23 July It Happened Today

1757  Death of Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti.

1888  Birth of American novelist Raymond Chandler.

1948  Death of legendary American film director D W Griffith.

1951  Death of French general Philippe Petain, who led the collaborationist Vichy government during WWII.

1989  Birth of English actor Daniel Ratcliffe, most noted for his role as Harry Potter.