Today in History - History - February 23rd

303Emperor Diocletian begins policy of persecution of Christians razing church at Nicomedia

1968Wilt Chamberlain becomes 1st NBAer to score 25,000 points

200042nd Grammy Awards: Smooth, Christina Aguilera wins

1938Joe Louis KOs Nathan Mann in 3 for heavyweight boxing title

1985Goaltender Patrick Roy makes his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens

1999Hip Hop artist Eminem releases his first major record album 'The Slim Shady LP' (Grammy 2000 - Rap album)

200345th Grammy Awards: Don't Know Why, Norah Jones wins

1804Conspirators against Napoleon, for restoration of Louis XVIII

1998Osama bin Laden publishes a fatwa declaring jihad against all Jews and Crusaders.

1979George Harrison releases "George Harrison" album

1685George Frideric Handel, Halle Germany, baroque composer and (Messiah, Water Music)

1889Victor Fleming, American director (Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind), (d. 1949)

1868William E B Du Bois, Great Barrington Massachusetts, civil rights activist and writer (Souls of Black Folk)

1994Dakota Fanning, American actress

2013Former "Married ... with Children" actress Christina Applegate (41) weds rocker Martyn LeNoble (43) in Los Angeles

2003Actor Paul Rudd (33) weds publicist Julie Yaeger

1848John Quincy Adams, 6th US President (1825-1829), dies of a stroke at 80

1995James Herriot [Alfred Wight], Scottish author (All Creatures Great & Small), dies at 78

1855Carl Friedrich Gauss, mathematician, dies

1821John Keats, Romantic poet, dies of tuberculosis at 25 in Rome