May 31
World No Tobacco Day
Birthdays:
1965 ~ Brooke Shields (née Brooke Christa Shields), American model and actress. She was born in Manhattan, New York.
1961 ~ Lea Thompson (née Lea Katherine Thompson), American actress. She is best known for her role as Lorraine Baines in the Back to the Future movie trilogy. She was born in Rochester, Minnesota.
1960 ~ Chris Elliot (né Christopher Nash Elliot), American actor and comedian. He was born in New York, New York.
1955 ~ Susie Essman (née Susan Essman), American actress and comedian. She is best known for her role as Susie Green on Curb Your Enthusiasm. She was born in The Bronx, New York.
1955 ~ Lynne Truss, British journalist and author, best known for her grammar book, Eats, Shoots & Leaves.
1948 ~ Svetlana Alexievich, Ukrainian journalist and author. She was the recipient of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature.
1945 ~ Rainer Werner Fassbinder (b. June 10, 1982), German actor and director. He died of a drug overdose, just 10 days after his 37th birthday in Munich, Bavaria, West Germany.
1943 ~ Sharon Gless (née Sharon Marguerite Gless), American actress. She was born in Los Angeles, California.
1943 ~ Joe Namath (né Joseph William Namath), American football player. He was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
1941 ~ Louis J. Ignarro, American pharmacologist and recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1941 ~ William Nordhaus (né William Dawbney Nordhaus), American economist and recipient of the 2018 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1939 ~ Terry Waite (né Terence Hardy Waite), English humanitarian. He was kidnapped and held captive from 1987 to 1991 in Lebanon while trying to secure the release of several hostages. He was born in Bollington, Cheshire, England.
1938 ~ Peter Yarrow, American singer-songwriter and a member of the trio, Peter, Paul and Mary. He was born in Manhattan, New York.
1934 ~ Hazel Smith (née Hazel Ruth Boone; d. Mar. 18, 2018), American journalist who named country’s “outlaw music.” She was born in Caswell County, North Carolina. She died at age 83 in Madison, Tennessee.
1931 ~ John Robert Schrieffer (d. July 27, 2019), American physicist and recipient of the 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He died at age 88 in Tallahassee, Florida.
1930 ~ Clint Eastwood (né Clinton Eastwood, Jr.), American actor and movie director. He was born in San Francisco, California.
1923 ~ Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (né Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; d. Apr. 6, 2005). He reigned as the Prince of Monaco from May 1949 until his death in 2005. He was married to American actress Grace Kelly (1929 ~ 1982). They married in 1956. He was of the House of Grimaldi. He was the son of Count Pierre of Polignac and Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. He died at age 81.
1916 ~ Bernard Lewis (d. May 19, 2018), English-American historian and scholar who shaped Western views on Islam. He was born in London, England. He died 12 days before his 102nd birthday in Voorhees Township, New Jersey.
1915 ~ George Vujnovich (né George Mane Vujnovich; d. Apr. 24, 2012), American mastermind of a daring World War II rescue. He is known for organizing Operation Halyard, which rescued over 500 downed Allied airmen from Serbia in August 1944. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He died at age 96 in New York, New York.
1915 ~ Carmen Herrera (d. Feb. 12, 2022), Cuban-born abstract painter sidelined by sexism. She was a pioneering artist but was relatively unknown until she was nearly 90 years old. She didn’t sell her first painting until she was 89. She was born in Havana, Cuba. She died at age 106 in New York, New York.
1912 ~ Chien-Shiung Wu (d. Feb. 16, 1997), Chinese-American physicist and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics. She made significant advances in nuclear physics. She also worked on the Manhattan Project. She died at age 84 in New York, New York.
1911 ~ Maurice Allais (né Maurice Félix Charles Allais; d. Oct. 9, 2010), French economist and recipient of the 1988 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. He was born in Paris, France. He died at age 99.
