March 22
March 22 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 284 days remain until the year's end. It falls in spring (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Aries.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On March 22 the Sun's declination is approximately +0.4°. At this latitude the Sun is north of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere longer days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a March 22.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- World Water Day (UN)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1622 — Powhatan Confederacy warriors killed 347 English settlers in the Jamestown massacre. ↗(404 years ago)more
The Indian massacre of 1622 took place in the English Colony of Virginia on March 22, 1621/22 (O.S./N.S.). The English explorer John Smith, though he was not an eyewitness, wrote in his History of Virginia that warriors of the Powhatan "came unarmed into our houses with deer, turkeys, fish, fruits, and other provisions to sell us." They then grabbed any t...
1765 — The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, taxing legal documents in the American colonies. ↗(261 years ago)more
The Stamp Act 1765, also known as the Duties in American Colonies Act 1765, was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain which imposed a direct tax on the British colonies in America and required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper from London which included an embossed revenue stamp.
1933 — Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camp, was opened near Munich. ↗(93 years ago)more
Dachau was one of the first concentration camps built by Nazi Germany and the longest-running one, opening on 22 March 1933. The camp was initially intended to intern the Nazi Party's political opponents, which consisted of communists, social democrats, and other dissidents.
1945 — The Arab League was founded in Cairo. ↗(81 years ago)more
The Arab League, officially the League of Arab States, is a regional organization in the Arab world. The Arab League was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945, initially with seven members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and North Yemen. Currently, the League has 22 members.
1972 — The U.S. Senate sent the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the states for ratification (which would later fail). ↗(54 years ago)more
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would explicitly prohibit sex discrimination. It is not currently a part of the Constitution, though its ratification status has long been debated. It was written by Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman and first introduced in Congress in December 1923.
Notable births
1599 — Anthony van Dyck, Flemish Baroque painter. ↗(427 years ago)more
Sir Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy.
1948 — Andrew Lloyd Webber, English composer. ↗(78 years ago)more
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musicals, a song cycle, a set of variations, two film scores, and a Latin Requiem Mass.
1976 — Reese Witherspoon, American actress. ↗(50 years ago)more
Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon is an American actress and producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. In 2021, Forbes named her the world's highest-paid actress, and in 2023, she was named one of the wealthiest celebrities in the U.S.
Notable deaths
1832 — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German writer. ↗(194 years ago)more
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on literary, political, Christian views, and philosophical thought in the Western world from the late 18th century to the present.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (82) | 2 × 41 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (284) | 2^2 × 71 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 22032026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | +0.40° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 90 days |