On This Day — May 31

Famous events, births, and deaths from May 31 in history, plus the public holidays, religious observances, sports, and national days happening on this date today.

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43 events · 172 births · 104 deaths recorded for May 31.

🕰️ Notable Events on May 31

2017 — A car bomb exploded in a crowded intersection in Kabul near the German embassy during rush hour, killing over 90 and injuring 463. Wikipedia ↗
2013 — The asteroid 1998 QE2 and its moon make their closest approach to Earth for the next two centuries. Wikipedia ↗
2010 — Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos boarded the Gaza Freedom Flotilla while still in international waters trying to break the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip; nine Turkish civilians on the flotilla were killed in the ensuing violent affray. Wikipedia ↗
2005 — Vanity Fair reveals that Mark Felt was "Deep Throat". Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-party democracy under the supervision of the United Nations' UNAVEM II mission. Wikipedia ↗
1989 — A group of six members of the Peruvian guerrilla group Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement shoot dead eight transsexuals in Tarapoto. Wikipedia ↗
1985 — United States-Canada tornado outbreak: Forty-one tornadoes hit Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, leaving 76 dead. Wikipedia ↗
1977 — The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is completed. Wikipedia ↗
1973 — The United States Senate votes to cut off funding for the bombing of Khmer Rouge targets within Cambodia, hastening the end of the Cambodian Civil War. Wikipedia ↗
1971 — In accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1968, observation of Memorial Day occurs on the last Monday in May for the first time, rather than on the traditional Memorial Day of May 30. Wikipedia ↗
1970 — The 7.9 Mw Ancash earthquake shakes Peru with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe) and a landslide buries the town of Yungay, Peru. Between 66,794-70,000 were killed and 50,000 were injured. Wikipedia ↗
1962 — The West Indies Federation dissolves. Wikipedia ↗
1961 — The Union of South Africa becomes the Republic of South Africa. Wikipedia ↗
1961 — In Moscow City Court, the Rokotov-Faibishenko show trial begins, despite the Khrushchev Thaw to reverse Stalinist elements in Soviet society. Wikipedia ↗
1958 — Feijenoord Rotterdam wins the first edition of the Benelux Cup Wikipedia ↗
1942 — World War II: Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarines begin a series of attacks on Sydney, Australia. Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Anglo-Iraqi War: The United Kingdom completes the re-occupation of Iraq and returns 'Abd al-Ilah to power as regent for Faisal II. Wikipedia ↗
1935 — A 7.7 Mw earthquake destroys Quetta in modern-day Pakistan killing 40,000. Wikipedia ↗
1927 — The last Ford Model T rolls off the assembly line after a production run of 15,007,003 vehicles. Wikipedia ↗
1924 — The Soviet Union signs an agreement with the Beijing government, referring to Outer Mongolia as an "integral part of the Republic of China", whose "sovereignty" therein the Soviet Union promises to respect. Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Tulsa race riot: civil unrest in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The official death toll was given as 39, but other estimates of black fatalities vary from 55 to about 300. Wikipedia ↗
1916 — World War I: Battle of Jutland: The British Grand Fleet under the command of John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe and David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty engage the Imperial German Navy under the command of Reinhard Scheer and Franz von Hipper in the largest naval battle of the war, which proves indecisive. Wikipedia ↗
1911 — The President of Mexico Porfirio Díaz flees the country during the Mexican Revolution. Wikipedia ↗
1910 — The South Africa Act comes into force, establishing the Union of South Africa. Wikipedia ↗
1909 — The National Negro Committee, forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), convenes for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
1902 — Second Boer War: The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war and ensures British control of South Africa. Wikipedia ↗
1889 — Johnstown Flood: Over 2,200 people die after a dam fails and sends a 60-foot (18-meter) wall of water over the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Wikipedia ↗
1884 — The arrival at Plymouth of Tāwhiao, King of Maoris, to claim the protection of Queen Victoria Wikipedia ↗
1879 — Gilmore's Garden in New York City is renamed Madison Square Garden by William Henry Vanderbilt and is opened to the public at 26th Street and Madison Avenue. Wikipedia ↗
1866 — In the Fenian Invasion of Canada, John O'Neill leads 850 Fenian raiders across the Niagara River at Buffalo, New York/Fort Erie, Ontario, as part of an effort to free Ireland from the United Kingdom. Canadian militia and British regulars repulse the invaders over the next three days, at a cost of nine dead and 38 wounded to the 19 dead and about 17 wounded Fenians. Wikipedia ↗
