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On This Day in History — May 31

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Highlights of May 31

2019 — A shooting at a municipal building in Virginia Beach, United States, left 13 people dead, including the gunman, and injured four others. Read more
2017 — A car bomb exploded near the German embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing more than 90 people and injuring 463 others. Read more
2013 — An extremely large, powerful, and erratic tornado struck Central Oklahoma, killing eight people and injuring more than 150 others. Read more
2009 — American physician George Tiller, one of the few doctors in the country who performed late-term abortions, was shot and killed by Scott Roeder, an anti-abortion activist. Read more
1981 — An organized mob of police and government-sponsored Sinhalese paramilitary forces began three days of attacks that led to the burning of the Jaffna Public Library (renovated building pictured) in Sri Lanka, destroying more than 97,000 items in one of the most violent 20th-century examples of ethnic biblioclasm. Read more
1941 — World War II: German forces dropped four bombs on neutral Ireland, killing 28 people and damaging Áras an Uachtaráin, the residence of the President of Ireland. Read more
1935 — A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Balochistan in British India, now part of Pakistan, killing between 30,000 and 60,000 people Read more
1902 — The Second Boer War came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging in Pretoria, South Africa. Read more
1862 — American Civil War: Confederate troops under Joseph E. Johnston and G. W. Smith engaged Union forces under George B. McClellan at the Battle of Seven Pines outside Richmond, Virginia. Read more
1775 — American Revolution: The Committee of Safety of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, adopted the Mecklenburg Resolves, which annulled and vacated all laws originating from the authority of the king or the Parliament of Great Britain. Read more
1468 — Cardinal Bessarion announced his donation of 746 Greek and Latin codices to the Republic of Venice, forming the Biblioteca Marciana. Read more
1293 — Majapahit forces under Raden Wijaya won a major victory in the Mongol invasion of Java, now considered to be the founding date of the Indonesian city of Surabaya. Read more
1223 — Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus': Mongol forces defeated a Kievan Rus' army at the Battle of the Kalka River in present-day Ukraine. Read more
1215 — A Mongol army under Genghis Khan captured Zhongdu (modern Beijing), the capital of the Jin dynasty of China. Read more
455 — Petronius Maximus, the ruler of the Western Roman Empire, was stoned to death by a mob as he fled Rome before Vandal forces arrived and sacked the city. Read more

