Birthday July 31, 1763 James Kent, legal scholar
Birthday July 31, 1816 Union General George Thomas is born in Virginia
Birthday July 31, 1841 Melville
Birthday July 31, 1901 Jean Dubuffet, French painter.
Birthday July 31, 1912 Milton Friedman, economist.
Birthday July 31, 1916 First Lady of NASCAR Louise Smith born
Birthday July 31, 1921 Whitney Young, Jr., civil rights leader, head of Urban League.
Birthday July 31, 1923 Ahmet Ertegun is born in Istanbul, Turkey
Birthday July 31, 1939 France Nuyen, Actress (St. Elsewhere) in Marselles France
Birthday July 31, 1944 Geraldine Chaplin
Birthday July 31, 1951 Evonne Goolagong, in Australia, Tennis plaer
Birthday July 31, 1965 J.K. Rowling born
History July 31, 1498 Christopher Columbus discovers island of Trinidad.
History July 31, 1556 St. Ignatius of Loyola founder of Society of Jesus died in Rome.
History July 31, 1556 Ignatius of Loyola dies
History July 31, 1588 English fleet attacks Spanish armada
History July 31, 1703 Daniel Defoe is put in the pillory
History July 31, 1715 Hurricane sinks Spanish treasure ships
History July 31, 1777 Marquis de Lafayette becomes a major-general without pay
History July 31, 1777 Marquis de Lafayette 19 made major-general of Continental Army
History July 31, 1790 1st US patent granted to Samuel Hopkins for a potash process.
History July 31, 1813 British invade Plattsburgh NY
History July 31, 1875 Former President Andrew Johnson dies
History July 31, 1875 17th pres Andrew Johnson dies in Tennessee at 66
History July 31, 1917 Third Battle of Ypres begins in Flanders
History July 31, 1937 Apache scout Martine dies
History July 31, 1938 Yanks suspend Jake Powell after he said on Chicago radio 'he'd hit every colored person in Chicago over the head with a club'
History July 31, 1941 Goering orders Heydrich to prepare for the Final Solution
History July 31, 1945 Fugitive Vichy leader surrenders in Austria
History July 31, 1948 President Truman dedicates Idlewild Field (Kennedy Airport) NY
History July 31, 1953 Senator Robert A. Taft dies
History July 31, 1964 Ranger 7 photographs moon
History July 31, 1964 Ranger 7 transmits the 1st lunar close-up photos before impact
History July 31, 1964 US Ranger 7 takes 4 316 pictures before crashing on moon.
History July 31, 1964 Agreement on conduct of war
History July 31, 1970 Chet Huntley retires from NBC ending 'Huntley-Brinkley Report'
History July 31, 1972 Hanoi claims that U.S. bombers have struck dikes
History July 31, 1972 Democratic VP candidate Thomas Eagleton withdrew
History July 31, 1975 Jimmy Hoffa vanishes
History July 31, 1977 Son of Sam shot to death 20-year-old Stacy Moskowitz
History July 31, 1978 Yanks now 7 1/2 out of 1st picked up 7 games in previous 2 weeks
History July 31, 1980 Soyuz 37 crew returns to Earth aboard Soyuz 36
History July 31, 1981 Leader of Panama Gen. Omar Torrijos killed in a plane crash.
History July 31, 1981 7-week-old major league baseball strike ended.
History July 31, 1984 US men's gymnastics team won team gold medal at LA Summer Olympics
History July 31, 1990 Nolan Ryan wins 300th game
July 31, 1763 James Kent, legal scholar
July 31, 1816 Union General George Thomas is born in Virginia
July 31, 1841 Melville
July 31, 1901 Jean Dubuffet, French painter.
July 31, 1912 Milton Friedman, economist.
July 31, 1916 First Lady of NASCAR Louise Smith born
July 31, 1921 Whitney Young, Jr., civil rights leader, head of Urban League.
July 31, 1923 Ahmet Ertegun is born in Istanbul, Turkey
July 31, 1939 France Nuyen, Actress (St. Elsewhere) in Marselles France
July 31, 1944 Geraldine Chaplin
July 31, 1951 Evonne Goolagong, in Australia, Tennis plaer
July 31, 1965 J.K. Rowling born
July 31, 1498 Christopher Columbus discovers island of Trinidad.
July 31, 1556 St. Ignatius of Loyola founder of Society of Jesus died in Rome.
July 31, 1556 Ignatius of Loyola dies
July 31, 1588 English fleet attacks Spanish armada
July 31, 1703 Daniel Defoe is put in the pillory
July 31, 1715 Hurricane sinks Spanish treasure ships
July 31, 1777 Marquis de Lafayette becomes a major-general without pay
July 31, 1777 Marquis de Lafayette 19 made major-general of Continental Army
July 31, 1790 1st US patent granted to Samuel Hopkins for a potash process.
July 31, 1813 British invade Plattsburgh NY
July 31, 1875 Former President Andrew Johnson dies
July 31, 1875 17th pres Andrew Johnson dies in Tennessee at 66
July 31, 1917 Third Battle of Ypres begins in Flanders
July 31, 1937 Apache scout Martine dies
July 31, 1938 Yanks suspend Jake Powell after he said on Chicago radio 'he'd hit every colored person in Chicago over the head with a club'
July 31, 1941 Goering orders Heydrich to prepare for the Final Solution
July 31, 1945 Fugitive Vichy leader surrenders in Austria
July 31, 1948 President Truman dedicates Idlewild Field (Kennedy Airport) NY
July 31, 1953 Senator Robert A. Taft dies
July 31, 1964 Ranger 7 photographs moon
July 31, 1964 Ranger 7 transmits the 1st lunar close-up photos before impact
July 31, 1964 US Ranger 7 takes 4 316 pictures before crashing on moon.
July 31, 1964 Agreement on conduct of war
July 31, 1970 Chet Huntley retires from NBC ending 'Huntley-Brinkley Report'
July 31, 1972 Hanoi claims that U.S. bombers have struck dikes
July 31, 1972 Democratic VP candidate Thomas Eagleton withdrew
July 31, 1975 Jimmy Hoffa vanishes
July 31, 1977 Son of Sam shot to death 20-year-old Stacy Moskowitz
July 31, 1978 Yanks now 7 1/2 out of 1st picked up 7 games in previous 2 weeks
July 31, 1980 Soyuz 37 crew returns to Earth aboard Soyuz 36
July 31, 1981 Leader of Panama Gen. Omar Torrijos killed in a plane crash.
July 31, 1981 7-week-old major league baseball strike ended.
July 31, 1984 US men's gymnastics team won team gold medal at LA Summer Olympics
July 31, 1990 Nolan Ryan wins 300th game