At A Glance

23 October 1971 at a glance

Day of the week
23 October 1971 was a Saturday.
UK Number One
The UK Number One single was “Reason to Believe / Maggie May” by Rod Stewart.
Top Film of 1971
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1971 was The French Connection.
Star sign
The star sign for 23 October is Scorpio.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 23 October 1971 fell in the Year of the Pig.
Birthstone
The birthstone for October is Opal.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 23 October 1971 was Waxing Crescent.

On this day: 23 October

  • 1955 Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm defeats former emperor Bảo Đại in a referendum and founds the Republic of Vietnam.
  • 1956 Secret police shoot several anti-communist protesters, igniting the Hungarian Revolution.
  • 1958 Belgian artist Peyo's comic characters, the Smurfs, make their debut in Spirou magazine.
  • 1965 Vietnam War: The 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in conjunction with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, launches an operation seeking to destroy Communist forces during the siege of Plei Me.
  • 1970 Gary Gabelich sets a land speed record in a rocket-powered automobile called the Blue Flame, fueled with natural gas.

Famous people born on 23 October

  • Margaret Qualley, American actress (born 1994)
  • Ryan Reynolds, Canadian-American actor and producer (born 1976)
  • Emilia Clarke, English actress (born 1986)
  • "Weird Al" Yankovic, American comedy musician, writer, and actor (born 1959)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1971 in the United Kingdom

A selection from Wikipedia's '1971 in the United Kingdom'. Not a complete list.

  • 3 February – Tyneside-set British crime film Get Carter starring Michael Caine premièred (in Los Angeles).
  • 14 June – The first Hard Rock Cafe opened near Hyde Park Corner in London.
  • 25–27 June – The first Reading Festival "of jazz and progressive music" took place.

Life in 1971

Prime Minister

Edward Heath

Monarch

Elizabeth II

Pint of Beer

17p

Loaf of Bread

11p

Average House

£5,632

Weekly Wage

£30.90

Or

Browse by Year

Famous Faces Born in the 1970s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →