1889Achievement
Eiffel Tower opens
Eiffel Tower opened in Paris for 1889 Exposition Universelle, tallest man-made structure at 300 metres.
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Birth of René Descartes (1596) and Rene Descartes born (1596), 0 years apart.
1 / 7 coincidences found today • Auto-spins every 7s
From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Its copper-based blood detects bacteria — and pharma bleeds it.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert SaysHall of Fame◆
- 1948WEST INDIES SCORES 490The New York Times◆
- 2020Whole Foods workers hold ‘sick-out’ to demand hazard pay during pandemicThe Guardian◆
- 2014FCA's announcement of pension inquiry 'not its finest hour'The Guardian◆
- 1521Ferdinand Magellan and members of his crew participated in the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines.Wikipedia◆
- 1706The last session of history of the Catalan Courts, the parliament of the Principality of Catalonia, ends. Catalonia's constitutional modernisation passed by the Courts aims to improve the guarantee of individual, political and economic rights (such as the secrecy of correspondence).Wikipedia◆
- 1521Ferdinand Magellan and fifty of his men came ashore to present-day Limasawa to participate in the first Catholic mass in the Philippines.Wikipedia◆
- 1899Philippine–American War: Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, was captured by American forces.Wikipedia◆
- 1899Philippine–American War: Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by American forces.Wikipedia◆
- 1272Pope Gregory X calls for a General Church Council to discuss reunion of Churches, Crusade to the Holy Land and Church reform.Wikipedia◆
- 1992USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, was decommissioned in Long Beach, California.Wikipedia◆
- 1964The Brazilian Armed Forces overthrew President João Goulart, establishing a military dictatorship that lasted 21 years.Wikipedia◆
- 1913Arnold Schoenberg conducted the Vienna Concert Society in a concert of expressionist music that so shocked the audience that they began to riot.Wikipedia◆
- 1992The USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, is decommissioned in Long Beach, California.Wikipedia◆
- Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert SaysHall of Fame◆
- 1948WEST INDIES SCORES 490The New York Times◆
- 2020Whole Foods workers hold ‘sick-out’ to demand hazard pay during pandemicThe Guardian◆
- 2014FCA's announcement of pension inquiry 'not its finest hour'The Guardian◆
- 1521Ferdinand Magellan and members of his crew participated in the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines.Wikipedia◆
- 1706The last session of history of the Catalan Courts, the parliament of the Principality of Catalonia, ends. Catalonia's constitutional modernisation passed by the Courts aims to improve the guarantee of individual, political and economic rights (such as the secrecy of correspondence).Wikipedia◆
- 1521Ferdinand Magellan and fifty of his men came ashore to present-day Limasawa to participate in the first Catholic mass in the Philippines.Wikipedia◆
- 1899Philippine–American War: Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, was captured by American forces.Wikipedia◆
- 1899Philippine–American War: Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by American forces.Wikipedia◆
- 1272Pope Gregory X calls for a General Church Council to discuss reunion of Churches, Crusade to the Holy Land and Church reform.Wikipedia◆
- 1992USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, was decommissioned in Long Beach, California.Wikipedia◆
- 1964The Brazilian Armed Forces overthrew President João Goulart, establishing a military dictatorship that lasted 21 years.Wikipedia◆
- 1913Arnold Schoenberg conducted the Vienna Concert Society in a concert of expressionist music that so shocked the audience that they began to riot.Wikipedia◆
- 1992The USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, is decommissioned in Long Beach, California.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Ewan McGregor1971- Christopher Walken1943
- René Descartes1596
- Rene Descartes1596
31 March in history
2 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
1917Law
US Virgin Islands purchased
US took possession of Virgin Islands after buying from Denmark for $25 million gold.
Showing 1-2 of 2 events
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — March 31
1521 First everFerdinand Magellan and members of his crew participated in the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1706 Oddly trueThe last session of history of the Catalan Courts, the parliament of the Principality of Catalonia, ends. Catalonia's constitutional modernisation passed by the Courts aims to improve the guarantee of individual, political and economic rights (such as the secrecy of correspondence).
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1521 First ever
Ferdinand Magellan and fifty of his men came ashore to present-day Limasawa to participate in the first Catholic mass in the Philippines.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1899 First everPhilippine–American War: Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, was captured by American forces.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1899 First ever
Philippine–American War: Malolos, capital of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by American forces.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2020The GuardianWhole Foods workers hold ‘sick-out’ to demand hazard pay during pandemicAn organized employees group is calling for better health protections, including paid sick leave and benefits for par…
Read on The Guardian →
2014The GuardianFCA's announcement of pension inquiry 'not its finest hour'Chief executive apologises after announcement of report on Friday caused shares in insurers to plummet
Read on The Guardian →- 1948The New York TimesWEST INDIES SCORES 490
KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 30 (Reuters) -- West Indies took complete charge of the fourth test cricket match with Engla…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
OddlyTrue News Stand
From the archives
Verified RealSomething Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
Source: Newspapers.comView clipping source
Did you guess the year?
Streak 0 days Best 0
When was “Ferdinand Magellan and members of his crew participated in the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
Ferdinand Magellan and members of his crew participated in the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1706 Oddly true
The last session of history of the Catalan Courts, the parliament of the Principality of Catalonia, ends. Catalonia's constitutional modernisation passed by the Courts aims to improve the guarantee of individual, political and economic rights (such as the secrecy of correspondence).
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1521 First ever
Ferdinand Magellan and fifty of his men came ashore to present-day Limasawa to participate in the first Catholic mass in the Philippines.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 31 March — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
4
1596Birth
Birth of René Descartes
Philosopher René Descartes was born in France, famous for Cogito ergo sum I think therefore I am.
1596Birth
Rene Descartes born
Rene Descartes was born. French philosopher.
1943Birth
Christopher Walken born
Christopher Walken was born. American actor.
1971Birth
Ewan McGregor born
Ewan McGregor was born. Scottish actor.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1865Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.
Assassinated
1968Death
Martin Luther King Jr. dies
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, died on this day in 1968. Assassinated in Memphis. Remembered as: Prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
Suicide
30 BCDeath
Cleopatra dies
Cleopatra, queen of the ptolemaic kingdom, died on this day in 30 BC. Suicide (historically debated, asp bite). Remembered as: The last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Accident
2020Death
Kobe Bryant dies
Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, died on this day in 2020. Helicopter crash. Remembered as: Five-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers.
Famous birthdays
5 this weekToday · 31 March
- Ewan McGregorScottish actor (born 1971)Born 1971 · 55 years ago today
- Christopher WalkenAmerican actor (born 1943)Born 1943 · 83 years ago today
- Rene DescartesFrench philosopher and mathematician (1596–1650)Born 1596 · 430 years ago today
- René DescartesFrench philosopher and mathematician (1596–1650)Born 1596 · 430 years ago today
Coming up this week
Heath LedgerAustralian actor (1979–2008)4 April · born 1979
Day of Recognition31 March
International Transgender Day of Visibility
Celebrates transgender people and raises awareness of the discrimination they face worldwide.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 31 March.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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