On This Day

What Happened on

A complete timeline of historical events, famous births, notable deaths, and holidays that occurred on May 31 throughout history.

113

Events

8

Births

3

Deaths

Historical Events on May 31

BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty

BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty

Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pa

Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pave the streets of London.

Treaty of Vereeniging is signed, ending the Second Boer War and making Transvaal and the Orange Free State self-governin

Treaty of Vereeniging is signed, ending the Second Boer War and making Transvaal and the Orange Free State self-governing British colonies

Union of South Africa declares independence from the United Kingdom

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.

Battle of Jutland: Largest naval battle of World War I between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet, 8

Battle of Jutland: Largest naval battle of World War I between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet, 8,645 sailors are killed in an inconclusive battle but strategic British victory. German fleet never puts to sea again in WWI.

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake destroys Quetta in Balochistan, British India (now Pakistan), killing an estimated 40,000 peo

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake destroys Quetta in Balochistan, British India (now Pakistan), killing an estimated 40,000 people

Communists seize power in Hungary

Communists seize power in Hungary

7.75 Ancash earthquake off the coast of Peru kills 66,000-70,000 people and triggers the world's deadliest avalanche

7.75 Ancash earthquake off the coast of Peru kills 66,000-70,000 people and triggers the world's deadliest avalanche

Psy's "Gangnam Style" becomes the first video to reach 2 billion views on YouTube

"Gangnam Style" is a K-pop song by South Korean singer Psy, released on July 15, 2012, by YG Entertainment as the lead single of his sixth studio album, Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1.

Rihanna releases her breakthrough album "Good Girl Gone Bad"

Good Girl Gone Bad is the third studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on May 31, 2007, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records.

Britain's Dr. James Moore wins the first recorded bicycle race, a 2 km velocipede race at Parc de Saint-Cloud, Paris

James Moore (14 January 1849 – 17 July 1935) was an English bicycle racer. He is popularly regarded as the winner of the first official cycle race in the world in 1868 at St-Cloud, Paris, although...

King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland marries first wife Anne of Austria at Wawel Cathedral in Kraków,

Sigismund III Vasa (Polish: Zygmunt III Waza, Lithuanian: Žygimantas Vaza; 20 June 1566 – 30 April 1632 N.S.) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1587 to 1632 and, as Sigismund, King…

Polish pianist, and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski (38) weds Polish baroness, social activist, and humanitaran Helena

Polish pianist, and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski (38) weds Polish baroness, social activist, and humanitaran Helena Maria von Rosen (32) in Warsaw, Russian Empire, until her death in 1934

Marjorie Dumont and Lt. R. W. Meade wed by an Army chaplain; 1st wedding held in an aircraft, flying over Houston, Texas

Marjorie Dumont and Lt. R. W. Meade wed by an Army chaplain; 1st wedding held in an aircraft, flying over Houston, Texas

American singer and actress Doris Day (27) divorces American saxophonist George Weidler (23) after 3 years of marriage

Doris Day was an American actress and singer. With an entertainment career that spanned nearly 50 years, Day was one of the most popular and acclaimed female singers of the 1940s and 1950s, with a...

English actress Billie Piper (24) and English radio DJ Chris Evans (41) divorce after 6 years of marriage

English actress Billie Piper (24) and English radio DJ Chris Evans (41) divorce after 6 years of marriage

70 Rome captures the first wall of the city of Jerusalem

The siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE was the decisive event of the First Jewish Revolt against the Roman Empire (66–73 CE).

Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol force led by Jebei and Subedei defeat a Russian alliance, after feigning their retreat

Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol force led by Jebei and Subedei defeat a Russian alliance, after feigning their retreat, leading to the death of 20,000 Russians

Jacoba of Bavaria becomes countess of Holland/Zealand/Henegouwen

Jacoba of Bavaria becomes countess of Holland/Zealand/Henegouwen

The colony of Massachusetts Bay annexes Maine colony

The colony of Massachusetts Bay annexes Maine colony

Swedish forces take Dutch-held fort of Fort Casimir on the Delaware River without resistance after the fort runs out of

Swedish forces take Dutch-held fort of Fort Casimir on the Delaware River without resistance after the fort runs out of gunpowder [1]

Netherlands, England and France sign Treaty of The Hague

Netherlands, England and France sign Treaty of The Hague

Jerusalem's rabbi Sjabtai Tswi proclaims himself Messiah

Jerusalem's rabbi Sjabtai Tswi proclaims himself Messiah

John Salomonsz elected chief of Saint-Eustatius

John Salomonsz elected chief of Saint-Eustatius

France, Britain & Netherlands sign accord of Paris

France, Britain & Netherlands sign accord of Paris

French troops conquer Kortrijk

French troops conquer Kortrijk

The Province of Pennsylvania bans all theater productions

The Province of Pennsylvania bans all theater productions

Alferez Manuel Quimper explores the Strait of Juan de Fuca (now the international border between Canada and the US)

Alferez Manuel Quimper explores the Strait of Juan de Fuca (now the international border between Canada and the US)

In Australia, Lawson, Blaxland and Wentworth reach Mount Blaxland, marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains

In Australia, Lawson, Blaxland and Wentworth reach Mount Blaxland, marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains

Cathedral of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, 1st US Catholic cathedral, is dedicated in Baltimore, designed by Benjam

Cathedral of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, 1st US Catholic cathedral, is dedicated in Baltimore, designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe

HMS Beagle anchors in Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope

HMS Beagle anchors in Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope

Astor Hotel opens in NYC, it later becomes the Waldorf-Astoria

Astor Hotel opens in NYC, it later becomes the Waldorf-Astoria

Rotterdam-Hague Railway opens

Rotterdam-Hague Railway opens

Last edition of Orange sheet "Journal de La Haye"

Last edition of Orange sheet "Journal de La Haye"

Elisha Kane's Arctic expedition leaves NY aboard Advance

Elisha Kane's Arctic expedition leaves NY aboard Advance

Philadelphia A's organize to play "town ball" became baseball 20 years later

Philadelphia A's organize to play "town ball" became baseball 20 years later

General Beauregard is given command of Confederate Alexandria Line

Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard (May 28, 1818 – February 20, 1893) was an American military officer known for being the Confederate general who started the American Civil War at the battle of Fort...

Battle of Seven Pines Virginia (Fair Oaks)

The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the...

Congress passes 1st Enforcement Act (rights of blacks)

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 (14 Stat. 27, enacted April 9, 1866, reenacted 1870) was the first United States federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by...

Reciprocity Treaty between US & Hawaii ratified

The Treaty of Reciprocity between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom (Hawaiian: Kuʻikahi Pānaʻi Like) was a free trade agreement signed and ratified in 1875 that is generally known...

German battleship SMS Grosser Kurfürst sinks, 284 killed

SMS Grosser Kurfürst (or Großer ) was an ironclad turret ship built for the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy).

First electric railway opens at the Berlin Trade Exposition

First electric railway opens at the Berlin Trade Exposition

League of American Wheelmen forms in Newport, Rhode Island, the first US bicycle association

League of American Wheelmen forms in Newport, Rhode Island, the first US bicycle association

French fleet under Pierre begins siege of Tamatave, Madagascar

French fleet under Pierre begins siege of Tamatave, Madagascar

Johnstown Flood; 2,209 die in Johnston, Pennsylvania when the South Fork Dam, located on the Little Conemaugh River fail

Johnstown Flood; 2,209 die in Johnston, Pennsylvania when the South Fork Dam, located on the Little Conemaugh River fails

Ulm Minster, in Ulm, Germany, the tallest church in the world with a steeple 161.5m high, is finally completed, after fo

Ulm Minster, in Ulm, Germany, the tallest church in the world with a steeple 161.5m high, is finally completed, after foundation stone laid in 1377

Work on Trans-Siberian railway begins

The Trans-Siberian Railway, historically known as the Great Siberian Route and often shortened to Transsib, is a large railway system that connects European Russia to the Russian Far East.

-June 5] Conference of Bloemfontein fails

-June 5] Conference of Bloemfontein fails

British troops under Lord Roberts occupy Johannesburg

British troops under Lord Roberts occupy Johannesburg

At the opening of the Greek National Assembly, Prince George, High Commissioner of Crete, asks it to endorse the union o

At the opening of the Greek National Assembly, Prince George, High Commissioner of Crete, asks it to endorse the union of Crete with Greece; the proposal is later rejected

Australia Cricket all out 36 v England, Edgbaston, their lowest ever

Australia Cricket all out 36 v England, Edgbaston, their lowest ever

Taxis first begin operating in New York City

Taxicabs in New York City come in two varieties: yellow and green; they are widely recognizable symbols of the city.

Miss Pottelsberghe de la Pottery is 1st airplane passenger (Belgium)

Miss Pottelsberghe de la Pottery is 1st airplane passenger (Belgium)

Cape of Good Hope becomes part of Union of South Africa

The Cape of Good Hopeʃpɨˈɾɐ̃sɐ]) is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa,...

US marines land on Cuba

US marines land on Cuba

Alexis Ahlgren runs world record maraton (2:36:06.6)

Alexis Ahlgren runs world record maraton (2:36:06.6)

Chicago White Sox Joe Benz no-hits Cleveland Indians, 6-1

Chicago White Sox Joe Benz no-hits Cleveland Indians, 6-1

An LZ-38 Zeppelin makes an air raid on London

A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century.

NC-4 aircraft commanded by AC Read completes 1st crossing of Atlantic

NC-4 aircraft commanded by AC Read completes 1st crossing of Atlantic

A large-scale race riot breaks out in Tulsa, Oklahoma, later described as the worst incident of racial violence in Ameri

A large-scale race riot breaks out in Tulsa, Oklahoma, later described as the worst incident of racial violence in American history; around 150-300 African Americans killed [1] [2]

China & USSR exchange diplomats

China & USSR exchange diplomats

China recognizes the USSR

China recognizes the USSR

Kruger National Park is established as South Africa's first national park

Kruger National Park is established as South Africa's first national park

Detroit Tigers first baseman Johnny Neun makes an unassisted triple play

In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three outs by himself in one continuous play, without his teammates making any assists.

