On May 23, 1701, Captain William Kidd, convicted of piracy and murder, was hanged in London. His body was later tarred and hung up in a gibbet - an iron cage - at the mouth of the River Thames as a warning to others.
Learn more about Captain Kidd.
This Day @ Law
Captain Kidd hanged for piracy
South Carolina becomes eighth U.S. state
On May 23, 1788, South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution, becoming the Eighth American state.
Learn more about the history of South Carolina.