What Happened on September 23?
September 23 is National Great American Pot Pie Day — comfort food with history — on the same date Lewis and Clark returned in 1806, Neptune was discovered in 1846, and Nixon delivered the Checkers speech in 1952.
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1779 — John Paul Jones fights the Battle of Flamborough Head
On September 23, 1779, American captain John Paul Jones engaged British warships off Flamborough Head, England, in a fierce Revolutionary War sea battle. Read the full story →
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1806 — Lewis and Clark return to St. Louis
On September 23, 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s Corps of Discovery arrived back in St. Louis after exploring the Louisiana Purchase lands to the Pacific. Read the full story →
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1846 — Astronomers discover the planet Neptune
On September 23, 1846, Johann Galle spotted Neptune at the Berlin Observatory using predictions calculated by Urbain Le Verrier. Read the full story →
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1949 — Truman announces the Soviet Union has an atomic bomb
On September 23, 1949, President Harry S. Truman told the world that the Soviet Union had detonated an atomic bomb, ending the U.S. nuclear monopoly. Read the full story →
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1952 — Richard Nixon delivers the Checkers speech
On September 23, 1952, Senate candidate Richard Nixon gave a televised speech defending himself against fund accusations — and introducing the family dog Checkers. Read the full story →
Famous birthdays
Bruce Springsteen (1949) · Ray Charles (1930–2004) · Julio Iglesias (1943) · Mickey Rooney (1920–2014)
Days & observances
National Great American Pot Pie Day · National Checkers Day · International Day of Sign Languages · Celebrate Bisexuality Day