Event:
Eastern Tennessee settlers declare their area an independent state and name it Franklin; a year later the Continental Congress rejects it
More Notable Events on August 23:
1990 U.S. begins call up of 46,000 reservists to the Persian Gulf
1973 Intelsat communications satellite launched
1968 Ringo quits Beatles over a disagreement, temporarily
1839 British capture Hong Kong from China
1821 Mexico declares independence