Vintage News · Odd history for July 31

What Happened On July 31

Q: What happened on July 31?

1790: The first U.S. patent is issued, to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process. 781: The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: Sixth day of the seventh month of the first year of the Ten'o (天応) era). 1874: Patrick Francis Healy was inaugurated as president of Georgetown University, becoming the first African-American president of a predominantly white university in the United States. 1874: Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first African-American inaugurated as president of a predominantly white university, Georgetown University. 1865: The first narrow-gauge mainline railway in the world opens at Grandchester, Queensland, Australia. 1498: On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad. 1972: The Troubles: Hours after the British Army's Operation Motorman brought an end to the self-declared autonomous area of Free Derry (Free Derry Corner pictured) in Northern Ireland, three car bombs exploded in the village of Claudy. 1966: The pleasure cruiser MV Darlwyne disappeared off the coast of Cornwall with the loss of all 31 people aboard. 1954: A team of Italian climbers became the first to reach the summit of K2, the world's second-highest mountain. 1917: First World War: The Battle of Passchendaele began near Ypres, Belgium, with the Allies aiming to force German troops to withdraw from the Channel Ports.

55 events and 216 births, refreshed daily. OddlyTrue's own archive for 31 July →

July 30 August 1

10 odd things that happened on July 31

1790 First ever
The first U.S. patent is issued, to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
781 First ever
The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: Sixth day of the seventh month of the first year of the Ten'o (天応) era).
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1874 First ever
Patrick Francis Healy was inaugurated as president of Georgetown University, becoming the first African-American president of a predominantly white university in the United States.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1874 First ever
Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first African-American inaugurated as president of a predominantly white university, Georgetown University.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1865 First ever
The first narrow-gauge mainline railway in the world opens at Grandchester, Queensland, Australia.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1498 First ever
On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1972 Oddly true
The Troubles: Hours after the British Army's Operation Motorman brought an end to the self-declared autonomous area of Free Derry (Free Derry Corner pictured) in Northern Ireland, three car bombs exploded in the village of Claudy.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1966 Oddly true
The pleasure cruiser MV Darlwyne disappeared off the coast of Cornwall with the loss of all 31 people aboard.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1954 First ever
A team of Italian climbers became the first to reach the summit of K2, the world's second-highest mountain.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1917 First ever
First World War: The Battle of Passchendaele began near Ypres, Belgium, with the Allies aiming to force German troops to withdraw from the Channel Ports.
Read more →
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Observed today