Charlie Hallows scores his 1,000th run of Cricket season

Charlie Hallows scores his 1,000th run of Cricket season

Atlantic City Convention Center opens

Atlantic City Convention Center opens

Building begins on Albert Canal in Belgium

The Chrysler Building is a 1,046-foot-tall (319 m), Art Deco skyscraper in the East Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States.

The Barmen Declaration is published by a group of church leaders in Germany including Karl Barth to help Christians with

The Barmen Declaration is published by a group of church leaders in Germany including Karl Barth to help Christians withstand the challenges of the Nazi party

1st quadruplets to finish college (Baylor University)

1st quadruplets to finish college (Baylor University)

Bill Edrich scores his 1,000th run of cricket season, all at Lord's

Bill Edrich scores his 1,000th run of cricket season, all at Lord's

-June 1) 32.0 cm rain falls on Burlington Kansas (state record)

-June 1) 32.0 cm rain falls on Burlington Kansas (state record)

"Archie" comic strip 1st broadcast on radio

"Archie" comic strip 1st broadcast on radio

Charley Lupica begins his stay on a 4-foot square platform atop a 60-foot pole, vowing to remain until the Indians clinc

Charley Lupica begins his stay on a 4-foot square platform atop a 60-foot pole, vowing to remain until the Indians clinch the pennant (they don't, and he stays for 117 days)

Netherlands & South Africa sign cultural accord

Netherlands & South Africa sign cultural accord

Lebanese president Camille Shamun disbands government

Lebanese president Camille Shamun disbands government

Construction begins on Soviet cosmodrome launch facilities

Construction begins on Soviet cosmodrome launch facilities

Great Britain performs nuclear test at Christmas Island (atmospheric)

Between 1956 and 1963, the United Kingdom conducted seven nuclear tests at the Maralinga site in South Australia, part of the Woomera Prohibited Area about 800 kilometres (500 mi) north west of...

Dick Dale invents "surf music" with "Let's Go Trippin"

Surf music (also known as surf rock, surf pop, or surf guitar) is a genre of rock and roll associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Southern California.

Arthur Michael Ramsey appointed the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury

Arthur Michael Ramsey, Baron Ramsey of Canterbury (14 November 1904 – 23 April 1988), was a British Anglican bishop and life peer.

"Tell It To Groucho" last airs on CBS-TV

"Tell It To Groucho" last airs on CBS-TV

NAACP Youth Council begins a series of sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; nearly two doze

NAACP Youth Council begins a series of sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; nearly two dozen businesses change their policies to serve all

Charles Schmid kills first Pied Piper victim

Charles Howard Schmid Jr. (July 8, 1942 – March 30, 1975), also known as the Pied Piper of Tucson, was an American serial killer whose crimes were detailed by journalist Don Moser in an article...

WDXR (now WKPD) TV channel 29 in Paducah, KY (PBS) begins broadcasting

WDXR (now WKPD) TV channel 29 in Paducah, KY (PBS) begins broadcasting

Israel and Syria sign an agreement concerning Golan Heights

The Golan Heights, or simply the Golan, is a basaltic plateau at the southwest corner of Syria.

"Fight the Power" single released by The Isley Brothers (Billboard Soul Song of the Year, 1975)

The Heat Is On is the thirteenth studio album by American soul and funk group The Isley Brothers, released June 7, 1975, on T-Neck Records and Epic Records.

The Who set the record for the loudest concert of all time at 120 decibels at 50 meters at The Valley in Charlton, Londo

The Who set the record for the loudest concert of all time at 120 decibels at 50 meters at The Valley in Charlton, London

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani becomes heir apparent to throne of Qatar

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is a member of Qatar's royal family, the House of Thani.

Radio City Music Hall (NYC) reopens

Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and theater at 1260 Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York...

Police & youthful rebels battle in Zurich

Police & youthful rebels battle in Zurich

57th National Spelling Bee: Daniel Greenblatt wins spelling luge

The 57th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 30–31, 1984, sponsored by the E.W.

Guatemala adopts constitution

The Constitution of Guatemala is the supreme law of the Republic of Guatemala. It sets the bases for the organization of Guatemalan government and it outlines the three main branches of Guatemalan...

Saul Ballesteros drives 3 golf balls off Mt McKinley, Alaska

Saul Ballesteros drives 3 golf balls off Mt McKinley, Alaska

"Rambling with Gambling" 20,000th radio program on WOR-AM (NYC)

"Rambling with Gambling" 20,000th radio program on WOR-AM (NYC)

63rd National Spelling Bee: Amy Marie Dimak wins spelling fibranne

The 63rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 30–31, 1990, sponsored by the E.W.

Sides in Angola sign a treaty ending 16 year civil war

The Cuban intervention in Angola (codenamed Operation Carlota) began on 5 November 1975, when Cuba sent combat troops in support of the communist-aligned People's Movement for the Liberation of...

