What happened 1723 AD

In 1723, Bach was appointed Thomaskantor, Cantor of the Thomasschule at the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) in Leipzig, which provided music for four churches in the city: the Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church) and to a lesser extent the Neue Kirche (New Church) and Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church).

Bach's predecessor as cantor, Johann Kuhnau, had also been music director for the Paulinerkirche, the church of Leipzig University. But when Bach was installed as cantor in 1723, he was put in charge only of music for festal (church holiday) services at the Paulinerkirche; his petition to also provide music for regular Sunday services there (for a corresponding salary increase) went all the way to the Elector but was denied.

The first version of Bach's Magnificat dates from 1723, but the work is best known in its D major version of 1733.

Bach usually led performances of his cantatas, most of which were composed within three years of his relocation to Leipzig. The first was Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, performed in the Nikolaikirche on 30 May 1723, the first Sunday after Trinity. Bach collected his cantatas in annual cycles. Five are mentioned in obituaries, three are extant.

Carl Friedrich Abel was born in Kthen, Germany, in 1723.

The British Governor of New York and New Jersey, Edward Hyde, passed away at the age of 61.

Scottish sociologist and historian Adam Ferguson was born in Logierait, Perthshire, Scotland in 1723.

The 1st Count of Campomanes, Pedro Rodrguez de Campomanes y Pérez, was born in Tineo, Asturias.