2020A De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser collide over Soldotna, Alaska, killing all seven people on board both aircraft, including state representative Gary Knopp. Wikipedia →
2014Gas explosions in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung kill at least 20 people and injure more than 270. Wikipedia →
2012Michael Phelps breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the most medals won at the Olympics. Wikipedia →
2008East Coast Jets Flight 81 crashes near Owatonna Degner Regional Airport in Owatonna, Minnesota, killing all eight people on board. Wikipedia →
2007Operation Banner, the presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland, and the longest-running British Army operation ever, comes to an end. Wikipedia →
2006Fidel Castro hands over power to his brother, Raúl. Wikipedia →
1999Discovery 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 →
1997FedEx Express Flight 14 crashes at Newark International Airport, injuring five. Wikipedia →
1992The nation of Georgia joins the United Nations. Wikipedia →
1992Thai Airways International Flight 311 crashes into a mountain north of Kathmandu, Nepal, killing all 113 people on board. Wikipedia →
1992China General Aviation Flight 7552 crashes during takeoff from Nanjing Dajiaochang Airport, killing 108. Wikipedia →
1992Space Shuttle program: Atlantis is launched on STS-46 to deploy the European Retrievable Carrier and the Tethered Satellite System. Wikipedia →
1991The United States and Soviet Union both sign the START I Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the first to reduce (with verification) both countries' stockpiles. Wikipedia →
1988Thirty-two people are killed and 1,674 injured when a bridge at the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal collapses in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia. Wikipedia →
1987A tornado occurs in Edmonton, Alberta, killing 27 people. Wikipedia →
1975The Troubles: Three members of a popular cabaret band and two gunmen are killed during a botched paramilitary attack in Northern Ireland. Wikipedia →
1973A Delta Air Lines jetliner, flight DL 723, crashes while landing in fog at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts, killing 89. Wikipedia →
1972The 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 →
1971Apollo program: The Apollo 15 astronauts become the first to ride in a lunar rover. Wikipedia →
1970Black Tot Day: The last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy. Wikipedia →
1966The pleasure cruiser MV Darlwyne disappears off the Cornwall coast with the loss of all 31 aboard. Wikipedia →
1964Ranger 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 →
1948At Idlewild Field in New York, New York International Airport (later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport) is dedicated. Wikipedia →
1948USS 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 →
1945Pierre Laval, the fugitive former leader of Vichy France, surrenders to Allied soldiers in Austria. Wikipedia →
1941The 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 →
1941World War II: The Battle of Smolensk concludes with Germany capturing about 300,000 Soviet Red Army prisoners. Wikipedia →
1938Bulgaria signs a non-aggression pact with Greece and other states of Balkan Antanti (Turkey, Romania, Yugoslavia). Wikipedia →
1938Archaeologists discover engraved gold and silver plates from King Darius the Great in Persepolis. Wikipedia →
1932The NSDAP (Nazi Party) wins more than 38% of the vote in German elections. Wikipedia →
1917World War I: The Battle of Passchendaele begins near Ypres in West Flanders, Belgium. Wikipedia →
1904Russo-Japanese War: Battle of Hsimucheng: Units of the Imperial Japanese Army defeat units of the Imperial Russian Army in a strategic confrontation. Wikipedia →
1874Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first African-American inaugurated as president of a predominantly white university, Georgetown University. Wikipedia →
1865The first narrow-gauge mainline railway in the world opens at Grandchester, Queensland, Australia. Wikipedia →
1856Christchurch, New Zealand, is chartered as a city. Wikipedia →
1790The first U.S. patent is issued, to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process. Wikipedia →
1777The U.S. Second Continental Congress passes a resolution that the services of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette "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 →
1763Odawa Chief Pontiac's forces defeat British troops at the Battle of Bloody Run during Pontiac's War. Wikipedia →
1741Charles Albert of Bavaria invades Upper Austria and Bohemia. Wikipedia →
1715Seven 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 →
1703Daniel Defoe is placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after publishing a politically satirical pamphlet, but is pelted with flowers. Wikipedia →
1667The treaty of Breda ends the second Anglo-Dutch War and grants England in possession of New Amsterdam. Wikipedia →
1658Aurangzeb is proclaimed Mughal emperor of India. Wikipedia →
1655Russo-Polish War (1654–67): The Russian army enters the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilnius, which it holds for six years. Wikipedia →
1618Maurice, Prince of Orange disbands the waardgelders militia in Utrecht, a pivotal event in the Remonstrant/Counter-Remonstrant tensions. Wikipedia →
1498On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad. Wikipedia →
1492All remaining Jews are expelled from Spain when the Alhambra Decree takes effect. Wikipedia →
1451Jacques Cœur is arrested by order of Charles VII of France. Wikipedia →
1423Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant: A Franco-Scottish army is defeated by the Anglo-Burgundians at Cravant on the banks of the river Yonne. Wikipedia →
1201Attempted usurpation by John Komnenos the Fat for the throne of Alexios III Angelos. Wikipedia →
1009Pope Sergius IV becomes the 142nd pope, succeeding Pope John XVIII. Wikipedia →
781The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: Sixth day of the seventh month of the first year of the Ten'o (天応) era). Wikipedia →
768Antipope Constantine II is arrested by primicerius Christopher and Lombard troops sent to aid him by king Desiderius. Wikipedia →
432Election of pope Sixtus III following the death of pope Celestine I four days prior. Wikipedia →
398End of the Gildonic rebellion after Gildo's forces are defeated by forces loyal to Western Roman Emperor Honorius under Gildo's brother Mascezel and Gildo's subsequent death. Wikipedia →

From The Guardian Archives — On This Day

2025The Guardian
Why is Heathrow’s third runway back on the agenda?
Plans submitted as big infrastructure projects form heart of UK government’s strategy to kickstart economic growth
Read on The Guardian →
2022The Guardian
Pat Carroll, voice of Disney villain Ursula in The Little Mermaid, dies aged 95
The comedy actor, who started out as a regular on variety shows and became a prolific voice actor, died at home on Sa…
Read on The Guardian →
1984The New York Times
HOME RUN IN 10TH SETS BACK METS
The suddenly cold and cheerless world of the Mets grew even colder tonight when Tito Landrum of the St. Louis Cardina…
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.