Events

2026 — An explosion at a Ta'ang National Liberation Army base kills 46 people. Read more
2019 — A shooting occurs inside a municipal building at Virginia Beach, Virginia, leaving 13 people dead, including the shooter, and four others injured. Read more
2017 — A car bomb explodes in a crowded intersection in Kabul near the German embassy during rush hour, killing over 90 and injuring 463. Read more
2016 — Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launch the Manbij offensive, in order to capture the city of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Read more
2013 — The asteroid 1998 QE2 and its moon make their closest approach to Earth for the next two centuries. Read more
2013 — A record breaking 2.6 mile wide tornado strikes near El Reno, Oklahoma, United States, causing eight fatalities (including three storm chasers) and over 150 injuries. Read more
2010 — Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla while still in international waters trying to break the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip; nine Turkish citizens on the flotilla were killed in the ensuing violent affray. Read more
2008 — Usain Bolt breaks the world record in the 100m sprint, with a wind-legal (+1.7 m/s) 9.72 seconds. Read more
2008 — Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-124 carrying the second portion of the Japanese Kibō module to the International Space Station. Read more
2005 — Vanity Fair reveals that Mark Felt was "Deep Throat". Read more
2003 — Air France retires its fleet of Concorde aircraft. Read more
1997 — The Confederation Bridge opens, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick. Read more
1991 — Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-party democracy under the supervision of the United Nations' UNAVEM II peacekeeping mission. Read more
1986 — The Ariane 2 rocket is launched on its maiden flight, carrying Intelsat VA F-14, but the mission ends in failure. Read more
1985 — United States–Canada tornado outbreak: Forty-one tornadoes hit Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, leaving 76 dead. Read more
1977 — The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is completed. Read more
1973 — The United States Senate votes to cut off funding for the bombing of Khmer Rouge targets within Cambodia, hastening the end of the Cambodian Civil War. Read more
1973 — Indian Airlines Flight 440 crashes near Palam Airport in Delhi, killing 48. Read more
1971 — In accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1968, observation of Memorial Day occurs on the last Monday in May for the first time, rather than on the traditional Memorial Day of May 30. Read more
1970 — The 7.9 Mw Ancash earthquake shakes Peru with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe) and a landslide buries the town of Yungay, Peru. Between 66,794 and 70,000 were killed and 50,000 were injured. Read more
1962 — The West Indies Federation dissolves. Read more
1961 — The South African Constitution of 1961 becomes effective, thus creating the Republic of South Africa, which remains outside the Commonwealth of Nations until 1 June 1994, when South Africa is returned to Commonwealth membership. Read more
1961 — In Moscow City Court, the Rokotov–Faibishenko show trial begins, despite the Khrushchev Thaw to reverse Stalinist elements in Soviet society. Read more
1955 — The U.S. Supreme Court expands on its Brown v. Board of Education decision by ordering district courts and school districts to enforce educational desegregation "at all deliberate speed." Read more
1951 — The Uniform Code of Military Justice takes effect as the legal system of the United States Armed Forces. Read more
1947 — Ferenc Nagy, the democratically elected Prime Minister of Hungary, resigns from office after blackmail from the Hungarian Communist Party accusing him of being part of a plot against the state. This grants the Communists effective control of the Hungarian government. Read more
1942 — World War II: Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarines begin a series of attacks on Sydney, Australia. Read more
1941 — Anglo-Iraqi War: The United Kingdom completes the re-occupation of Iraq and returns 'Abd al-Ilah to power as regent for Faisal II. Read more
1935 — A 7.7 Mw earthquake destroys Quetta in modern-day Pakistan killing 40,000. Read more
1924 — Hope Development School fire kills 24 people, mostly disabled children. Read more
1921 — The Tulsa race massacre kills at least 39, but other estimates of black fatalities vary from 55 to about 300. Read more
1916 — World War I: Battle of Jutland: The British Grand Fleet engages the High Seas Fleet in the largest naval battle of the war, which proves indecisive. Read more
1911 — The RMS Titanic is launched in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Read more
1911 — The President of Mexico Porfirio Díaz flees the country during the Mexican Revolution. Read more
1910 — The South Africa Act comes into force, establishing the Union of South Africa. Read more
1909 — The National Negro Committee, forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), convenes for the first time. Read more
1906 — The attempted regicide of Spanish King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie on their wedding day instead kills 24. Read more
1902 — Second Boer War: The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war and ensures British control of South Africa. Read more
1889 — Johnstown Flood: Over 2,200 people die after a dam fails and sends a 60-foot (18-meter) wall of water over the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Read more
1884 — The arrival at Plymouth of Tāwhiao, King of Maoris, to claim the protection of Queen Victoria. Read more
1879 — Gilmore's Garden in New York City is renamed Madison Square Garden by William Henry Vanderbilt and is opened to the public at 26th Street and Madison Avenue. Read more
1864 — American Civil War: Overland Campaign: Battle of Cold Harbor: The Army of Northern Virginia engages the Army of the Potomac. Read more
1862 — American Civil War: Peninsula Campaign: Confederate forces under Joseph E. Johnston and G.W. Smith engage Union forces under George B. McClellan outside the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. Read more
1859 — The Great Clock at the Houses of Parliament (now known as the Elizabeth Tower) starts keeping time. Read more
1847 — Qajar Iran and the Ottoman Empire determine their international boundary in the second treaty of Erzurum. Read more
1813 — In Australia, William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth reach Mount Blaxland, effectively marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains. Read more
1805 — French and Spanish forces begin the assault against British forces occupying Diamond Rock, Martinique. Read more
1795 — French Revolution: The Revolutionary Tribunal is suppressed. Read more
1790 — Manuel Quimper explores the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Read more
1790 — The United States enacts its first copyright statute, the Copyright Act of 1790. Read more
1775 — American Revolution: The Mecklenburg Resolves are adopted in the Province of North Carolina. Read more
1669 — Citing poor eyesight as a reason, Samuel Pepys records the last event in his diary. Read more
1610 — The pageant London's Love to Prince Henry on the River Thames celebrates the creation of Prince Henry as Prince of Wales. Read more
1578 — King Henry III lays the first stone of the Pont Neuf (New Bridge), the oldest bridge of Paris, France. Read more
1293 — Mongols depart Java after the failed Mongol invasion against King Kertanegara of Singhasari. Read more
1223 — Mongol invasion of the Cumans: Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol armies of Genghis Khan led by Subutai defeat Kievan Rus' and Cumans. Read more
1215 — Zhongdu (now Beijing), then under the control of the Jurchen ruler Emperor Xuanzong of Jin, is captured by the Mongols under Genghis Khan, ending the Battle of Zhongdu. Read more
455 — Emperor Petronius Maximus is stoned to death by an angry mob while fleeing Rome. Read more

