On This Day — July 31

🕰️ Notable Events on July 31

• 2014 — Gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung kill at least 20 people and injure more than 270. Wikipedia ↗
• 2012 — Michael Phelps breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the most medals won at the Olympics. Wikipedia ↗
• 2007 — Operation Banner, the presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland, and the longest-running British Army operation ever, comes to an end. Wikipedia ↗
• 2006 — Fidel Castro hands over power to his brother, Raúl. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — Discovery Program: Lunar Prospector: NASA intentionally crashes the spacecraft into the Moon, thus ending its mission to detect frozen water on the moon's surface. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — The nation of Georgia joins the United Nations. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Thai Airways International Flight 311 crashes into a mountain north of Kathmandu, Nepal killing all 113 people on board. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — The United States and Soviet Union both sign the START I Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the first to reduce (with verification) both countries' stockpiles. Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Thirty-two people are killed and 1,674 injured when a bridge at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal collapses in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — A tornado occurs in Edmonton, Canada. Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — The Troubles: three members of a popular cabaret band and two gunmen are killed during a botched paramilitary attack in Northern Ireland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — A Delta Air Lines jetliner, flight DL 723 crashes while landing in fog at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts killing 89. Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — The Troubles: In Operation Motorman, the British Army re-takes the urban no-go areas of Northern Ireland. It is the biggest British military operation since the Suez Crisis of 1956, and the biggest in Ireland since the Irish War of Independence. Later that day, nine civilians are killed by car bombs in the village of Claudy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Apollo program: Apollo 15 astronauts become the first to ride in a lunar rover. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Black Tot Day: The last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Ranger program: Ranger 7 sends back the first close-up photographs of the moon, with images 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from earth-bound telescopes. Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — At Idlewild Field in New York, New York International Airport (later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport) is dedicated. Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — USS Nevada is sunk by an aerial torpedo after surviving hits from two atomic bombs (as part of post-war tests) and being used for target practice by three other ships. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Pierre Laval, the fugitive former leader of Vichy France, surrenders to Allied soldiers in Austria. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — The Holocaust: Under instructions from Adolf Hitler, Nazi official Hermann Göring, orders SS General Reinhard Heydrich to "submit to me as soon as possible a general plan of the administrative material and financial measures necessary for carrying out the desired Final Solution of the Jewish question." Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Bulgaria signs a non-aggression pact with Greece and other states of Balkan Antanti (Turkey, Romania, Yugoslavia). Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Archaeologists discover engraved gold and silver plates from King Darius the Great in Persepolis. Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — The NSDAP (Nazi Party) wins more than 38% of the vote in German elections. Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — German national assembly adopts the Weimar Constitution, which comes into force on August 14. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — World War I: The Battle of Passchendaele begins near Ypres in West Flanders, Belgium. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — The Balkan States sign an armistice in Bucharest. Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Russo-Japanese War: Battle of Hsimucheng: Units of the Imperial Japanese Army defeat units of the Imperial Russian Army in a strategic confrontation. Wikipedia ↗
• 1874 — Dr. Patrick Francis Healy became the first African-American inaugurated as president of a predominantly white university, Georgetown University. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — The first narrow-gauge mainline railway in the world opens at Grandchester, Queensland, Australia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1856 — Christchurch, New Zealand is chartered as a city. Wikipedia ↗
• 1790 — The first U.S. patent is issued, to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process. Wikipedia ↗
• 1777 — The U.S. Second Continental Congress passes a resolution that the services of Gilbert du Motier "be accepted, and that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and connexions, he have the rank and commission of major-general of the United States." Wikipedia ↗
• 1763 — Odawa Chief Pontiac's forces defeat British troops at the Battle of Bloody Run during Pontiac's War. Wikipedia ↗
• 1741 — Charles Albert of Bavaria invades Upper Austria and Bohemia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1715 — Seven days after a Spanish treasure fleet of 12 ships left Havana, Cuba for Spain, 11 of them sink in a storm off the coast of Florida. A few centuries later, treasure is salvaged from these wrecks. Wikipedia ↗
• 1712 — Action of 31 July 1712 (Great Northern War): Danish and Swedish ships clash in the Baltic Sea; the result is inconclusive. Wikipedia ↗
• 1703 — Daniel Defoe is placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after publishing a politically satirical pamphlet, but is pelted with flowers. Wikipedia ↗
• 1658 — Aurangzeb is proclaimed Mughal emperor of India. Wikipedia ↗
• 1655 — Russo-Polish War (1654-67): The Russian army enters the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilnius, which it holds for six years. Wikipedia ↗
• 1618 — Maurice, Prince of Orange disbands the waardgelders militia in Utrecht, a pivotal event in the Remonstrant/Counter-Remonstrant tensions. Wikipedia ↗
• 1588 — The Spanish Armada is spotted off the coast of England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1498 — On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad. Wikipedia ↗
• 1492 — The Jews are expelled from Spain when the Alhambra Decree takes effect. Wikipedia ↗
• 1451 — Jacques Cœur is arrested by order of Charles VII of France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1423 — Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant: The French army is defeated by the English at Cravant on the banks of the river Yonne. Wikipedia ↗
• 1201 — Attempted usurpation by John Komnenos the Fat for the throne of Alexios III Angelos. Wikipedia ↗
• 1009 — Pope Sergius IV becomes the 142nd pope, succeeding Pope John XVIII. Wikipedia ↗
• 781 — The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: July 6, 781). Wikipedia ↗
• Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian's forces, but most of his army subsequently deserts, leading to his suicide. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on July 31

