On This Day — January 31

🕰️ Notable Events on January 31

• 2009 — In Kenya, at least 113 people are killed and over 200 injured following an oil spillage ignition in Molo, days after a massive fire at a Nakumatt supermarket in Nairobi killed at least 25 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 2001 — In the Netherlands, a Scottish court convicts Libyan Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and acquits another Libyan citizen for their part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. Wikipedia ↗
• 2000 — Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crash: An MD-83, experiencing horizontal stabilizer problems, crashes in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Point Mugu, California, killing all 88 aboard. Wikipedia ↗
• 1996 — An explosives-filled truck rams into the gates of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in Colombo, killing at least 86 people and injuring 1,400. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Apollo program: Apollo 14: Astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa, and Edgar Mitchell, aboard a Saturn V, lift off for a mission to the Fra Mauro Highlands on the Moon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — The Winter Soldier Investigation, organized by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War to publicize war crimes and atrocities by Americans and allies in Vietnam, begins in Detroit. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Vietnam War: Viet Cong guerrillas attack the United States embassy in Saigon, and other attacks, in the early morning hours, later grouped together as the Tet Offensive. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Nauru gains independence from Australia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — The Soviet Union launches the unmanned Luna 9 spacecraft as part of the Luna program. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Project Mercury: Mercury-Redstone 2: Ham the Chimp travels into outer space. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — The first successful American satellite detects the Van Allen radiation belt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Eight people on the ground in Pacoima, California are killed following the mid-air collision between a Douglas DC-7 airliner and a Northrop F-89 Scorpion fighter jet. Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — A North Sea flood causes over 1,800 deaths in the Netherlands and over 300 in the United Kingdom Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — United States President Harry S. Truman announces a program to develop the hydrogen bomb. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — These Are My Children, the first television daytime soap opera is broadcast by the NBC station in Chicago. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Yugoslavia's new constitution, modeling that of the Soviet Union, establishes six constituent republics (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia). Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — The Democratic Republic of Vietnam introduces the đồng to replace the French Indochinese piastre at par. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — US Army private Eddie Slovik is executed for desertion, the first such execution of an American soldier since the Civil War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: About 3,000 inmates from the Stutthof concentration camp are forcibly marched into the Baltic Sea at Palmnicken (now Yantarny, Russia) and executed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: The end of fighting in the Battle of Hill 170 during the Burma Campaign, in which the British 3 Commando Brigade repulsed a Japanese counterattack on their positions and precipitated a general retirement from the Arakan Peninsula. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: American forces land on Kwajalein Atoll and other islands in the Japanese-held Marshall Islands. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: During the Anzio campaign the 1st Ranger Battalion (Darby's Rangers) is destroyed behind enemy lines in a heavily outnumbered encounter at Battle of Cisterna, Italy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrenders to the Soviets at Stalingrad, followed 2 days later by the remainder of his Sixth Army, ending one of the war's fiercest battles. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — World War II: Allied forces are defeated by the Japanese at the Battle of Malaya and retreat to Singapore. Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — 3M begins marketing Scotch Tape. Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — The Soviet Union exiles Leon Trotsky. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — The Battle of George Square takes place in Glasgow, Scotland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — A series of accidental collisions on a misty Scottish night leads to the loss of two Royal Navy submarines with over a hundred lives, and damage to another five British warships. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — World War I: Germany announces that its U-boats will resume unrestricted submarine warfare after a two-year hiatus. Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — World War I: Germany is the first to make large-scale use of poison gas in warfare in the Battle of Bolimów against Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Datu Muhammad Salleh is killed in Kampung Teboh, Tambunan, ending the Mat Salleh Rebellion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1897 — Czechoslav Trade Union Association is founded in Prague. Wikipedia ↗
• 1891 — History of Portugal: The first attempt at a Portuguese republican revolution breaks out in the northern city of Porto. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — American Civil War: The United States Congress passes the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, abolishing slavery and submits it to the states for ratification. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — American Civil War: Confederate General Robert E. Lee becomes general-in-chief. Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — Alvan Graham Clark discovers the white dwarf star Sirius B, a companion of Sirius, through an 18.5-inch (47 cm) telescope now located at Northwestern University. Wikipedia ↗
• 1849 — Corn Laws are abolished in the United Kingdom pursuant to legislation in 1846. Wikipedia ↗
• 1848 — John C. Frémont is court-martialed for mutiny and disobeying orders. Wikipedia ↗
• 1846 — After the Milwaukee Bridge War, Juneautown and Kilbourntown unify as the City of Milwaukee. Wikipedia ↗
• 1814 — Gervasio Antonio de Posadas becomes Supreme Director of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata (present-day Argentina). Wikipedia ↗
• 1801 — John Marshall is appointed the Chief Justice of the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1747 — The first venereal diseases clinic opens at London Lock Hospital. Wikipedia ↗
• 1606 — Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes is executed for plotting against Parliament and King James. Wikipedia ↗
• 1578 — The Battle of Gembloux takes place. Wikipedia ↗
• 1504 — France cedes Naples to Aragon. Wikipedia ↗
• 314 — Pope Sylvester I succeeds Pope Miltiades. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on January 31