1864 — American Civil War: Overland Campaign: Battle of Cold Harbor: The Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee engages the Army of the Potomac under Ulysses S. Grant and George Meade. Wikipedia ↗
1862 — American Civil War: Peninsula Campaign: Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the "Battle of Fair Oaks": Confederate forces under Joseph E. Johnston and G.W. Smith engage Union forces under George B. McClellan outside Richmond, Virginia. Wikipedia ↗
1859 — The clock tower at the Houses of Parliament, which houses Big Ben, starts keeping time. Wikipedia ↗
1813 — In Australia, William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth reach Mount Blaxland, effectively marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains. Wikipedia ↗
1805 — French and Spanish forces begin the assault against British forces occupying Diamond Rock. Wikipedia ↗
1795 — French Revolution: The Revolutionary Tribunal is suppressed. Wikipedia ↗
1790 — Manuel Quimper explores the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Wikipedia ↗
1790 — The United States enacts its first copyright statute, the Copyright Act of 1790. Wikipedia ↗
1775 — American Revolution: The Mecklenburg Resolves are adopted in the Province of North Carolina. Wikipedia ↗
1669 — Citing poor eyesight, Samuel Pepys records the last event in his diary. Wikipedia ↗
1578 — King Henry III lays the first stone of the Pont Neuf (New Bridge), the oldest bridge of Paris, France. Wikipedia ↗
1223 — Mongol invasion of the Cumans: Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol armies of Genghis Khan led by Subutai defeat Kievan Rus' and Cumans. Wikipedia ↗
455 — Emperor Petronius Maximus is stoned to death by an angry mob while fleeing Rome. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on May 31

1992 — Michaël Bournival, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1992 — Laura Ikauniece, Latvian heptathlete Wikipedia ↗
1991 — Azealia Banks, American rapper Wikipedia ↗
1990 — Erik Karlsson, Swedish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Bas Dost, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
1989 — Marco Reus, German footballer Wikipedia ↗
1986 — Robert Gesink, Dutch cyclist Wikipedia ↗
1985 — Jordy Nelson, American football player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Andrew Bailey, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Milorad Čavić, Serbian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1984 — Nate Robinson, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Mikael Antonsson, Swedish footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Daniele Bonera, Italian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Andy Hurley, American musician Wikipedia ↗
1981 — Jake Peavy, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1979 — Jean-François Gillet, Belgian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Theodoros Baev, Bulgarian-Greek volleyball player Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Domenico Fioravanti, Italian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Scott Klopfenstein, American singer-songwriter and trumpet player Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Eric Christian Olsen, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Joachim Olsen, Danish shot putter and politician Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Moses Sichone, Zambian footballer Wikipedia ↗
1977 — Petr Tenkrát, Czech ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Colin Farrell, Irish actor Wikipedia ↗
1976 — Matt Harpring, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1975 — Mac Suzuki, Japanese baseball player Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Hiroiki Ariyoshi, Japanese comedian and singer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Chad Campbell, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
1974 — Tristram Hunt, English historian and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Education Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Frode Estil, Norwegian skier Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Antti Niemi, Finnish footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Archie Panjabi, English actress Wikipedia ↗
1972 — Dave Roberts, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
1971 — Diana Damrau, German operatic soprano Wikipedia ↗
1970 — Paolo Sorrentino, Italian director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1968 — John Connolly, Irish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Sandrine Bonnaire, French actress Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Phil Keoghan, New Zealand television host and producer Wikipedia ↗
1967 — Kenny Lofton, American baseball player, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
1966 — Roshan Mahanama, Sri Lankan cricketer and referee Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Todd McKenney, Australian entertainer Wikipedia ↗
1965 — Brooke Shields, American model, actress, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Leonard Asper, Canadian lawyer and businessman Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Stéphane Caristan, French hurdler and coach Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Yukio Edano, Japanese politician, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Wikipedia ↗
