow King Farouk

  On July 23, 1952, the Free Officers Movement led by Gamal Abdel Nasser deposed Egypt's monarchy — ending colonial-era rule and reshaping the Middle East. Read the full story →

• 1962 — Telstar relays the first live transatlantic television signal

  On July 23, 1962, the Telstar satellite beamed live TV between the United States and Europe — a first glimpse of global instant video. Read the full story →

• 1995 — Comet Hale-Bopp is discovered independently by two astronomers

  On July 23, 1995, Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp spotted the same bright comet — later visible to the naked eye for a record 18 months. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Daniel Radcliffe (1989) · Woody Harrelson (1961) · Slash (1965) · Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967–2014)

Days & observances

National Vanilla Ice Cream Day · National Gorgeous Grandma Day · World Sjögren's Day · National Peanut Butter and Chocolate Day