1908 ~ Don Ameche (né Dominic Felix Amici; d. Dec. 6, 1993), American actor. He was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He died of prostate cancer at age 85 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
1898 ~ Norman Vincent Peale (d. Dec. 24, 1993), American clergyman and author. He is best known for his book, The Power of Positive Thinking. He was born in Bowersville, Ohio. He died at age 95 in Pawling, New York.
1894 ~ Fred Allen (né John Florence Sullivan; d. Mar. 17, 1956), American comedian and radio personality. He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He died of a heart attack at age 61 in Manhattan, New York.
1887 ~ Saint-John Perse (né Alexis Leger; d. Sept. 20, 1975), French poet and recipient of the 1960 Nobel Prize in Literature. He died at age 88.
1883 ~ Lauri Kristian Relander (d. Feb. 9, 1942), 2nd President of Finland. He served in Office from March 1925 until March 1931. He died of heart failure at age 58 in Helsinki, Finland.
1866 ~ John Ringling (né John Nicholas Ringling; d. Dec. 2, 1936), American circus owner and brother of Charles Ringling. He died on what would have been his brother, Charles’ 73rd birthday. He was born in McGregor, Iowa. John died at age 70 in New York, New York.
1857 ~ Pope Pius XI (né Ambrogio Damiano Archille Ratti; d. Feb. 10, 1939). He was Pope from February 1922 until his death in February 1939. He was the first Pope of Vatican City, which was established as a separate independent state in February 1929. Because of his strong opposition to communism, he signed agreements with both Musolini and Hitler and gave his full support to Franco. He was 81 at the time of his death.
1852 ~ Julius Petri (né Julius Richard Petri; d. Dec. 20, 1921), German microbiologist and inventor of the Petri dish. He died at age 69.
1827 ~ Kusumoto Ine (d. Aug. 27, 1903), Japanese doctor. She was the first Japanese female doctor of Western Medicine. She was the daughter of a Japanese courtesan and a German physician. She died at age 76.
1819 ~ Walt Whitman (né Walter Whitman, d. Mar. 26, 1892), American poet. He was born in West Hills, New York. He died at age 72 in Camden, New Jersey.
1818 ~ John Albion Andrew (d. Oct. 30, 1867), 25th Governor of Massachusetts. He served as Governor from January 1861 until January 1866. He was born in Windham, Maine. He died in Boston, Massachusetts of apoplexy at age 49.
1816 ~ Dimitrie Ghica (d. Feb. 15, 1897), Prime Minister of Romania from 1868 to 1870. He was born and died in Bucharest, Romania. He died at age 80.
1683 ~ Jean-Pierre Christin (d. Jan. 19, 1755), French mathematician and physicist. He was born and died in Lyon, France. He died at 71.
1640 ~ Michael I, King of Poland (né Michał Tomasz Wiśniowiecki; d. Nov. 10, 1673). He ruled Poland from June 1669 until his death in November 1673. He was married to Eleonora Maria, Archduchess of Austria (1653 ~ 1697). They married in 1670. He was of the House of Wiśniowieck. He was the son of Jeremi Wiśniowieck and Gruzelda Konstancja Zamoyska. He was Roman Catholic. He died at age 33 either of food poisoning or murder by his generals.
1597 ~ Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac (d. Feb. 18, 1654), French writer. He died at age 59.
1557 ~ Feodor I, Tsar of Russia (d. Jan. 17, 1598). He was the Tsar of Russia from March 1584 until his death in January 1598. He was married to Irina Feodorovna Godunova (1557 ~ 1603). He was of the House of Rurik. He was the son of Ivan IV, Tsar of Russia (Ivan the Terrible) and Anastasia Romanovna. He is believed to have been about 40 years old at the time of his death as the exact date of his birth is unknown, although it is often considered to have been May 31, 1557.