1964 — Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, American rapper and producer Wikipedia ↗
1963 — David Leigh, holder of the Sir Samuel Hall Chair of Chemistry at the University of Manchester Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Viktor Orbán, Hungarian politician, 38th Prime Minister of Hungary Wikipedia ↗
1963 — Wesley Willis, American singer-songwriter and keyboard player (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1962 — Corey Hart, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Ray Cote, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Justin Madden, Australian footballer and politician Wikipedia ↗
1961 — Lea Thompson, American actress, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Greg Adams, Canadian ice hockey player and businessman Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Chris Elliott, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1960 — Peter Winterbottom, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Andrea de Cesaris, Italian race car driver (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1959 — Phil Wilson, English politician Wikipedia ↗
1957 — Jim Craig, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
1956 — Fritz Hilpert, German drummer and composer Wikipedia ↗
1956 — John Young, English singer-songwriter and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Bruce Adolphe, American pianist, composer, and scholar Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Tommy Emmanuel, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
1955 — Susie Essman, American actress, comedian, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Thomas Mavros, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
1954 — Vicki Sue Robinson, American actress and singer (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Pirkka-Pekka Petelius, Finnish actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Linda Riordan, English politician Wikipedia ↗
1953 — Lynne Truss, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1952 — Karl Bartos, German singer-songwriter and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
1951 — Karl-Hans Riehm, German hammer thrower Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Jean Chalopin, French director, producer, and screenwriter, founded DIC Entertainment Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Gregory Harrison, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1950 — Edgar Savisaar, Estonian politician, Estonian Minister of the Interior Wikipedia ↗
1949 — Tom Berenger, American actor Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Svetlana Alexievich, Belarusian journalist and author, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1948 — John Bonham, English musician, songwriter and drummer (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Martin Hannett, English bass player, guitarist, and record producer (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
1948 — Duncan Hunter, American lieutenant, lawyer, and politician Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Junior Campbell, Scottish singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1947 — Gabriele Hinzmann, German discus thrower Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Ted Baehr, American publisher and critic Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Steve Bucknor, Jamaican cricketer and umpire Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Krista Kilvet, Estonian journalist, politician, and diplomat (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
1946 — Debbie Moore, English model and businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Rainer Werner Fassbinder, German actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Laurent Gbagbo, Ivorian academic and politician, 4th President of Côte d'Ivoire Wikipedia ↗
1945 — Bernard Goldberg, American journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
1944 — Samantha Juste, English singer and television host (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Sharon Gless, American actress Wikipedia ↗
1943 — Joe Namath, American football player, sportscaster, and actor Wikipedia ↗
1941 — June Clark, Welsh nurse and educator Wikipedia ↗
1941 — Louis Ignarro, American pharmacologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Anatoliy Bondarchuk, Ukrainian hammer thrower and coach Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Augie Meyers, American musician and singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
1940 — Gilbert Shelton, American illustrator Wikipedia ↗
1939 — Terry Waite, English humanitarian and author Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Johnny Paycheck, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
1938 — John Prescott, British sailor and politician, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Wikipedia ↗
1938 — Peter Yarrow, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1935 — Jim Bolger, New Zealand businessman and politician, 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand Wikipedia ↗
1934 — Jim Hutton, American actor (d. 1979) Wikipedia ↗
