JULY 31 | Birthdays and Events
Famous Birthdays
People born on July 31
Mary Vaux Walcott
Died: August 26, 1940
Painter and illustrator known for her watercolor paintings of wildflowers.
Fred Quimby
Died: September 16, 1965
Animation producer best known for producing the cartoon Tom and Jerry.
Louise Smith
Died: April 15, 2006
Second woman to race in top level NASCAR.
Donald Malarkey
Died: September 30, 2017
Non-commissioned Army officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. He is considered to be the most highly decorated soldier with Easy Company. He was also portrayed in Band of Brothers (played by Scott Grimes).
Stephanie Kwolek
Died: July 18, 2014
Chemist who invented Kevlar (tire material). She became the fourth woman to be added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Ted Cassidy
Died: January 16, 1979
Actor who played Lurch in the Addams Family television series during the 1960s.
Mark Cuban
Businessman and television personality on Shark Tank.
Sebastian Spering Kresge
Died: October 18, 1966
Founder of the S.S. Kresge Company, which later launched and transitioned into the Kmart discount chain.
Historical Events on July 31
Events that occurred on July 31 throughout history
The first patent to improve the potassium carbonate process is awarded.
Samuel Hopkins is issued the first patent for his improvement to the potassium carbonate process. Also known as "potash", the improvement moved away from burning wood, mixing the ashes with water, and then boiling off the liquid in large iron kettles.
Stone for the first federal building erected under the U.S. Constitution were laid
Stones are laid for the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The building was the first federal government building under the U.S. Constitution.
the first Black person to be inaugurated as President of Georgetown University.
Patrick Francis Healy became the first Black person to be inaugurated as President of Georgetown University. The University was a predominantly white university. Healy was born into slavery to a mixed race mother and her Irish owner. He identified as white his entire life, but was posthumously recognized as being mixed until later years if his life.
The Coast Guard officers' training school is established.
The Coast Guard officers' training school is established in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The Academy later moved to its current permanent location in New London, Connecticut.
Congress to pass the Sims Act in 1912.
Congress to pass the Sims Act in 1912, censors movies and photos of prizefights. The Act was passed after Black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson defeated white boxer James J. Jeffries.
Astronauts become the first to ride in a lunar rover.
Astronauts David Scott (Commander) and James Irwin (Lunar Module Pilot) on Apollo 15 become the first to ride in a lunar rover. The duo covered 17 miles (27 km) at 10 mph.
Michael Phelps breaks the 1964 record for the most medals won at the Olympics.
Michael Phelps breaks the 1964 record for the most medals won at the Olympics. The record was previously held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina’s.