This Day in History: 31st January

Today in History (Important Events of January 31 from world history): All the days of the year are as important as the other. If we go through the pages of history we will see that many important events have taken place on these days of the year, which have made them special. The last day of the month of January is also very special. On this day, many events have taken place which has given this day a special place in the pages of history.

In the year 314, on this very day, Saint Silvester I had begun his reign as the new Catholic Pope. In the year 876, on this very day, Charles had become the King of Italy. In the year 1627, on this eventful day, the Spanish government went bankrupt. In the year 1747, something very important took place in the history of England. On this very day, in the year 1947, the first venereal diseases clinic opened at the London Lock Hospital.

The year 1865 is very important for the history of America. On this very day in the year 1865, the United States had passed the 13th Amendment to the constitution which abolished slavery in America completely. The year 1871 also saw a very strange event taking place in the United States. Millions of birds flew over the sky of San Francisco on this very day in the year 1871. The result of this event was that, the city of San Francisco was in darkness for a few moments as the birds had covered the sun completely.

In the year 1893, on this very day, the Westminster Gazette's first edition was published. This day also has importance in the sequence of events that took place during the World War I. On this day in the year 1915, the first poison gas attack was undertaken by the Germans, the Russians being the target.

In the year 1950, on this very day, President Truman made a very dramatic statement. In a statement President Truman disclosed the fact that he had actually ordered the Atomic Energy Commission to develop a Hydrogen Bomb for the security of the nation. In the year 1958, on this day, the United States had launched its first satellite from the Cape Canaveral. The satellite was named as the Explorer I.

In the year 1968, the Island of Mauritius received its independence on this very day. This day is also significant in the field of automobiles. On this very day in the year 1994, the German auto major, BMW had bought the Rover Cars from British Aerospace.

In the year 1882, the famous Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova was born on this very day. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was also born on this day in the year 1938. In the year 1969, the famous Indian guru, Meher Baba died on this day. The Indian comedian named Nagesh died on this day, in the year 2009.