1469 ~ Manuel I, King of Portugal (d. Dec. 13, 1521). He ruled over Portugal from 1495 until his death 26 years later. He succeeded his cousin, John II, King of Portugal. During his reign, he saw the expansion of the Portuguese Empire through seafaring discoveries. His relationship with the Jews of Portugal was initially favorable, however, his first wife, Isabella of Aragon, Princess of Asturias (1470 ~ 1498) daughter of the Spanish Catholic Monarchs change. His marriage contract with his first wife required him to persecute and expel the Jews of Portugal. His first wife died within a year after their marriage. In 1500, he married Infanta Maria of Aragon (1482 ~ 1517), sister of his first wife. She died 17 years later. In 1518, he married Archduchess Eleanor of Austria (1498 ~ 1558). He was of the House of Aviz. He was the son of Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu and Infanta Beatrice of Portugal. He was Roman Catholic. He died at age 52.
1443 ~ Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby (d. June 29, 1509). She was a major figure in the Wars of the Roses of the late fifteenth century. She was married four times. Her first husband was John de la Pole, 2ndDuke of Suffolk (1442 ~ 1492). They married in 1450. The marriage was annulled three years later. Her second husband was Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond (1430 ~ 1456). They married in 1455 and were the parents of Henry VII, King of England, the first Tudor monarch. In 1458, she married her third husband, Sir Henry Stafford (1425 ~ 1471). Her fourth and final husband was Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby (1435 ~ 1504), whom she married in 1472. She was his second husband. She was of the noble family of Beaufort. She was the daughter of John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beauchamp of Bletso. She died about a month after her 66th birthday.
Events that Changed the World:
2022 ~ Israel and the United Arab Emirates entered into a free-trade agreement. It was the first of its kind between Israel and an Arab country.
2021 ~ Memorial Day observed in the United States.
2019 ~ A disgruntled employee shot 12 people and injured 4 others inside a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The shooter was later shot and killed by police.
2013 ~ A powerful EF5 tornado, with a diameter of 2.6 miles, swept through El Reno, Oklahoma, killing 9 people and destroying the town. This is the widest recorded tornado in history.
2005 ~ Former FBI Agent W. Mark Felt (1913 ~ 2008) came forward identifying himself as Deep Throat, the informant in the Watergate scandal.
2003 ~ Air France retired its fleet of Concorde jets.
1996 ~ Benjamin Netanyahu (b. 1949) was elected to his first term as Prime Minister of Israel. He assumed the Office on June 18, 1996, and served as the 9th Prime Minister of Israel until July 1999. Ten years later, he was re-elected to become the 13th Israeli Prime Minister.
1977 ~ The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was completed.
1973 ~ The United States Senate voted to cut off funding for the bombing of Khmer Rouge targets in Cambodia.
1971 ~ In accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which Congress passed in 1968, Memorial Day was observed for the first time on the last Monday of May instead of the traditional May 30th observation.
1970 ~ A massive earthquake, followed by a landslide buried the town of Yungay, Peru, killing nearly 70,000 people and injuring over 50,000 others.
1961 ~ The Union of South Africa, which had been created on this date in 1910, became known as the Republic of South Africa.
1947 ~ Communists seized power in Hungary.
1921 ~ The Tulsa, Oklahoma race massacre began and lasted over a 2-day period. Mobs of thousands of white residents, under the apparent police authority, began attacking Black residents and businesses. Homes and businesses were burned to the ground and were totally destroyed in an area known as the Black Wall Street. Numerous people were killed, although the number of deaths has been disputed.
1902 ~ The Boer War in South Africa ended, ensuring British control of South Africa.
1889 ~ A dam broke in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, killing over 2,200 people.
1859 ~ The bell known as Big Ben in the clock tower in London, rang out over the Houses of Parliament for the first time.
1790 ~ The United States Copyright Act of 1790 was enacted by the United States Congress.
1669 ~ Samuel Pepys (1633 ~ 1703) made his last diary entry. His diary provided valuable insight into everyday life during the English Restoration period.