• 1995 — Sten Olmre, Estonian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Kenneth Zohore, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Jacopo Fortunato, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Jacob Markström, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Kota Yabu, Japanese idol, singer-songwriter, model, actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Justine Ozga, German tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Brett Pitman, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Taijo Teniste, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Kyle Kulinski, American talk show host Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Marcus Mumford, American-English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Megan Ellison, American film producer, founded Annapurna Pictures Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — George Elokobi, Cameroonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Yves Ma-Kalambay, Belgian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Pauline Parmentier, French tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Adam Federici, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Mario Williams, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Vernon Davis, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Josh Johnson, Canadian-American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Jeremy Wariner, American runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Alessandro Zanni, Italian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — James Sutton, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Fabio Quagliarella, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Maret Ani, Estonian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Yuniesky Betancourt, Cuban baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Andreas Görlitz, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Salvatore Masiello, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Allan McGregor, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Jānis Sprukts, Latvian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Yukimi Nagano, Swedish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Brad Thompson, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Julio Arca, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Mark Cameron, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Justin Timberlake, American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — James Adomian, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Shim Yi-young, South Korean actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Daniel Tammet, English author and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Fabián Caballero, Argentinian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Kerry Washington, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Traianos Dellas, Greek footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Buddy Rice, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Paul Scheer, American comedian, actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Fred Coleman, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Preity Zinta, Indian Actress, producer, television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Othella Harrington, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Ariel Pestano, Cuban baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Portia de Rossi, Australian-American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Patrick Kielty, Northern Irish comedian and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Patricia Velásquez, Venezuelan model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Minnie Driver, English singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Danny Michel, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Dov Charney, Canadian-American fashion designer and businessman, founded American Apparel Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Daniel Moder, American cinematographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Matt King, English actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Ulrica Messing, Swedish politician, 2nd Swedish Minister for Infrastructure Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Patrick Stevens, Belgian sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Fat Mike, American singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Umar Alisha, Indian journalist and philanthropist Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Dexter Fletcher, English actor and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Giorgos Gasparis, Greek basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Ofra Harnoy, Israeli-Canadian cellist Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Peter Sagal, American author and radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Martha MacCallum, American journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Craig Coleman, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Gwen Graham, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Elizabeth Barker, Baroness Barker, English politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Fatou Bensouda, Gambian lawyer and judge Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Lloyd Cole, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Akbar Ganji, Iranian journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Grant Morrison, Scottish author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Željko Šturanović, Montenegrin politician, 31st Prime Minister of Montenegro (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Anthony LaPaglia, Australian actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Kelly Lynch, American model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Armin Reichel, German footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Shirley Babashoff, American swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — John Lydon, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Stefan Majewski, Polish footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Virginia Ruzici, Romanian tennis player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Faoud Bacchus, Guyanese cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Adrian Vandenberg, Dutch guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Harry Wayne Casey, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Denise Fleming, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Alexander Korzhakov, Russian general and bodyguard Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Janice Rebibo, American-Israeli author and poet (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Johan Derksen, Dutch footballer and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Norris Church Mailer, American model and educator (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Ken Wilber, American sociologist, philosopher, and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Volkmar Groß, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Muneo Suzuki, Japanese politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Nolan Ryan, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Matt Minglewood, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Glynn Turman, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Medin Zhega, Albanian footballer and manager (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Joseph Kosuth, American sculptor and theorist Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Rynn Berry, American historian and author (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, English lawyer, judge, and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Connie Booth, American-English actress, screenwriter, comedian and psychotherapist Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — John Inverarity, Australian cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Daniela Bianchi, Italian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Derek Jarman, English director, stage designer, and author (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Dick Gephardt, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Gerald McDermott, American author and illustrator (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Jessica Walter, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Kitch Christie, South African rugby player and coach (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Beatrix of the Netherlands Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Lynn Carlin, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — James G. Watt, American lawyer and politician, 43rd United States Secretary of the Interior Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Regimantas Adomaitis, Lithuanian actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Andrée Boucher, Canadian educator and politician, 39th Mayor of Quebec City (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Philip Glass, American composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Suzanne Pleshette, American actress (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Can Bartu, Turkish former basketball and football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Kenzaburō Ōe, Japanese author and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Ernesto Brambilla, Italian motorcycle racer and race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Gene DeWeese, American author (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — James Franciscus, American actor and producer (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Bob Turner, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Camille Henry, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Morton Mower, American cardiologist and inventor Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Miron Babiak, Polish captain (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Ernie Banks, American baseball player and coach (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Christopher Chataway, English runner, journalist, and politician (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Joakim Bonnier, Swedish race car driver (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Al De Lory, American composer, conductor, and producer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Rudolf Mössbauer, German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Jean Simmons, English-American actress (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Chuck Willis, American singer-songwriter (d. 1958) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Irma Wyman, American computer scientist and engineer (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Norm Prescott, American animator, producer, and composer, co-founded Filmation Studios (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Tom Alston, American baseball player (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Benjamin Hooks, American minister, lawyer, and activist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Norman Mailer, American journalist and author (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Joanne Dru, American actress (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — John Agar, American actor (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Carol Channing, American actress, singer, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — E. Fay Jones, American architect, designed the Thorncrown Chapel (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Mario Lanza, American tenor and actor (d. 1959) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Stewart Udall, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 37th United States Secretary of the Interior (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Bert Williams, English footballer (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Jackie Robinson, American baseball player and sportscaster (d. 1972) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Fred Bassetti, American architect and academic, founded Bassetti Architects (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Frank Parker, American tennis player (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Bobby Hackett, American trumpet player and cornet player (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Alan Lomax, American historian, author, and scholar (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Thomas Merton, American monk and author (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Garry Moore, American comedian and game show host (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Jersey Joe Walcott, American boxer and police officer (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Don Hutson, American football player and coach (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Miron Grindea, Romanian-English journalist (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — John O'Hara, American author, playwright, and screenwriter (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Nat Bailey, Canadian businessman, founded White Spot (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Tallulah Bankhead, American actress (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
• 1902 — Alva Myrdal, Swedish sociologist and politician, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1900 — Betty Parsons, American artist, art dealer and collector (d. 1982) [1] Wikipedia ↗
• 1896 — Sofya Yanovskaya, Russian mathematician and historian (d. 1966) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on January 31 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on January 31

✡️ Religious Observances

• Jewish: Shabbat Shirah