Wednesday, 23rd January 1985 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! Explore 56 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings cloudy with temperatures between -1°C and 3°C. Tonight's moon is in its full moon phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Aquarius. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Wednesday, 23rd January in London, GB.
On 23 January 1909, two men committed an armed robbery in Tottenham, London, leading police on a dramatic two-hour chase that would become a significant moment in British criminal history. The perpetrators' desperate flight through the capital, partially conducted by tram, ended in their suicides rather than capture. This incident occurred over a century before the events that would unfold in the same city decades later. Nearly a century afterwards, on the same date in 1997, Madeleine Albright was sworn in as the first female United States Secretary of State, a breakthrough that marked the highest-ranking position held by a woman in American government at that time. These moments, separated by nearly a century, reflect the changing landscape of society and governance across the Atlantic.
London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is a major global centre for finance, culture and politics, situated on the River Thames in south-east England. The city has served as a focal point for significant historical events spanning from medieval times to the modern era. On 23 January 1985, London experienced cloudy weather conditions, with the full moon illuminating the night sky. Those born on this date fall under the Aquarius zodiac sign, typically associated with individuals born between 20 January and 18 February.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions, historical events, and notable births and deaths for any date and location, allowing users to explore the significance of specific days throughout history and across the globe.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 23rd January 1985
Depth arrives through focus, not through scattered efforts.
Fortune of the Day
23rd January in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on January 23rd blend classic Capricorn practicality with Mercury's intellectual sharpness. They appear thoughtful and precise, naturally drawn to discussing concrete plans and workable solutions. Their quiet exterior often masks a keen, curious mind.
Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths include strategic thinking, reliability, and articulate communication—they carefully map their path. Weaknesses stem from overthinking and perfectionist tendencies, occasionally creating self-imposed delays or blocks.
Love In relationships, these individuals prove loyal and serious, though they require time to open up. They seek partners who blend intellectual depth with stability and respect their ambitious aspirations.
Caree & Finance They thrive in structured settings demanding analysis or communication—law, science, management align well. Financially cautious and methodical, they build lasting wealth through patience and sound judgment.
Health Their wellbeing flourishes with consistent routines and mental stimulation. Monitoring burnout from perfectionism is wise, as is consciously scheduling rest to recharge.
That night, the moon was in its full moon phase.
Chinese year of the Rat (Wood).
Fun Facts About 23rd January
Name Days in Your Language: Emerald, Esmeralda, Rachael, Rachel, Rachelle, Rae, Ramon, Ramona, Raquel, Ray, Raymond, Raymundo
Someone born on this day in 1985 would be 41 years old today — just 15,055 days into life, which is roughly 361,328 hours, 21,679,737 minutes, or 1,300,784,279 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 23. day of the year.
There are 342 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 4 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 23rd January
- Leo Komarov, Estonian-Finnish ice hockey player (1987)
- Gelete Burka, Ethiopian runner (1986)
- Marc Laird, Scottish footballer (1986)
- José Enrique, Spanish footballer (1986)
- Steven Taylor, English footballer (1986)
- Sandro Viletta, Swiss skier (1986)
- San E, South Korean rapper (1985)
- Dong Fangzhuo, Chinese footballer (1985)
- Doutzen Kroes, Dutch model and actress (1985)
- Yevgeny Lukyanenko, Russian pole vaulter (1985)
Lives Remembered on 23rd January
- Charles Glen King, American biochemist and academic (born 1896) (1988)
- Joseph Beuys, German sculptor and painter (born 1921) (1986)
- James Beard, American chef and cookbook author for whom the James Beard Foundation Awards are named (born 1905) (1985)
- Muin Bseiso, Palestinian-Egyptian poet and critic (born 1926) (1984)
- Fred Bakewell, English cricketer and coach (born 1908) (1983)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 23rd January
- Bounty Day (Pitcairn Islands)
- Christian feast day: Abakuh
- Christian feast day: Marianne of Molokai
- Christian feast day: Emerentiana
- Christian feast day: Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Christian feast day: Ildefonsus of Toledo
- Christian feast day: Phillips Brooks (Episcopal Church (USA))
- Christian feast day: January 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Jayanti (Assam, Orissa, Tripura, and West Bengal, India)
- World Freedom Day (Taiwan and South Korea)
What Happened on 23rd January?
- Northwestern Air Flight 738 crashes after takeoff from Fort Smith Airport, Northwest Territories, Canada, killing six people. (2024)
- Mutinying Burkinabè soldiers led by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba depose and detain President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré amid widespread anti-government protests. (2022)
- A 7.9 Mw earthquake occurs in the Gulf of Alaska. It is tied as the sixth-largest earthquake ever recorded in the United States, but there are no reports of significant damage or fatalities. (2018)
- A double car bombing in Benghazi, Libya, kills at least 33 people and wounds "dozens" of others. The victims include both military personnel and civilians, according to local officials. (2018)
- The China–United States trade war begins when President Donald Trump places tariffs on Chinese solar panels and washing machines. (2018)
- A very weak signal from Pioneer 10 is detected for the last time, but no usable data can be extracted. (2003)
- U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl is kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan and subsequently murdered. (2002)
- Five people attempt to set themselves on fire in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, an act that many people later claim is staged by the Chinese Communist Party to frame Falun Gong and thus escalate their persecution. (2001)
- Netscape announces Mozilla, with the intention to release Communicator code as open source. (1998)
- Madeleine Albright becomes the first woman to serve as United States Secretary of State. (1997)