1578 ~ Henry III, King of France (1551 ~ 1589) laid the first stone of the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris.
Good-Byes:
2020 ~ Christo (né Christo Vladimirov Javacheff; b. June 13, 1935) and Jeanne-Claude (née Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon, June 13, 1935 ~ Nov. 18, 2009), a married artistic couple who were born on the same day. They were both visual artists and created many environmental works of art throughout the world. Christo was born in Gabrovo, Bulgaria; Jeanne-Claude was born in Casablanca, Morocco of French parents. Jeanne-Claude was the French artist who helped Christo wrap his work. She died at age 74 in Manhattan, New York. Christo died in New York, New York 13 days before his 85th birthday.
2018 ~ Ella Brennan (b. Nov. 27, 1925), American restaurateur who became a New Orleans icon. She was a part of the Brennan family that specialized in haute Louisiana creole cuisine in New Orleans. She was born and died in New Orleans, Louisiana. She died at age 92.
2017 ~ Fred Kummerow (né Friedrich August Kummerow; b. Oct. 4, 1914), German-born American biochemist who got trans fats out of American diets. He was born in Berlin, Germany. He died at age 102 in Urbana, Illinois.
2016 ~ Janice Crouch (née Janice Wendell Bethany; b. Mar. 14, 1939), American televangelist who build a broadcast empire. She and her husband, Paul Crouch, founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network. She was born in New Brockton, Alabama. She died of a massive stroke at age 77 in Orlando, Florida.
2013 ~ Jean Stapleton (née Jeanne Murray; b. Jan. 19, 1923), American theater actress best known for her portrayal of Edith Bunker on All in the Family. She was born and died in New York, New York. She was 90 years old.
2010 ~ Louise Bourgeois (née Louise Joséphine Bourgeois; b. Dec. 25, 1911), French artist, sculptor, and painter. She was born in Paris, France. She died at age 98 in New York, New York.
2009 ~ Eliza Gladys Millvina Dean (b. Feb. 2, 1912), English secretary who was the last survivor of the sinking of the HMS Titanic. She was 2 months old when she, along with her parents and sibling, set sail on the Titanic. She died at age 97.
2006 ~ Raymond Davis, Jr. (b. Oct. 14, 1914), American physicist and recipient of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics. He was born in Washington, D.C. He died at age 91 years old in Blue Point, New York.
2001 ~ Arlene Francis (née Arline Francis Kazanjian; b. Oct. 20, 1907), American actress, game show panelist and television personality. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She died at age 93 in San Francisco, California.
2000 ~ Petar Mladenov (b. Aug. 22, 1936), He was the last Communist leader of Bulgaria, from 1989 until 1990. He then briefly served as the 1st President of Bulgaria from April 1990 until July 1990. He died at age 63 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
1996 ~ Timothy Leary (né Timothy Francis Leary; b. Oct. 22, 1920), American psychologist and proponent of the use of psychedelic drugs, such as LSD. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He died of prostate cancer at age 75 in Los Angeles, California.
1995 ~ Stanley Elkin (né Stanley Lawrence Elkin; b. May 11, 1930), American novelist and short-story writer. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He died of a heart attack 20 days after his 65th birthday in St. Louis, Missouri.
1986 ~ Jane Frank (née Jane Babette Schenthal; b. July 25, 1918), American artist. She was known for her mix-media works. She was born and died in Baltimore, Maryland. She died at age 67.
1986 ~ James Rainwater (né Leo James Rainwater; b. Dec. 9, 1917), American physicist and recipient of the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physics. He was born in Council, Idaho. He died of a heart attack at age 68 in New York, New York.
1983 ~ Jack Dempsey (né William Harrison Dempsey; b. June 24, 1895), American boxer. He was born in Manassa, Colorado. He died 24 days before his 88th birthday in New York, New York.
