Births on May 23

József Rippl-Rónai, Hungarian painter (d. 1927)

József Rippl-Rónai (23 May 1861 – 25 November 1927) was a Hungarian painter. He first introduced modern artistic movements in the Hungarian art.

19 Jan

Georgia (U.S. state)
American Civil War: Georgia joins South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama in declaring secession from the United States.
21 Jan

Jefferson Davis
American Civil War: Jefferson Davis resigns from the United States Senate.
20 Apr

Robert E. Lee
American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.
8 May

Richmond, Virginia
American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia is named the capital of the Confederate States of America.
6 Sep

Ulysses S. Grant
American Civil War: Forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant bloodlessly capture Paducah, Kentucky, giving the Union control of the Tennessee River's mouth.