"The 1992 Boat Show" - the 193rd and final episode of US comedy series "Night Court" - airs on NBC-TV, completing a 9 se

"The 1992 Boat Show" - the 193rd and final episode of US comedy series "Night Court" - airs on NBC-TV, completing a 9 season run

President Dobrica Ćosić of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia flees

President Dobrica Ćosić of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia flees

Padres scores 13 in 2nd vs Pirates

Padres scores 13 in 2nd vs Pirates

Mark Van Thillo and Abigail Alling, former biospherian win $100,000 lawsuit against Biospheric Development for Space Bio

Mark Van Thillo and Abigail Alling, former biospherian win $100,000 lawsuit against Biospheric Development for Space Biospheres Ventures

Super Rugby Final, Eden Park, Auckland: Blues win second straight title with a 23-7 victory over ACT Brumbies; fullback

Super Rugby Final, Eden Park, Auckland: Blues win second straight title with a 23-7 victory over ACT Brumbies; fullback Adrian Cashmore lands 3 penalties & 2 conversions for the winners

US reality competition TV show "Survivor" hosted by Jeff Probst premieres

Survivor is the American version of the international Survivor reality competition television franchise, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson created by Charlie...

The New Jersey Nets defeat the Boston Celtics 96-88 in Game 6 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Championship, winning the

The New Jersey Nets defeat the Boston Celtics 96-88 in Game 6 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Championship, winning the series 4 games to 2 to advance to their first NBA Finals appearance.

Mark Felt, former FBI high ranking official revealed as "Deep Throat" source during Watergate investigations in "Vanity

Mark Felt, former FBI high ranking official revealed as "Deep Throat" source during Watergate investigations in "Vanity Fair" article

Gaza Flotilla raid: Israeli Shayetet 13 soldiers board ships trying to break blockade of Gaze, during violent confrontat

Gaza Flotilla raid: Israeli Shayetet 13 soldiers board ships trying to break blockade of Gaze, during violent confrontation aboard MV Mavi Marmara 9 activists killed and several activists and soldiers injured

Egypt formally ends its 31 year state of emergency

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula.

First tornado chaser to be killed by a tornado; Tim Samara and two others killed by El Reno tornado in Oklahoma, the wid

First tornado chaser to be killed by a tornado; Tim Samara and two others killed by El Reno tornado in Oklahoma, the widest ever recorded at 2.6 miles (4.2 km)

Harriette Thompson aged 92 and 65 days becomes the oldest woman to complete a marathon (Suja Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon in S

Harriette Thompson aged 92 and 65 days becomes the oldest woman to complete a marathon (Suja Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego)

Danish government bans garments that cover the face, including the niqab and burqa

The French ban on face covering is the result of an act of parliament passed in 2010 banning the wearing of face-covering headgear, including masks, helmets, balaclavas, niqābs and other veils...

China's ruling Communist Party announces it will allow married couples to have three children, in effort to boost fallin

China's ruling Communist Party announces it will allow married couples to have three children, in effort to boost falling birthrates [1]

Lost 3,400 year-old Bronze Age city unearthed on the Tigris river, Iraq due to drought, likely part of the Mittani Empir

Lost 3,400 year-old Bronze Age city unearthed on the Tigris river, Iraq due to drought, likely part of the Mittani Empire, including 100 cuneiform tablets [1]

Latvia elects its Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics as President - first openly gay leader of a Baltic state [1]

Edgars Rinkēvičs is a Latvian public official and politician serving as the 11th and current president of Latvia since July 2023.

Trillions of periodical cicadas (Magicicada) emerge together in the US for the first time in 221 years, brood XIX (Great

Trillions of periodical cicadas (Magicicada) emerge together in the US for the first time in 221 years, brood XIX (Great Southern Brood) after 13 years and brood XIII after 17 years [1]

David Seymour (ACT) succeeds Winston Peters (NZ First) as New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister [1]

Winston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician. He has led the political party New Zealand First since he founded it in 1993, and since November 2023 has served as the 25th minister of foreign...

Famous Births on May 31

Notable Deaths on May 31

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 31, 1279?
BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty
What happened on May 31, 1578?
Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pave the streets of London.
What happened on May 31, 1902?
Treaty of Vereeniging is signed, ending the Second Boer War and making Transvaal and the Orange Free State self-governing British colonies
What happened on May 31, 1910?
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.
What happened on May 31, 1916?
Battle of Jutland: Largest naval battle of World War I between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet, 8,645 sailors are killed in an inconclusive battle but strategic British victory. German fleet never puts to sea again in WWI.

Complete Timeline — May 31 Through the Ages

  1. 70 Rome captures the first wall of the city of Jerusalem

    The siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE was the decisive event of the First Jewish Revolt against the Roman Empire (66–73 CE).

  2. Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol force led by Jebei and Subedei defeat a Russian alliance, after feigning their retreat

    Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol force led by Jebei and Subedei defeat a Russian alliance, after feigning their retreat, leading to the death of 20,000 Russians

  3. BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty

    BC Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty

  4. Jacoba of Bavaria becomes countess of Holland/Zealand/Henegouwen

    Jacoba of Bavaria becomes countess of Holland/Zealand/Henegouwen

  5. Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pa

    Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada. Eventually mines fools gold, famously used to pave the streets of London.