1976 ~ Jacques Monod (né Jacques Lucien Monod; b. Feb. 9, 1910), French biologist and recipient of the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He was born in Paris, France. He died of leukemia at age 66 in Cannes, France.
1914 ~ Angelo Moriondo (b. June 6, 1851), Italian inventor. He is best known for inventing the espresso machine. He was born in Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia. He died 6 days before his 63rd birthday in Marentino, Turin, Italy.
1910 ~ Elizabeth Blackwell (b. Feb. 3, 1821), British-born physician and first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. She was born in Bristol, England. She died at age 89 in Hastings, England.
1860 ~ Peter Vivian Daniel (b. Apr. 24, 1784), Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. He was nominated to the High Court by President Martin Van Buren. He replaced Philip Barbour on the Court. He was succeeded by Samuel Miller. He served on the Court from March 1841 until his death in May 19 years later. He was born in Stafford County, Virginia. He died in Richmond, Virginia. He was 76 years old.
1832 ~ Évariste Galois (b. Oct. 25, 1811), French mathematician. He died at age 20 from wounds suffered in a duel in Paris, Kingdom of France.
1831 ~ Eugène Cosserat (b. Mar. 4, 1866), French mathematician and astronomer. He was born in Amiens, France. He died at age 65 in Toulouse, France.
1809 ~ Joseph Haydn (b. Mar. 31, 1732), Austrian composer. He died at age 77.
1740 ~ Frederick William I, King of Prussia (b. Aug. 14, 1688). He ruled from February 1713 until his death in 1740. He was married to Sophia Dorothea of Hanover (1687 ~ 1757). They married in 1706. They were the parents of Frederick II, King of Prussia. He was of the House of Hohenzollern. He was the son of Frederick I, King of Prussia and Sophia Charlotte of Hanover. He was a Calvinist. He was born and died in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia. He died at age 51.
1594 ~ Tintoretto (né Jacopo Robusti; b. Sept. 29, 1518), Venetian Renaissance painter and artist. He was born and died in Venice, Republic of Venice The exact date of his birth is unknown, but it is generally ascribed to late September or early October. He was born and died in Venice, Republic of Venice. He died at about age 75.
1580 ~ Princess Dorothea of Denmark (b. Nov. 10, 1520), Electress of Palatine and wife of Frederick II of the Palatine (1482 ~ 1556). They married in 1535. She was of the House of Oldenburg. She was the daughter of Christian II, King of Denmark and Isabella of Austria. She died at age 59.
1495 ~ Cecily Neville, Duchess of York (b. May 3, 1415), English noblewoman and wife of Richard Plantagenet, 3rdDuke of York (1411 ~ 1460). They were the parents of King Edward IV and King Richard III of England. She was also the mother of Margaret of York (1446 ~ 1503) who was born on her 31st birthday. She was of the House of Neville. She was the daughter of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Joan Beaufort. She was Roman Catholic. She died 28 days after her 80th birthday.
1410 ~ Martin the Elder, King of Aragon and King of Sicily (b. July 29, 1356). He reigned as King of Aragon from May 1396 until his death, and he ruled as King of Sicily from July 1409 until his death a year later. He was married twice. His first wife was María López de Luna (1358 ~ 1406). They married in 1372. They had four children, only one of which survived. Their surviving child became Martin I, King of Sicily. His second wife was Margaret of Prades (1880s ~ 1429). They married in 1409. There were no children of his second marriage. He was of the Aragon House of Barcelona. He was the son of Peter IV, King of Aragon and Eleanor of Sicily. He was Roman Catholic. He died at age 53.
1162 ~ Géza II of Hungary (b. 1130). He ruled Hungary and Croatia from 1141 to 1162. He was married to Euphrosyne of Kiev (1130 ~ 1193). He was of the Árpád Dynasty. He was the son of Béla II, King of Hungary and Helena of Serbia. He was Roman Catholic. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but he is believed to have been about 31 or 32 at the time of his death.
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