Born on May 31

2001 — Breece Hall, American football player Read more
2001 — Iga Świątek, Polish tennis player Read more
2000 — Gable Steveson, American wrestler Read more
1998 — Santino Ferrucci, American race car driver Read more
1997 — Woo Jin-young, South Korean singer and rapper Read more
1997 — Jeong Se-woon, South Korean singer-songwriter Read more
1996 — Normani Kordei Hamilton, American singer Read more
1996 — Brandon Smith, New Zealand rugby league player Read more
1995 — Shane Bieber, American baseball player Read more
1995 — Matthew Lodge, Australian rugby league player Read more
1992 — Michaël Bournival, Canadian ice hockey player Read more
1992 — Laura Ikauniece, Latvian heptathlete Read more
1992 — Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Icelandic politician Read more
1991 — Azealia Banks, American singer-songwriter and rapper Read more
1990 — Erik Karlsson, Swedish ice hockey player Read more
1989 — Marco Reus, German footballer Read more
1986 — Waka Flocka Flame, American rapper Read more
1986 — Robert Gesink, Dutch cyclist Read more
1985 — Jordy Nelson, American football player Read more
1984 — Andrew Bailey, American baseball player Read more
1984 — Milorad Čavić, Serbian swimmer Read more
1984 — Nate Robinson, American basketball player Read more
1982 — Brett Firman, Australian rugby league player Read more
1981 — Mikael Antonsson, Swedish footballer Read more
1981 — Daniele Bonera, Italian footballer Read more
1981 — Jake Peavy, American baseball player Read more
1981 — Marlies Schild, Austrian skier Read more
1980 — Andy Hurley, American musician Read more
1979 — Jean-François Gillet, Belgian footballer Read more
1977 — Domenico Fioravanti, Italian swimmer Read more
1977 — Moses Sichone, Zambian footballer Read more
1976 — Colin Farrell, Irish actor Read more
1976 — Matt Harpring, American basketball player and sportscaster Read more
1975 — Mac Suzuki, Japanese baseball player Read more
1974 — Hiroiki Ariyoshi, Japanese comedian and singer Read more
1972 — Frode Estil, Norwegian skier Read more
1972 — Christian McBride, American bassist and record producer Read more
1972 — Antti Niemi, Finnish international footballer and coach Read more
1972 — Archie Panjabi, British actress Read more
1972 — Dave Roberts, American baseball player and coach Read more

Died on May 31

2025 — Stanley Fischer, Israeli-American economist (born 1943) Read more
2024 — Robert Pickton, Canadian serial killer (born 1949) Read more
2024 — Marian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama (born 1937) Read more
2022 — Colin Cantwell, American concept artist and director (born 1932) Read more
2022 — Krishnakumar Kunnath, Indian singer (born 1968) Read more
2022 — Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, Colombian drug lord (born 1939) Read more
2022 — Jim Parks, English cricketer (born 1931) Read more
2016 — Mohamed Abdelaziz, President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (1976–2016) (born 1947) Read more
2016 — Jan Crouch, American televangelist, co-founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network (born 1938) Read more
2016 — Carla Lane, English television writer (born 1928) Read more
2016 — Rupert Neudeck, German journalist and humanitarian (born 1939) Read more
2015 — Gladys Taylor, Canadian author and publisher (born 1917) Read more
2014 — Marilyn Beck, American journalist (born 1928) Read more
2014 — Marinho Chagas, Brazilian footballer and coach (born 1952) Read more
2014 — Hoss Ellington, American race car driver (born 1935) Read more
2014 — Martha Hyer, American actress (born 1924) Read more
2014 — Lewis Katz, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1942) Read more
2014 — Mary Soames, Baroness Soames, English author (born 1922) Read more
2013 — Gerald E. Brown, American physicist and academic (born 1926) Read more
2013 — Frederic Lindsay, Scottish author and educator (born 1933) Read more
2013 — Miguel Méndez, American author and poet (born 1930) Read more
2013 — Tim Samaras, American engineer and storm chaser (born 1957) Read more
2013 — Jairo Mora Sandoval, Costa Rican environmentalist (born 1987) Read more
2013 — Jean Stapleton, American actress (born 1923) Read more
2012 — Christopher Challis, English cinematographer (born 1919) Read more
2012 — Randall B. Kester, American lawyer and judge (born 1916) Read more
2012 — Paul Pietsch, German race car driver and publisher (born 1911) Read more
2012 — Orlando Woolridge, American basketball player and coach (born 1959) Read more
2011 — Pauline Betz, American tennis player (born 1919) Read more
2011 — Jonas Bevacqua, American fashion designer, co-founded the Lifted Research Group (born 1977) Read more
2011 — Derek Hodge, Virgin Islander lawyer and politician, Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (born 1941) Read more
2011 — Hans Keilson, German-Dutch psychoanalyst and author (born 1909) Read more
2011 — John Martin, English admiral and politician, Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey (born 1918) Read more
2011 — Andy Robustelli, American football player and manager (born 1925) Read more
2010 — Louise Bourgeois, French-American sculptor and painter (born 1911) Read more
2010 — Brian Duffy, English photographer and producer (born 1933) Read more
2010 — William A. Fraker, American director, producer, and cinematographer (born 1923) Read more
2010 — Rubén Juárez, Argentinian singer-songwriter and bandoneón player (born 1947) Read more
2010 — Merata Mita, New Zealand director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1942) Read more
2009 — Danny La Rue, Irish-British drag queen performer and singer (born 1927) Read more

Holidays & observances

Anniversary of Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (Brunei); Christian feast day: Blessed Camilla Battista da Varano; Christian feast day: Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla; Christian feast day: Hermias; Christian feast day: Blessed Mariano da Roccacasale; Christian feast day: Petronella; Christian feast day: Blessed Robert Thorpe; Christian feast day: Visitation of Mary (Western Christianity); Christian feast day: May 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Kaamatan, harvest festival in the state of Sabah and the federal territory of Labuan (Malaysia); World No Tobacco Day (International); Borobi Day (Australia)

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Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “May 31”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.