January 31 in History

Historical Events on January 31

1865 American Civil War: The United States Congress passes the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, abolishing slavery and submits it to the states for ratification.

1865 American Civil War: Confederate General Robert E. Lee becomes general-in-chief.

1915 World War I: Germany is the first to make large-scale use of poison gas in warfare in the Battle of Bolimów against Russia.

1929 The Soviet Union exiles Leon Trotsky.

1942 World War II: Allied forces are defeated by the Japanese at the Battle of Malaya and retreat to Singapore.

1950 United States President Harry S. Truman announces a program to develop the hydrogen bomb.

1966 The Soviet Union launches the unmanned Luna 9 spacecraft as part of the Luna program.

1968 Vietnam War: Viet Cong guerrillas attack the United States embassy in Saigon, and other attacks, in the early morning hours, later grouped together as the Tet Offensive.

2009 In Kenya, at least 113 people are killed and over 200 injured following an oil spillage ignition in Molo, days after a massive fire at a Nakumatt supermarket in Nairobi killed at least 25 people.

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Famous Birthdays on January 31

1919 Jackie Robinson

1975 Preity Zinta

1981 Julio Arca

1981 Justin Timberlake

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Famous Deaths on January 31

1954 Edwin Howard Armstrong

2015 Lizabeth Scott

2015 Richard von Weizsäcker

2016 Terry Wogan

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