On This Day — March 31

🕰️ Notable Events on March 31

• 2004 — Iraq War in Anbar Province: In Fallujah, Iraq, four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA, are killed after being ambushed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Netscape releases Mozilla source code under an open source license. Wikipedia ↗
• 1995 — Selena is murdered by her fan club's president Yolanda Saldivar at a Days Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas after accusations of Saldivar embezzling money from Selena's fan club. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — The USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, is decommissioned in Long Beach, California. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Georgian independence referendum, 1991: Nearly 99 percent of the voters support the country's independence from the Soviet Union. Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Approximately 200,000 protesters take to the streets of London to protest against the newly introduced Poll Tax. Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — The first WrestleMania, the biggest wrestling event from the WWE (then the WWF), takes place in Madison Square Garden in New York City. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad operates its final train after being ordered to liquidate its assets because of bankruptcy and debts owed to creditors. Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — The Soviet Union launches Luna 10 which later becomes the first space probe to enter orbit around the Moon. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — A coup d'état in Brazil establishes a military government, under the aegis of general Castelo Branco. Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — The 14th Dalai Lama, crosses the border into India and is granted political asylum. Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — In the Canadian federal election, the Progressive Conservatives, led by John Diefenbaker, win the largest percentage of seats in Canadian history, with 208 seats of 265. Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Elections to the Territorial Assembly of the French colony Upper Volta are held. After the elections PDU and MDV form a government. Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Remington Rand delivers the first UNIVAC I computer to the United States Census Bureau. Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — The Dominion of Newfoundland joins the Canadian Confederation and becomes the 10th Province of Canada. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — World War II: A defecting German pilot delivers a Messerschmitt Me 262A-1, the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft, to the Americans, the first to fall into Allied hands. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — World War II: Japanese forces invade Christmas Island, then a British possession. Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — The Civilian Conservation Corps is established with the mission of relieving rampant unemployment in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — An earthquake in Nicaragua destroys Managua; killing 2,000. Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — A Transcontinental & Western Air airliner crashes near Bazaar, Kansas, killing eight, including University of Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne. Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — The Motion Picture Production Code is instituted, imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in film, in the U.S., for the next thirty-eight years. Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — The Royal Australian Air Force is formed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Massacre of ethnic Azerbaijanis is committed by allied armed groups of Armenian Revolutionary Federation and Bolsheviks. Nearly 12,000 Azerbaijani Muslims are killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Daylight saving time goes into effect in the United States for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — The United States takes possession of the Danish West Indies after paying $25 million to Denmark, and renames the territory the United States Virgin Islands. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — The Vienna Concert Society rioted during a performance of modernist music by Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Alexander von Zemlinsky, and Anton von Webern, causing a premature end to the concert due to violence; this concert became known as the Skandalkonzert. Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Serbia accepts Austrian control over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — The Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (later the National Collegiate Athletic Association) is established to set rules for college sports in the United States. Wikipedia ↗
• 1899 — Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by American forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1889 — The Eiffel Tower is officially opened. Wikipedia ↗
• 1885 — The United Kingdom establishes the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Wikipedia ↗
• 1854 — Commodore Matthew Perry signs the Convention of Kanagawa with the Tokugawa Shogunate, opening the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade. Wikipedia ↗
• 1822 — The massacre of the population of the Greek island of Chios by soldiers of the Ottoman Empire following an attempted rebellion, depicted by the French artist Eugène Delacroix. Wikipedia ↗
• 1774 — American Revolutionary War: The Kingdom of Great Britain orders the port of Boston, Massachusetts closed pursuant to the Boston Port Act. Wikipedia ↗
• 1717 — A sermon on "The Nature of the Kingdom of Christ" by Benjamin Hoadly, the Bishop of Bangor, provokes the Bangorian Controversy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1561 — The city of San Cristóbal, Táchira is founded. Wikipedia ↗
• 1492 — Queen Isabella of Castile issues the Alhambra Decree, ordering her 150,000 Jewish and Muslim subjects to convert to Christianity or face expulsion. Wikipedia ↗
• 1146 — Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay, urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis VII is present, and joins the Crusade. Wikipedia ↗
• 627 — Battle of the Trench: Muhammad undergoes a 14-day siege at Medina (Saudi Arabia) by Meccan forces under Abu Sufyan. Wikipedia ↗
• 307 — After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Maximian. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on March 31

