What Happened on January 31 in History?
January 31 has been a day of major legislative breakthroughs, historic space milestones, and the beginnings of modern fast food worldwide.
Major Historical Events
Abolition of Slavery (1865): The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, officially abolishing slavery in the United States and sending it to the states for ratification.
The Gunpowder Plot Execution (1606): Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators were executed for their failed attempt to blow up the English Parliament and King James I.
The Tet Offensive (1968): Forces from the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong launched the Tet Offensive, a massive and coordinated series of surprise attacks against South Vietnamese cities and military outposts.
Stalingrad Surrender (1943): German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrendered to Soviet forces at Stalingrad, marking a critical turning point and Hitler's first major defeat in World War II.
Brexit Official (2020): After 47 years of membership, the United Kingdom formally left the European Union in accordance with Article 50.
Science & Space Exploration
First U.S. Satellite (1958): The United States successfully launched Explorer 1, its first artificial satellite, which led to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt.
Ham the Astrochimp (1961): NASA launched Ham the Chimpanzee into space; he returned safely after a 16-minute suborbital flight, paving the way for human spaceflight.
Apollo 14 Launch (1971): Astronauts Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, and Stuart Roosa blasted off on Apollo 14, the third mission to land humans on the Moon.
Luna 9 Launch (1966): The Soviet Union launched Luna 9, which would later become the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
Culture & Modern Milestones
First McDonald’s in Russia (1990): The first McDonald’s in the Soviet Union opened in Moscow's Pushkin Square, serving a record-breaking 30,000 customers on its opening day.
The Green Hornet Debut (1936): The Green Hornet radio program premiered on WXYZ in Detroit.
Boeing 747's End (2023): Boeing delivered the final 747 jumbo jet, ending more than 50 years of production for the iconic aircraft.
Notable Birthdays
Jackie Robinson (1919): The first African American to play in modern Major League Baseball.
Philip Glass (1937): Renowned minimalist composer.
Nolan Ryan (1947): Legendary Hall of Fame baseball pitcher.
Justin Timberlake (1981): Global pop star and actor.
Franz Schubert (1797): Famous Austrian composer.
Holidays & Observances
National Hot Chocolate Day: A day dedicated to the classic cocoa beverage.
National Backward Day: A playful day encouraging people to do things in reverse.
Nauru Independence Day: Celebrating the island nation's independence from Australia in 1968.
