All Events

Historical Events on January 31

  • Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution

    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.

  • Robert E. Lee

    1865

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

  • Leon Trotsky

    1929

    The Soviet Union exiles Leon Trotsky.

  • Battle of Malaya

    1942

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

  • Hydrogen bomb

    1950

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

  • Luna 9

    1966

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

  • Tet Offensive

    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.

  • Apollo 14

    1971

    Apollo program: Apollo 14: Astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa, and Edgar Mitchell, aboard a Saturn V, lift off for a mission to the Fra Mauro Highlands on the Moon.

  • Pan Am Flight 103

    2001

    In the Netherlands, a Scottish court convicts Libyan Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and acquits another Libyan citizen for their part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on January 31

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on January 31

30. January

01. February