WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2025

1014-King Brian Boru of Ireland defeats Viking forces at the Battle of Clontarf, freeing Ireland from foreign control

1597-William Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" is first performed, with Queen Elizabeth I of England in attendance

1861-Robert E. Lee named commander of Virginia Confederate forces (US Civil War)

1968-First decimal coins issued in Britain, the 5 and 10 new pence, replacing the shilling and two-shilling pieces

1984-AIDS-virus identified as HTLV-III (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)

1900-First know occurrence of word "hillbillie" (NY Journal)

1971-Columbia University operations virtually end, by student strike

1984-AIDS-virus identified as HTLV-III (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)

2003-Beijing closes all schools for two weeks because of the SARS virus