1933 — Henry B. Eyring, American religious leader, educator, and author Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Ed Lincoln, Brazilian pianist, bassist, and composer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
1932 — Jay Miner, American computer scientist and engineer (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
1931 — John Robert Schrieffer, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
1931 — Shirley Verrett, American soprano and actress (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1930 — Clint Eastwood, American actor, director, musician, and producer Wikipedia ↗
1929 — Menahem Golan, Israeli director and producer (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1928 — Pankaj Roy, Indian cricketer (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
1927 — James Eberle, English admiral Wikipedia ↗
1927 — Michael Sandberg, Baron Sandberg, English lieutenant and banker Wikipedia ↗
1925 — Julian Beck, American actor and director (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Ellsworth Kelly, American painter and sculptor (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
1923 — Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
1922 — Denholm Elliott, English-Spanish actor (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Edna Doré, English actress (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Andrew Grima, Anglo-Italian jewellery designer (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Howard Reig, American radio and television announcer (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
1921 — Alida Valli, Austrian-Italian actress and singer (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1919 — Robie Macauley, American editor, novelist and critic (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
1918 — Lloyd Quarterman, African American chemist (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
1916 — Bert Haanstra, Dutch director, producer, and screenwriter (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1916 — Bernard Lewis, English-American historian and author Wikipedia ↗
1914 — Akira Ifukube, Japanese composer and educator (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
1912 — Chien-Shiung Wu, Chinese-American experimental physicist (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
1911 — Maurice Allais, French economist and physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
1909 — Art Coulter, Canadian-American ice hockey player (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
1908 — Don Ameche, American actor (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1901 — Alfredo Antonini, Italian-American conductor and composer (d. 1983) Wikipedia ↗
1900 — Lucile Godbold, American Olympic athlete (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
1898 — Norman Vincent Peale, American minister and author (d. 1993) Wikipedia ↗
1894 — Fred Allen, American comedian, radio host, game show panelist, and author (d. 1956) Wikipedia ↗
1892 — Michel Kikoine, Belarusian-French painter (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
1892 — Erich Neumann, German lieutenant and politician (d. 1951) Wikipedia ↗
1892 — Konstantin Paustovsky, Russian poet and author (d. 1968) Wikipedia ↗
1892 — Gregor Strasser, German lieutenant and politician (d. 1934) Wikipedia ↗
1887 — Saint-John Perse, French poet and diplomat, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
1885 — Robert Richards, Australian politician, 32nd Premier of South Australia (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
1883 — Lauri Kristian Relander, Finnish politician, 2nd President of Finland (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
1882 — Sándor Festetics, Hungarian politician, Hungarian Minister of War (d. 1956) Wikipedia ↗
1879 — Frances Alda, New Zealand-Australian soprano (d. 1952) Wikipedia ↗
1866 — John Ringling, American entrepreneur; one of the founders of the Ringling Brothers Circus (d. 1936) Wikipedia ↗
1863 — Francis Younghusband, Indian-English captain and explorer (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
1860 — Walter Sickert, English painter (d. 1942) Wikipedia ↗
1858 — Graham Wallas, English socialist, social psychologist, and educationalist (d. 1932) Wikipedia ↗
1857 — Pope Pius XI (d. 1939) Wikipedia ↗
1852 — Francisco Moreno, Argentinian explorer and academic (d. 1919) Wikipedia ↗
1852 — Julius Richard Petri, German microbiologist, invented the Petri dish (d. 1921) Wikipedia ↗
1847 — William Pirrie, 1st Viscount Pirrie, Canadian-Irish businessman and politician, Lord Mayor of Belfast (d. 1924) Wikipedia ↗
1842 — John Cox Bray, Australian politician, 15th Premier of South Australia (d. 1894) Wikipedia ↗
1838 — Henry Sidgwick, English economist and philosopher (d. 1900) Wikipedia ↗
1835 — Hijikata Toshizō, Japanese commander (d. 1869) Wikipedia ↗
1819 — Walt Whitman, American poet, essayist, and journalist (d. 1892) Wikipedia ↗
1818 — John Albion Andrew, American lawyer and politician, 25th Governor of Massachusetts (d. 1867) Wikipedia ↗
1815 — Adye Douglas, English-Australian cricketer and politician, 15th Premier of Tasmania (d. 1906) Wikipedia ↗
1801 — Johann Georg Baiter, Swiss philologist and scholar (d. 1887) Wikipedia ↗