- 1701 23 May The notorious pirate William Kidd is hanged in London (at the second attempt) for piracy and murder.
- 1798 23 May The United Irishmen rebel against British rule in Ireland, but despite French help they are defeated.
- 1915 23 May Italy switches sides and declares war on Austria-Hungary, in accordance with the secret Treaty of London.
World War One Centenary
- Find out more about how the BBC is covering the World War One Centenary, and see the latest programmes and online content
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