23 September

Across recorded history, 1,451 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 23 September. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← September 22 September 24 →

Sigmund Freud

1856–1939

Austrian psychiatrist and founder of psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian psychoanalyst who founded the field of psychoanalysis.

Pablo Neruda

1904–1973

Chilean poet and politician

Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet and diplomat who served as a politician.

Prosper Mérimée

1803–1870

French writer, archaeologist and historian

Prosper Mérimée was a French writer who served as the inspector general of historical monuments.

Claudia Cardinale

1938–2025

Italian actress

Claudia Cardinale is an Italian actress known for her extensive work in international cinema.

Charles K. Kao

1933–2018

Hong Kong-British-American physicist

Charles K. Kao was a physicist who pioneered the development and use of fiber optics in telecommunications.

Urbain Le Verrier

1811–1877

French astronomer

Urbain Le Verrier was an astronomer who predicted the existence and position of Neptune using mathematical calculations.

Friedrich Wöhler

1800–1882

German chemist

Friedrich Wöhler was a chemist who synthesized urea from inorganic materials, demonstrating that organic compounds could be produced through chemical processes.

Wilkie Collins

1824–1889

British writer

Wilkie Collins was a British novelist who authored numerous works of fiction.

Richard Adolf Zsigmondy

1865–1929

Austrian chemist

Chemist Richard Adolf Zsigmondy conducted research on colloids and developed the ultramicroscope.

Vincenzo Bellini

1801–1835

Italian opera composer

Vincenzo Bellini was an Italian opera composer known for his melodic style.

Louise Fletcher

1934–2022

American actress

Louise Fletcher was an American actress known for her performances in film and television.

Ivar Andreas Aasen

1813–1896

Norwegian linguist and poet, dubbed the father of Nynorsk (1813 – 1896)

Linguist Ivar Andreas Aasen is recognized for developing Nynorsk, a written standard for the Norwegian language.

Bob Fosse

1927–1987

American choreographer, dancer, and director

Bob Fosse was an American choreographer who directed and staged numerous theatrical and film productions.

Padre Pio

1887–1968

Italian saint, priest, stigmatist and mystic

Padre Pio was an Italian Catholic priest and friar who was recognized as a stigmatist and mystic.

Alexander Radishchev

1749–1802

18th century Russian author and social critic

Alexander Radishchev was a Russian writer and social critic who authored works critiquing the political and social conditions of his time.

Bourvil

1917–1970

French actor and singer

Bourvil was a French actor and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions.

Carl Spitzweg

1808–1885

German painter

Carl Spitzweg was a German painter known for his contributions to the Biedermeier style.

Juliette Gréco

1927–2020

French singer and actress

Juliette Gréco was a French singer and actress known for her contributions to the chanson tradition.

José Gervasio Artigas

1764–1850

Uruguayan military leader during the War for Independence

José Gervasio Artigas was a military officer who served as a leader during the Uruguayan War for Independence.

Elizabeth Monroe

1768–1830

First Lady of the United States from 1817 to 1825

Elizabeth Monroe served as the First Lady of the United States.

Robert Bloch

1917–1994

American fiction writer

Robert Bloch was an American writer best known for his horror fiction.

A. S. Neill

1883–1973

Scottish educator and theorist

A. S. Neill was a Scottish educator who founded the Summerhill School based on his theories of democratic and progressive education.

John Wesley Powell

1834–1902

American geologist

John Wesley Powell was a geologist who led the first scientific expedition through the Grand Canyon.

François Christophe de Kellermann

1735–1820

French soldier

François Christophe de Kellermann was a French military leader who served during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.