On This Day in History – August 31

August 31 stands as a date marked by major world transitions, from the fall of empires to cultural milestones and the lives of extraordinary individuals. Dive into the events, birthdays, and facts that shaped this remarkable day.

Major Events

• 1422 – King Henry V of England dies, and his infant son Henry VI becomes King.
• 1888 – Mary Ann Nichols is found murdered in London’s East End—the first known victim of Jack the Ripper.
• 1897 – Thomas Edison patents the Kinetoscope, an early motion picture exhibition device.
• 1939 – Germany stages a false flag attack on its own radio station in Gleiwitz, which it uses to justify the invasion of Poland.
• 1945 – The final official surrender of Japanese forces in Southeast Asia is accepted.
• 1957 – Malaysia gains independence from Britain.
• 1980 – Poland’s Solidarity labor movement is founded, led by Lech Wałęsa, changing Eastern European politics.
• 1991 – Kyrgyzstan declares independence from the Soviet Union.
• 1997 – Princess Diana dies in a car crash in Paris, leading to an outpouring of global grief.
• 2012 – Apple wins a major patent infringement case against Samsung in South Korea.

Famous Birthdays

• 1870 – Maria Montessori, Italian physician and educator (d. 1952)
• 1908 – William Saroyan, American writer and playwright (d. 1981)
• 1935 – Eldridge Cleaver, American political activist (d. 1998)
• 1945 – Van Morrison, Irish singer-songwriter
• 1949 – Richard Gere, American actor
• 1965 – Brooke Baldwin, American journalist
• 1971 – Chris Tucker, American actor and comedian
• 1976 – Roh Moo-hyun Jr., South Korean politician
• 1982 – Pippa Middleton, British socialite and author
• 1995 – Matty Healy, British singer (The 1975)

Notable Deaths

• 1422 – Henry V, King of England (b. 1386)
• 1867 – Charles Baudelaire, French poet (b. 1821)
• 1931 – John Thomson, Scottish footballer and goalkeeper (b. 1909)
• 1940 – Henri La Fontaine, Belgian Nobel Peace Prize laureate (b. 1854)
• 1986 – Henry Moore, English sculptor and artist (b. 1898)
• 1997 – Diana, Princess of Wales (b. 1961)
• 2015 – Edward Thomas Hall, English scientist (b. 1924)
• 2019 – Immanuel Wallerstein, American sociologist (b. 1930)
• 2021 – Jacques Rogge, Belgian sports administrator, IOC President (b. 1942)
• 2022 – Mikhail Gorbachev’s death is publicly announced after occurring on August 30.

Holidays

• Malaysia – Hari Merdeka (Independence Day)
• Kyrgyzstan – Independence Day
• Trinidad and Tobago – Independence Day
• Christianity – Feast of Saint Aidan
• International – World Distance Learning Day

Fun Facts

• Princess Diana’s death in 1997 triggered one of the largest global media frenzies and memorials of the 20th century.
• Maria Montessori, born today, revolutionized early childhood education with her self-directed learning method.
• Malaysia celebrates Hari Merdeka, commemorating its 1957 independence from the UK.
• The Solidarity movement in Poland reshaped European politics and contributed to the end of communist rule.
• The Kinetoscope, patented in 1897, laid the groundwork for today’s cinema industry.