  6. King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland marries first wife Anne of Austria at Wawel Cathedral in Kraków,

    Sigismund III Vasa (Polish: Zygmunt III Waza, Lithuanian: Žygimantas Vaza; 20 June 1566 – 30 April 1632 N.S.) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1587 to 1632 and, as Sigismund, King…

  7. The colony of Massachusetts Bay annexes Maine colony

    The colony of Massachusetts Bay annexes Maine colony

  8. Swedish forces take Dutch-held fort of Fort Casimir on the Delaware River without resistance after the fort runs out of

    Swedish forces take Dutch-held fort of Fort Casimir on the Delaware River without resistance after the fort runs out of gunpowder [1]

  9. Netherlands, England and France sign Treaty of The Hague

    Netherlands, England and France sign Treaty of The Hague

  10. Jerusalem's rabbi Sjabtai Tswi proclaims himself Messiah

    Jerusalem's rabbi Sjabtai Tswi proclaims himself Messiah

  11. John Salomonsz elected chief of Saint-Eustatius

    John Salomonsz elected chief of Saint-Eustatius

  12. France, Britain & Netherlands sign accord of Paris

    France, Britain & Netherlands sign accord of Paris

  13. French troops conquer Kortrijk

    French troops conquer Kortrijk

  14. The Province of Pennsylvania bans all theater productions

    The Province of Pennsylvania bans all theater productions

  15. Alferez Manuel Quimper explores the Strait of Juan de Fuca (now the international border between Canada and the US)

    Alferez Manuel Quimper explores the Strait of Juan de Fuca (now the international border between Canada and the US)

  16. In Australia, Lawson, Blaxland and Wentworth reach Mount Blaxland, marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains

    In Australia, Lawson, Blaxland and Wentworth reach Mount Blaxland, marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains

  17. Cathedral of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, 1st US Catholic cathedral, is dedicated in Baltimore, designed by Benjam

    Cathedral of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, 1st US Catholic cathedral, is dedicated in Baltimore, designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe

  18. HMS Beagle anchors in Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope

    HMS Beagle anchors in Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope

  19. Astor Hotel opens in NYC, it later becomes the Waldorf-Astoria

    Astor Hotel opens in NYC, it later becomes the Waldorf-Astoria

  20. Joseph Grimaldi dies

    Joseph Grimaldi dies

  21. Rotterdam-Hague Railway opens

    Rotterdam-Hague Railway opens

  22. Last edition of Orange sheet "Journal de La Haye"

    Last edition of Orange sheet "Journal de La Haye"

  23. Elisha Kane's Arctic expedition leaves NY aboard Advance

    Elisha Kane's Arctic expedition leaves NY aboard Advance

  24. Pius XI is born

    Pius XI is born

  25. Philadelphia A's organize to play "town ball" became baseball 20 years later

    Philadelphia A's organize to play "town ball" became baseball 20 years later

  26. General Beauregard is given command of Confederate Alexandria Line

    Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard (May 28, 1818 – February 20, 1893) was an American military officer known for being the Confederate general who started the American Civil War at the battle of Fort...

  27. Battle of Seven Pines Virginia (Fair Oaks)

    The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the...

  28. Britain's Dr. James Moore wins the first recorded bicycle race, a 2 km velocipede race at Parc de Saint-Cloud, Paris

    James Moore (14 January 1849 – 17 July 1935) was an English bicycle racer. He is popularly regarded as the winner of the first official cycle race in the world in 1868 at St-Cloud, Paris, although...

  29. Congress passes 1st Enforcement Act (rights of blacks)

    The Civil Rights Act of 1866 (14 Stat. 27, enacted April 9, 1866, reenacted 1870) was the first United States federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by...

  30. Reciprocity Treaty between US & Hawaii ratified

    The Treaty of Reciprocity between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom (Hawaiian: Kuʻikahi Pānaʻi Like) was a free trade agreement signed and ratified in 1875 that is generally known...

  31. German battleship SMS Grosser Kurfürst sinks, 284 killed

    SMS Grosser Kurfürst (or Großer ) was an ironclad turret ship built for the German Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy).

  32. First electric railway opens at the Berlin Trade Exposition

    First electric railway opens at the Berlin Trade Exposition

  33. League of American Wheelmen forms in Newport, Rhode Island, the first US bicycle association

    League of American Wheelmen forms in Newport, Rhode Island, the first US bicycle association

  34. French fleet under Pierre begins siege of Tamatave, Madagascar

    French fleet under Pierre begins siege of Tamatave, Madagascar

  35. Polish pianist, and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski (38) weds Polish baroness, social activist, and humanitaran Helena

    Polish pianist, and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski (38) weds Polish baroness, social activist, and humanitaran Helena Maria von Rosen (32) in Warsaw, Russian Empire, until her death in 1934

  36. Johnstown Flood; 2,209 die in Johnston, Pennsylvania when the South Fork Dam, located on the Little Conemaugh River fail

    Johnstown Flood; 2,209 die in Johnston, Pennsylvania when the South Fork Dam, located on the Little Conemaugh River fails

  37. Ulm Minster, in Ulm, Germany, the tallest church in the world with a steeple 161.5m high, is finally completed, after fo

    Ulm Minster, in Ulm, Germany, the tallest church in the world with a steeple 161.5m high, is finally completed, after foundation stone laid in 1377

  38. Work on Trans-Siberian railway begins

    The Trans-Siberian Railway, historically known as the Great Siberian Route and often shortened to Transsib, is a large railway system that connects European Russia to the Russian Far East.

