31
JULY, 31
July 31 is the 212th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (213th if leap year). There are 153 days left before the end of the year.
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July, 31

Celebrations

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

A former Basque soldier (1491-1556), he founded the Society of Jesus in 1540 and wrote the Spiritual Exercises.

World Ranger Day

Honors the rangers who protect parks and reserves, and remembers those who have died in the line of duty.

Events

1991

Signing of the START I treaty

The United States and the Soviet Union signed the START I treaty in Moscow, the first to cut their strategic nuclear arsenals, by 30 percent, with verification.
1987

1987 Edmonton tornado

A tornado struck Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, Canada, and killed 27 people.
1971

Six and a half hours out on the Moon

A six-and-a-half hour excursion to the Moon aboard the lunar rover is performed by the American astronauts of the Apollo 15 mission.
1964

Ranger 7 sends the first close-ups of the Moon

The American probe Ranger 7, launched on 28 July, transmitted the first detailed pictures taken close to the Moon, about 1,000 times sharper than anything seen from Earth-based telescopes.
1959

Creation of ETA

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, better known by its acronym ETA (for Basque Country and Liberty in Basque), is an anti-Francoist and Marxist-inspired Basque armed Basque armed group whose aim is the creation of a Basque state.
1945

Pierre Laval surrenders to the Allies

Pierre Laval, the fugitive former head of government of Vichy France, surrendered to Allied soldiers in Austria and was arrested.
1938

Bulgaria's non-aggression pact with the Balkan Entente

Bulgaria concluded a pact of non-aggression with Greece and the rest of the Balkan Entente: Turkey, Romania and Yugoslavia.
1917

Start of the Battle of Passchendaele

The Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, started in the First World War in West Flanders, Belgium, close to Ypres.
1914

Assassination of Jean Jaurès

In Paris.
1904

Battle of Hsimucheng

During the Russo-Japanese War, Imperial Japanese Army units under Nozu Michitsura defeated Russian units at Hsimucheng.
1856

Christchurch receives city status

Christchurch in New Zealand was officially given the status of a city, by royal charter.
1763

Battle of Bloody Run

During Pontiac's War, forces of the Odawa chief Pontiac defeated British troops at Bloody Run.
1658

Proclamation of Aurangzeb as Mughal emperor

Aurangzeb was proclaimed Mughal emperor of India and took charge of one of the great states of South Asia.
1498

Christopher Columbus reaches Trinidad

During his third expedition across the Atlantic, Christopher Columbus reached the island of Trinidad, the first European to arrive there.
1451

Arrest of Jacques Cœur

King Charles VII had Jacques Cœur arrested on a charge of lèse-majesté, and his property was seized.
1423

Battle of Cravant

During the Hundred Years' War, Anglo-Burgundian forces beat a Franco-Scottish army at Cravant, next to the River Yonne.
1009

Accession of Pope Sergius IV

Sergius IV became pope, succeeding John XVIII, and is counted as the 142nd pope of the Catholic Church.

Sayings

There is no saying for this day!

Astrology

Sign of the Zodiac: 10th day of the astrological sign of Leo.

Last events added