This Day In History : June 23

1960 United States

1st contraceptive pill is made available for purchase in the U.S.

The first contraceptive pill, known as Enovid, was made available for purchase in the United States on June 23, 1960. Enovid was developed by G.D. Searle & Company and marked a significant milestone in reproductive health, providing women with unprecedented control over their fertility and contributing to the sexual revolution of the 1960s.

Also on This Day in History June 23

Discover what happened on June 23 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, June 23
  • 1912 Alan Turing

    British mathematician and computer theory pioneer, who invented the Turing Machine

  • 1943 Vinton Cerf

    American inventor of internet protocol

  • 1456 Margaret of Denmark

    Queen of Scotland

  • 1981 Joe Taslim

    Indonesian actor and martial artist (Mortal Kombat)

  • 1925 Art Modell

    American businessman (Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Modells Stores)

Deaths on This Day, June 23
  • 1995 Jonas Salk

    American physician and biologist who developed one of the first successful polio vaccinations

  • 2021 John McAfee

    British-American businessman and computer programmer who founded McAfee

  • 2015 Richard Dick Van Patten

    American actor, businessman, and animal welfare advocate (Tom Bradford in 8 is Enough)

  • 2018 Kim Jong-pil

    South Korean Prime Minister (1971-75, 1998-2000) and founder of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (now the National Intelligence Service)

  • 1980 Clyfford Still

    American abstract painter and leading figure of the Abstract Expressionists

1810

The Pacific Fur Company is formed by John Jacob Astor

The Pacific Fur Company (PFC) was an American fur trade venture founded by John Jacob Astor in 1810. It operated until 1813 and was based in the Pacific Northwest, an area that had been contested over the years by various powers, including the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States, and Russia.
1951

The SS United States is christened and launched

The SS United States was christened and launched on June 23, 1951. This historic ocean liner was constructed in Newport News, Virginia, and was designed to be the fastest and safest passenger ship of its time. The SS United States holds the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner, a testament to its engineering excellence.
1919

Nitti government forms in Italy

The Nitti government, led by Francesco Saverio Nitti, was formed in Italy on June 23, 1919. Nitti, a prominent economist and politician, became the Prime Minister following the resignation of Vittorio Emanuele Orlando.
1926

The College Board administers the first SAT exam in USA

The College Board administered the first SAT exam in the United States on June 23, 1926. The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) was developed to standardize college admissions testing across the country, providing a common metric for evaluating students' readiness for college-level work.
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