  39. -June 5] Conference of Bloemfontein fails

    -June 5] Conference of Bloemfontein fails

  40. British troops under Lord Roberts occupy Johannesburg

    British troops under Lord Roberts occupy Johannesburg

  41. At the opening of the Greek National Assembly, Prince George, High Commissioner of Crete, asks it to endorse the union o

    At the opening of the Greek National Assembly, Prince George, High Commissioner of Crete, asks it to endorse the union of Crete with Greece; the proposal is later rejected

  42. Treaty of Vereeniging is signed, ending the Second Boer War and making Transvaal and the Orange Free State self-governin

    Treaty of Vereeniging is signed, ending the Second Boer War and making Transvaal and the Orange Free State self-governing British colonies

  43. Australia Cricket all out 36 v England, Edgbaston, their lowest ever

    Australia Cricket all out 36 v England, Edgbaston, their lowest ever

  44. Taxis first begin operating in New York City

    Taxicabs in New York City come in two varieties: yellow and green; they are widely recognizable symbols of the city.

  45. Miss Pottelsberghe de la Pottery is 1st airplane passenger (Belgium)

    Miss Pottelsberghe de la Pottery is 1st airplane passenger (Belgium)

  46. Union of South Africa declares independence from the United Kingdom

    The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.

  47. Cape of Good Hope becomes part of Union of South Africa

    The Cape of Good Hopeʃpɨˈɾɐ̃sɐ]) is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa. A common misconception is that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa,...

  48. US marines land on Cuba

    US marines land on Cuba

  49. Alexis Ahlgren runs world record maraton (2:36:06.6)

    Alexis Ahlgren runs world record maraton (2:36:06.6)

  50. Chicago White Sox Joe Benz no-hits Cleveland Indians, 6-1

    Chicago White Sox Joe Benz no-hits Cleveland Indians, 6-1

  51. An LZ-38 Zeppelin makes an air raid on London

    A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Ferdinand von Zeppelin who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century.

  52. Battle of Jutland: Largest naval battle of World War I between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet, 8

    Battle of Jutland: Largest naval battle of World War I between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet, 8,645 sailors are killed in an inconclusive battle but strategic British victory. German fleet never puts to sea again in WWI.

  53. Marjorie Dumont and Lt. R. W. Meade wed by an Army chaplain; 1st wedding held in an aircraft, flying over Houston, Texas

    Marjorie Dumont and Lt. R. W. Meade wed by an Army chaplain; 1st wedding held in an aircraft, flying over Houston, Texas

  54. NC-4 aircraft commanded by AC Read completes 1st crossing of Atlantic

    NC-4 aircraft commanded by AC Read completes 1st crossing of Atlantic

  55. A large-scale race riot breaks out in Tulsa, Oklahoma, later described as the worst incident of racial violence in Ameri

    A large-scale race riot breaks out in Tulsa, Oklahoma, later described as the worst incident of racial violence in American history; around 150-300 African Americans killed [1] [2]

  56. China & USSR exchange diplomats

    China & USSR exchange diplomats

  57. Rainier III is born

    Rainier III is born

  58. China recognizes the USSR

    China recognizes the USSR

  59. Kruger National Park is established as South Africa's first national park

    Kruger National Park is established as South Africa's first national park

  60. Detroit Tigers first baseman Johnny Neun makes an unassisted triple play

    In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three outs by himself in one continuous play, without his teammates making any assists.

  61. Charlie Hallows scores his 1,000th run of Cricket season

    Charlie Hallows scores his 1,000th run of Cricket season

  62. Atlantic City Convention Center opens

    Atlantic City Convention Center opens

  63. Building begins on Albert Canal in Belgium

    The Chrysler Building is a 1,046-foot-tall (319 m), Art Deco skyscraper in the East Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States.

  64. Clint Eastwood is born

    Clint Eastwood actor and filmmaker, known for american actor and filmmaker, was born on 1931-05-31. Clinton Eastwood Jr. is an American actor, musician, and filmmaker.

  65. The Barmen Declaration is published by a group of church leaders in Germany including Karl Barth to help Christians with

    The Barmen Declaration is published by a group of church leaders in Germany including Karl Barth to help Christians withstand the challenges of the Nazi party

  66. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake destroys Quetta in Balochistan, British India (now Pakistan), killing an estimated 40,000 peo

    A 7.7 magnitude earthquake destroys Quetta in Balochistan, British India (now Pakistan), killing an estimated 40,000 people

  67. 1st quadruplets to finish college (Baylor University)

    1st quadruplets to finish college (Baylor University)

  68. Bill Edrich scores his 1,000th run of cricket season, all at Lord's

    Bill Edrich scores his 1,000th run of cricket season, all at Lord's

  69. -June 1) 32.0 cm rain falls on Burlington Kansas (state record)

    -June 1) 32.0 cm rain falls on Burlington Kansas (state record)

  70. "Archie" comic strip 1st broadcast on radio

    "Archie" comic strip 1st broadcast on radio

  71. Joe Namath is born

    Joe Namath, American athlete, known for american football player, was born on 1944-05-31.

