Births on May 23

Amaldus Nielsen, Norwegian painter (d. 1932)

Amaldus Clarin Nielsen (23 May 1838 – 10 December 1932) was a Norwegian painter.

6 Jan

Telegraphy
Alfred Vail demonstrates a telegraph system using dots and dashes (this is the forerunner of Morse code).
28 Jun

Queen Victoria
Coronation of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
18 Aug

Puget Sound
The Wilkes Expedition, which would explore the Puget Sound and Antarctica, weighs anchor at Hampton Roads.
3 Sep

Frederick Douglass
Future abolitionist Frederick Douglass escapes from slavery.
27 Oct

Extermination Order (Mormonism)
Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs issues the Extermination Order, which orders all Mormons to leave the state or be exterminated.