• 1992 — José Fernández, Cuban baseball player (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Ryan Johansen, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Kyle Larson, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Réka Luca Jani, Hungarian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Victoria Azarenka, Belorussian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Alex Glenn, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Michael Bradley, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Evgeni Malkin, Russian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Brian Orakpo, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Daniel Ciofani, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Rémy Di Gregorio, French cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Anabel Medina Garrigues, Spanish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — DeMarcus Ware, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Titus Bramble, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Vernon Carey, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Paul Whatuira, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Mikko Hirvonen, Finnish race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Mils Muliaina, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Jaco Erasmus, South African-Italian rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — J.J. Furmaniak, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Per Krøldrup, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Carlos Marchena, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — B.J. Novak, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Zac Brown, American country singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Will Champion, English drummer and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Nick Sorensen, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Justin Wilson, English race car driver (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Joshua Cain, American guitarist and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Paulo Wanchope, Costa Rican footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Randy Flores, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Andrew Hall, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Gabe Kapler, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Leona Naess, American-English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Jonathan Ogden, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Nathan Brown, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Gus Frerotte, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Ahmad Akbarpour, Iranian author and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Ben Chaplin, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Andrzej Kobylański, Polish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Giorgos Sigalas, Greek basketball player, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Antonio Conte, Italian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Loren Dean, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Kenneth D. Schisler, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Saeed-Al-Saffar, Emirati cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Julian Richards, Welsh director and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Tony Massenburg, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Tim Wright, Welsh composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Dean Cain, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Scott Brooks, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — John Laurinaitis, American wrestler and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Ian Roberts, English-Australian rugby league player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — J. K. Rowling, English author and film producer; created Harry Potter Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Jim Corr, Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Urmas Hepner, Estonian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), English DJ and musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Fergus Henderson, English chef and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Brian Skrudland, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — John Chiang, American lawyer and politician, 31st California State Controller Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Kevin Greene, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Wesley Snipes, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Frank Gardner, English captain and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Nigerian banker, royal Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Dale Hunter, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Malcolm Ross, Scottish guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Stanley Jordan, American guitarist, pianist, and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Andrew Marr, Scottish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Bill Berry, American drummer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Mark Cuban, American businessman and television personality Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Suzanne Giraud, French music editor and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Daniel Ash, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Mark Thompson, English business executive Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Michael Biehn, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Bill Callahan, American football player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Ron Kuby, American lawyer and radio host Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Deval Patrick, American lawyer and politician, 71st Governor of Massachusetts Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Lynne Rae Perkins, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Derek Smith, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Ted Baillieu, Australian architect and politician, 46th Premier of Victoria Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Jimmy Cook, South African cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Hugh McDowell, English cellist Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Chris Ahrens, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Alan Autry, American football player, actor, and politician, 23rd Mayor of Fresno, California Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Helmuts Balderis, Latvian ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — João Barreiros, Portuguese author and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Faye Kellerman, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Australian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Richard Berry, French actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Charlie Williams, English racing motorcyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Mike Jackson, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Alan Meale, English journalist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Russell Morris, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Karl Green, English bass player and songwriter (Herman's Hermits) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Richard Griffiths, English actor (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Mumtaz, Indian actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Hubert Védrine, French politician, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Ian Beck, English children's illustrator and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Gary Lewis, American pop-rock musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — William Weld, American lawyer and politician, 68th Governor of Massachusetts Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Geraldine Chaplin, American actress and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Jonathan Dimbleby, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Sherry Lansing, American film producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Robert C. Merton, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — David Norris, Irish scholar and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — William Bennett, American journalist and politician, 3rd United States Secretary of Education Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Lobo, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Amarsinh Chaudhary, Indian politician, 8th Chief Minister of Gujarat (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Steuart Bedford, English pianist and conductor Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Susan Flannery, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — France Nuyen, Vietnamese-French actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Yvon Deschamps, Canadian comedian, actor, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Geoffrey Lewis, American actor and screenwriter (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Cees Nooteboom, Dutch journalist, author, and poet Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Ted Cassidy, American actor and screenwriter (d. 1979) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — John Searle, American philosopher and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Nick Bollettieri, American tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Kenny Burrell, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Lynne Reid Banks, English author Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Gilles Carle, Canadian director and screenwriter (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Don Murray, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — José Santamaría, Uruguayan footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Bill Frenzel, American lieutenant and politician (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Peter Nichols, English author and playwright Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Bernard Nathanson, American physician and activist (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Hilary Putnam, American mathematician, computer scientist, and philosopher (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Carmel Quinn, Irish singer, actress and writer Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — John Swainson, Canadian-American jurist and politician, 42nd Governor of Michigan (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Jimmy Evert, American tennis player and coach (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Ahmet Ertegun, Turkish-American songwriter and producer, founded Atlantic Records (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Stephanie Kwolek, American chemist and engineer, invented Kevlar (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Hank Bauer, American baseball player and manager (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Peter Benenson, English lawyer and activist, founded Amnesty International (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Donald Malarkey, American sergeant and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Whitney Young, American activist (d. 1971) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — James E. Faust, American religious leader, lawyer, and politician (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Hemu Adhikari, Indian cricketer (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Curt Gowdy, American sportscaster and actor (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Primo Levi, Italian chemist and author (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Paul D. Boyer, American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Hank Jones, American pianist, composer, and bandleader (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Frank Renouf, New Zealand businessman and financier (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Sibte Hassan, Pakistani journalist, scholar, and activist (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Billy Hitchcock, American baseball player, coach, and manager (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Bill Todman, American screenwriter and producer (d. 1979) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Paul J. Christiansen, American conductor and composer (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Louis de Funès, French actor and screenwriter (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Bryan Hextall, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Bill Brown, Australian cricketer (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Milton Friedman, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1912 — Irv Kupcinet, American football player and journalist (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — George Liberace, American violinist (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, Austrian theorist and author (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on July 31 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on July 31

✡️ Religious Observances

• Islamic: Urs of Imam Rabbani Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindi (ق)