  72. Communists seize power in Hungary

    Communists seize power in Hungary

  73. John Bonham is born

    John Bonham, English musician, known for english drummer, was born on 1948-05-31. John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician who was the drummer of the rock band Led…

  74. American singer and actress Doris Day (27) divorces American saxophonist George Weidler (23) after 3 years of marriage

    Doris Day was an American actress and singer. With an entertainment career that spanned nearly 50 years, Day was one of the most popular and acclaimed female singers of the 1940s and 1950s, with a...

  75. Charley Lupica begins his stay on a 4-foot square platform atop a 60-foot pole, vowing to remain until the Indians clinc

    Charley Lupica begins his stay on a 4-foot square platform atop a 60-foot pole, vowing to remain until the Indians clinch the pennant (they don't, and he stays for 117 days)

  76. Netherlands & South Africa sign cultural accord

    Netherlands & South Africa sign cultural accord

  77. Lebanese president Camille Shamun disbands government

    Lebanese president Camille Shamun disbands government

  78. Construction begins on Soviet cosmodrome launch facilities

    Construction begins on Soviet cosmodrome launch facilities

  79. Great Britain performs nuclear test at Christmas Island (atmospheric)

    Between 1956 and 1963, the United Kingdom conducted seven nuclear tests at the Maralinga site in South Australia, part of the Woomera Prohibited Area about 800 kilometres (500 mi) north west of...

  80. Dick Dale invents "surf music" with "Let's Go Trippin"

    Surf music (also known as surf rock, surf pop, or surf guitar) is a genre of rock and roll associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Southern California.

  81. Arthur Michael Ramsey appointed the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury

    Arthur Michael Ramsey, Baron Ramsey of Canterbury (14 November 1904 – 23 April 1988), was a British Anglican bishop and life peer.

  82. "Tell It To Groucho" last airs on CBS-TV

    "Tell It To Groucho" last airs on CBS-TV

  83. NAACP Youth Council begins a series of sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; nearly two doze

    NAACP Youth Council begins a series of sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; nearly two dozen businesses change their policies to serve all

  84. Charles Schmid kills first Pied Piper victim

    Charles Howard Schmid Jr. (July 8, 1942 – March 30, 1975), also known as the Pied Piper of Tucson, was an American serial killer whose crimes were detailed by journalist Don Moser in an article...

  85. Viktor Orbán is born

    Viktor Orbán is born

  86. Brooke Shields is born

    Brooke Shields, American actress, known for american actress, was born on 1966-05-31. Brooke Christa Shields is an American actress and current president of the Actors' Equity Association.

  87. 7.75 Ancash earthquake off the coast of Peru kills 66,000-70,000 people and triggers the world's deadliest avalanche

    7.75 Ancash earthquake off the coast of Peru kills 66,000-70,000 people and triggers the world's deadliest avalanche

  88. WDXR (now WKPD) TV channel 29 in Paducah, KY (PBS) begins broadcasting

    WDXR (now WKPD) TV channel 29 in Paducah, KY (PBS) begins broadcasting

  89. Israel and Syria sign an agreement concerning Golan Heights

    The Golan Heights, or simply the Golan, is a basaltic plateau at the southwest corner of Syria.

  90. "Fight the Power" single released by The Isley Brothers (Billboard Soul Song of the Year, 1975)

    The Heat Is On is the thirteenth studio album by American soul and funk group The Isley Brothers, released June 7, 1975, on T-Neck Records and Epic Records.

  91. The Who set the record for the loudest concert of all time at 120 decibels at 50 meters at The Valley in Charlton, Londo

    The Who set the record for the loudest concert of all time at 120 decibels at 50 meters at The Valley in Charlton, London

  92. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani becomes heir apparent to throne of Qatar

    Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is a member of Qatar's royal family, the House of Thani.

  93. Colin Farrell is born

    Colin Farrell, Irish actor, known for irish actor, was born on 1977-05-31. Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor.

  94. Radio City Music Hall (NYC) reopens

    Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and theater at 1260 Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York...

  95. Police & youthful rebels battle in Zurich

    Police & youthful rebels battle in Zurich

  96. Jack Dempsey dies

    Jack Dempsey, American boxer, known for american boxer, died on 1983-05-31. William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983), nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler, was an…

  97. 57th National Spelling Bee: Daniel Greenblatt wins spelling luge

    The 57th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 30–31, 1984, sponsored by the E.W.

  98. Guatemala adopts constitution

    The Constitution of Guatemala is the supreme law of the Republic of Guatemala. It sets the bases for the organization of Guatemalan government and it outlines the three main branches of Guatemalan...

  99. Saul Ballesteros drives 3 golf balls off Mt McKinley, Alaska

    Saul Ballesteros drives 3 golf balls off Mt McKinley, Alaska

  100. "Rambling with Gambling" 20,000th radio program on WOR-AM (NYC)

    "Rambling with Gambling" 20,000th radio program on WOR-AM (NYC)

  101. 63rd National Spelling Bee: Amy Marie Dimak wins spelling fibranne

    The 63rd Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 30–31, 1990, sponsored by the E.W.