• 1998 — Valeria Gorlats, Estonian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Jakob Chychrun, American-born Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Oskar Buur, Danish soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Lucian Oprea, Romanian soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — Hristiyan Iliev, Bulgarian soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Tyler Wright, Australian surfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Jonatan Isenia, Dutch baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Mikael Ishak, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Stijn de Looijer, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Henri Laaksonen, Swiss-Finnish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Beatričė Rožinskaitė, Lithuanian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Adam Zampa, Australian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Milan Milanović, Serbian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Rodney Sneijder, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Bang Yong-guk, South Korean rapper (boygroup: B.A.P) Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — George Iloka, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Sandra Roma, Swedish tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Alberto Martín Romo García Adámez, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Alfredo Marte, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Josmil Pinto, Venezuelan baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Nejc Vidmar, Slovenian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Liu Zige, Chinese swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Thomas De Corte, Belgian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Conrad Sewell, Australian singer and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Dorin Dickerson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — DeAndre Liggins, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Louis van der Westhuizen, Namibian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Nordin Amrabat, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Hugo Ayala, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Vojislava Lukić, Serbian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Amaury Bischoff, Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Justin Braun, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Carl Dickinson, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Humpy Koneru, Indian chess player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Eros Pisano, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Aridane Santana, Spanish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Kirill Starkov, Danish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Winston Venable, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Nelli Zhiganshina, Russian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Matthew Collins, Welsh footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Andreas Dober, Austrian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — James King, Scottish rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Paulo Machado, Portuguese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Steve Bernier, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jo-Lonn Dunbar, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jesper Hansen, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Ivan Mishyn, Ukrainian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Kory Sheets, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jalmar Sjöberg, Swedish wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — David Clarkson, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — James Jones, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Martins Dukurs, Latvian sled racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Kaie Kand, Estonian heptathlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Alberto Junior Rodríguez, Peruvian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ed Williamson, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Hashim Amla, South African cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Vlasios Maras, Greek gymnast Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — Nigel Plum, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Bam Childress, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Audrey Kawasaki, American painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Ryan Bingham, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Thomas Chatelle, Belgian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Han Tae-you, South Korean footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Pa Dembo Touray, Gambian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Maarten van der Weijden, Dutch swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Martin Albrechtsen, Danish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Karolina Lassbo, Swedish lawyer and blogger Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Matias Concha, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Riccardo Corallo, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Dean Clark, English footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Kate Micucci, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Michael Ryder, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Omri Afek, Israeli footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Euan Burton, Scottish martial artist and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Alexis Ferrero, Argentinian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Charlie Manning, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Jonna Mendes, American skier Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Rhys Wesser, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Michael Clark, Australian cricketer and footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Stephen Clemence, English footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Jarrod Cooper, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Jérôme Rothen, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Toshiya, Japanese bass player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Garth Tander, Australian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Howard Frier, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Igors Sļesarčuks, Latvian-Russian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Graeme Smith, Scottish swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Adam Green, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Nathan Grey, Australian rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Cameron Murray, Scottish rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Ryan Rupe, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Benjamin Eicher, German director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Stefan Olsdal, Swedish bass player Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Jani Sievinen, Finnish swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Christopher Hampson, English ballet dancer and choreographer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Alejandro Amenábar, Chilean-Spanish director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Andrew Bowen, American actor, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Luca Gentili, Italian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Evan Williams, American businessman, co-founded Twitter and Pyra Labs Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Demetris Assiotis, Cypriot footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Martin Atkinson, English footballer and referee Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Pavel Bure, Russian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Paul Grayson, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Craig McCracken, American animator, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Ewan McGregor, Scottish actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Alenka Bratušek, Slovenian politician, 7th Prime Minister of Slovenia Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Samantha Brown, American television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Nyamko Sabuni, Burundian-Swedish politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Steve Smith, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Roger Black, English runner and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Nick Firestone, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Tom Barrasso, American ice hockey player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Patty Fendick, American tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Jean-Christophe Lafaille, French mountaineer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — William McNamara, American actor and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Steven T. Seagle, American author and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mark Hoban, English accountant and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Paul Mercurio, Australian actor and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Olli Rehn, Finnish footballer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Ron Brown, American sprinter and football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Howard Gordon, American screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Markus Hediger, Swiss poet and translator Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Alan Duncan, English businessman and politician, former Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Svetozar Marović, President of Serbia and Montenegro Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Angus Young, Scottish-Australian guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Kim Kwan-cheol, Korean voice-actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Dennis Kamakahi, American guitarist and composer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — András Adorján, Hungarian chess player and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Ed Marinaro, American football player and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Sandra Morgen, American anthropologist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Gilles Gilbert, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Gary Doer, Canadian politician and diplomat, 20th Premier of Manitoba Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Al Gore, American soldier and politician, 45th Vice President of the United States and Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Rhea Perlman, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Gustaaf Van Cauter, Belgian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Augustin Banyaga, Rwandan-American mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Wendy Overton, American tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Kristian Blak, Danish-Faroese pianist, composer, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Don Foster, English academic and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — César Gaviria, Colombian economist and politician, 36th President of Colombia Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Israeli physicist and economist (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Gonzalo Márquez, Venezuelan baseball player (d. 1984) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Bob Russell, English politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Edwin Catmull, American computer scientist and engineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Gabe Kaplan, American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Myfanwy Talog, Welsh actress (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Pascal Danel, French singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Angus King, American politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Mick Ralphs, English singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Roy Andersson, Swedish director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Deirdre Clancy, English costume designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Christopher Walken, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Ulla Hoffmann, Swedish politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Hugh McCracken, American guitarist and producer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Michael Savage, American radio host and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Franco Bonvicini, Italian author and illustrator (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Faith Leech, Australian swimmer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Brian Ackland-Snow, English production designer and art director (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Barney Frank, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on March 31 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on March 31

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Foundation anniversary Day of San Cristóbal, Táchira (VE) · Mahavir Jayanti (IN)