  102. Sides in Angola sign a treaty ending 16 year civil war

    The Cuban intervention in Angola (codenamed Operation Carlota) began on 5 November 1975, when Cuba sent combat troops in support of the communist-aligned People's Movement for the Liberation of...

  103. "The 1992 Boat Show" - the 193rd and final episode of US comedy series "Night Court" - airs on NBC-TV, completing a 9 se

    "The 1992 Boat Show" - the 193rd and final episode of US comedy series "Night Court" - airs on NBC-TV, completing a 9 season run

  104. President Dobrica Ćosić of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia flees

    President Dobrica Ćosić of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia flees

  105. Padres scores 13 in 2nd vs Pirates

    Padres scores 13 in 2nd vs Pirates

  106. Mark Van Thillo and Abigail Alling, former biospherian win $100,000 lawsuit against Biospheric Development for Space Bio

    Mark Van Thillo and Abigail Alling, former biospherian win $100,000 lawsuit against Biospheric Development for Space Biospheres Ventures

  107. Super Rugby Final, Eden Park, Auckland: Blues win second straight title with a 23-7 victory over ACT Brumbies; fullback

    Super Rugby Final, Eden Park, Auckland: Blues win second straight title with a 23-7 victory over ACT Brumbies; fullback Adrian Cashmore lands 3 penalties & 2 conversions for the winners

  108. US reality competition TV show "Survivor" hosted by Jeff Probst premieres

    Survivor is the American version of the international Survivor reality competition television franchise, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson created by Charlie...

  109. The New Jersey Nets defeat the Boston Celtics 96-88 in Game 6 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Championship, winning the

    The New Jersey Nets defeat the Boston Celtics 96-88 in Game 6 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Championship, winning the series 4 games to 2 to advance to their first NBA Finals appearance.

  110. Mark Felt, former FBI high ranking official revealed as "Deep Throat" source during Watergate investigations in "Vanity

    Mark Felt, former FBI high ranking official revealed as "Deep Throat" source during Watergate investigations in "Vanity Fair" article

  111. Rihanna releases her breakthrough album "Good Girl Gone Bad"

    Good Girl Gone Bad is the third studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on May 31, 2007, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records.

  112. English actress Billie Piper (24) and English radio DJ Chris Evans (41) divorce after 6 years of marriage

    English actress Billie Piper (24) and English radio DJ Chris Evans (41) divorce after 6 years of marriage

  113. Gaza Flotilla raid: Israeli Shayetet 13 soldiers board ships trying to break blockade of Gaze, during violent confrontat

    Gaza Flotilla raid: Israeli Shayetet 13 soldiers board ships trying to break blockade of Gaze, during violent confrontation aboard MV Mavi Marmara 9 activists killed and several activists and soldiers injured

  114. Chris Haney dies

    Chris Haney dies

  115. Egypt formally ends its 31 year state of emergency

    Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula.

  116. First tornado chaser to be killed by a tornado; Tim Samara and two others killed by El Reno tornado in Oklahoma, the wid

    First tornado chaser to be killed by a tornado; Tim Samara and two others killed by El Reno tornado in Oklahoma, the widest ever recorded at 2.6 miles (4.2 km)

  117. Psy's "Gangnam Style" becomes the first video to reach 2 billion views on YouTube

    "Gangnam Style" is a K-pop song by South Korean singer Psy, released on July 15, 2012, by YG Entertainment as the lead single of his sixth studio album, Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1.

  118. Harriette Thompson aged 92 and 65 days becomes the oldest woman to complete a marathon (Suja Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon in S

    Harriette Thompson aged 92 and 65 days becomes the oldest woman to complete a marathon (Suja Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego)

  119. Danish government bans garments that cover the face, including the niqab and burqa

    The French ban on face covering is the result of an act of parliament passed in 2010 banning the wearing of face-covering headgear, including masks, helmets, balaclavas, niqābs and other veils...

  120. China's ruling Communist Party announces it will allow married couples to have three children, in effort to boost fallin

    China's ruling Communist Party announces it will allow married couples to have three children, in effort to boost falling birthrates [1]

  121. Lost 3,400 year-old Bronze Age city unearthed on the Tigris river, Iraq due to drought, likely part of the Mittani Empir

    Lost 3,400 year-old Bronze Age city unearthed on the Tigris river, Iraq due to drought, likely part of the Mittani Empire, including 100 cuneiform tablets [1]

  122. Latvia elects its Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics as President - first openly gay leader of a Baltic state [1]

    Edgars Rinkēvičs is a Latvian public official and politician serving as the 11th and current president of Latvia since July 2023.

  123. Trillions of periodical cicadas (Magicicada) emerge together in the US for the first time in 221 years, brood XIX (Great

    Trillions of periodical cicadas (Magicicada) emerge together in the US for the first time in 221 years, brood XIX (Great Southern Brood) after 13 years and brood XIII after 17 years [1]

  124. David Seymour (ACT) succeeds Winston Peters (NZ First) as New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister [1]

    Winston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician. He has led the political party New Zealand First since he founded it in 1993, and since November 2023 has served as the 25th minister of foreign...

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