31st JULY ~ HiSTORY ON THiS DAY

700s / 8th century history on the 31st of July

781 : Mount Fuji volcano in Japan erupted. This date was the oldest record of its eruption. Mount Fuji stands at  3,776.24 metres (12,389.2 feet).

The Active Volcano in Japan; Mount Fuji (GeologyHub YouTube channel video) over 40,000 views
1400s / 15th century history on the 31st of July

1498 : Christopher Columbus became the 1st European to discover the island of Trinidad, during his 3rd voyage to the Western Hemisphere.

1700s / 18th century history on the 31st of July

1790 : The 1st U.S. patent was issued, to Samuel Hopkins, the inventor, for the potash process.

1800s / 19th century history on the 31st of July

1856 : CHRiSTCHURCH in New Zealand was chartered as a city, which officially makes it the oldest established city in New Zealand. Christchurch’s population reached 394,700 people in 2020. Official websites : ChristchurchNZ.com | CCC.govt.nz (Christchurch City Council) | Tourism webpage : Things to see & do in Christchurch @ NewZealand.com

Have a look around Christchurch to see what it was like in 1967 (British Pathe verified YouTube channel video)
The Top 8 Christchurch attractions to see (The Style Jungle YouTube channel video) over 14,000 views
Things to do in Christchurch, New Zealand (100% Pure New Zealand YouTube channel video) over 30,000 videos

1865 : The 1st narrow-gauge mainline railway in the world was opened at Grandchester, Queensland, in Australia. Its tracks eventually extended to become about 9000 kilometres (5600 miles) approximately.

Queensland Railway Centenary in 1965 (British Pathe verified YouTube channel video)
1900s / 20th century history on the 31st of July

1943 : LOBO, the American singer and songwriter was born Roland Kent LaVoie in Tallahassee, Florida, USA. He is best known for 3 top 10 hits; Me and You and a Dog Named Boo (1971), I’d Love You to Want Me (1972), and Don’t Expect Me to Be Your Friend (1972).

Lobo – I’d Love You To Want Me – song released in 1972 (TopPop verified YouTube channel video) over 21 million views

1944 : Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the French pilot and writer, died on a Free French Air Force mission, aged 44 (born in 1900). He is best known as the author of The Little Prince (1943), Wind, Sand and Stars (1939) and Night Flight (1931).

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Biography (abvmcine YouTube channel video) over 50,000 views
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery animated book summary (Books Mandala YouTube channel video) over 19,000 views

1948 : Russell Morris, the Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist was born. He is best known for his debut single “The Real Thing” which was number 1 on the music charts in 1969. Official website : RussellMorris.com.au

Russell Morris performing “The Real Thing” – song released in 1969 (video uploaded on YouTube by Brett Reece) over 90,000 views
Russell Morris performing “The Real Thing” in 2007 at Capers in Melbourne, Australia | filmed by 3 Amigos Films for the Aussie Rock Legends series (Peter Donelly YouTube channel video) over 120,000 views

1951 : Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the Australian tennis player, was born in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia. She is best known as a former world number 1 ranked tennis player in the 1970s.

The Impossible Dream : Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s journey to Wimbledon glory (Wimbledon verified YouTube channel video) over 140,000 views

1962 : Wesley Snipes, the American actor was born in Orlando, Florida, USA.

1963 : Fatboy Slim aka Norman Cook, the English DJ and musician, was born Quentin Leo Cook in Bromley, London, England. Official website : FatboySlim.net

Fatboy Slim – Right Here, Right Now – song released in 1999 ( Fatboy Slim verified YouTube channel video) over 40 million views

1964 : NASA’s Apollo Ranger 7 sent back the 1st close-up photographs taken of the moon. The photographs were 1,000 times clearer than any taken from telescopes on Earth.

Ranger VII Takes Photos as it Crashes into the Moon : NASA provided the 16mm B&W narrated film (American Space Museum & Walk of Fame YouTube channel video)

1964 : Jim Corr (MBE) the Irish musician, was born in Dundalk, Louth, Ireland. He best known as a member of The Corrs, an Irish folk rock band, with his 3 younger sisters Andrea, Sharon and Caroline.

The Corrs – Breathless live in London 2000 – 20 years anniversary cut (Special K Studios YouTube channel video) over 2 million views

1965 : J. K. ROWLiNG (CH, OBE, HonFRSE, FRCPE, FRSL) the English author, was born Joanne Rowling in Yate, Gloucestershire, in England. She is best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy book series, which sold over 500 million copies, which made it the best-selling book series in history. The Harry Potter book series was made into a very popular series of 8 fantasy films, which became the 3rd highest-grossing film series in the world, with over $7.7 billion.

The creation of Harry Potter has seen J.K. Rowling go from “rags to riches“, from a single mother living on benefits in 1995 to being named the world’s first billionaire author by Forbes, in 2004. It was later reported by Forbes that she lost her billionaire status, after giving away much of her earnings to charity, through her philanthropic work. Official websites : JKRowling.com | WizardingWorld.com | HarryPotterShop.co.uk | HarryPotterThePlay.com  

From the 60 Minutes archives: featuring J.K. Rowling special report / interview (60 Minutes verified YouTube channel video) over 50,000 views
Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone 2001 film trailer (KinoCheck International verified YouTube channel video) over 180,000 views

1964 : Jim Reeves, the American singer-songwriter died flying an aircraft, aged 40 (born in 1923).

Jim Reeves – The Gentle Man – Legends In Concert : see Jim Reeves performs on this television special, entertaining a delighted audience, performing 21 of his classic hits, including Dear Hearts, Billy Bayou, Bimbo, Gentle People and many more (One Media Music verified YouTube channel video) over 500,000 views
The Life and Sad Ending of Jim Reeves (Celebrity Tribute verified YouTube channel video) over 30,000 views

1971 : NASA’s Apollo 15 astronauts became the first to drive a vehicle on the Moon, in the lunar rover, which they used to explore the Moon’s surface. During the 18.5 hour expedition on the surface of the Moon, they collected 77 kilograms (170 pounds) of surface material.

Apollo 15: “Never Been on a Ride like this Before” (NASA verified YouTube channel video) over 80,000 views

1973 : Delta Air Lines flight DL 723 Douglas DC-9 crashed while attempting to land in fog at Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The crash resulted in the deaths of 87 of the 89 people on board. One survivor died 2 hours later, and the other survivor died 4 months later due to burn injuries.

1992 : Thai Airways International Flight 311 crashed into a mountain at 560 km/h (350 mph) at an altitude of 3,505 metres (11,500 feet), 37 kilometres north of Kathmandu. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 113 people on board the Airbus A310 aircraft.

1999 : NASA’s Lunar Prospector orbiter was deliberately crashed into a crater on the Moon, near the lunar south pole, after the presence of water ice was successfully detected.

Water At Moon’s South Pole (Video From Space YouTube channel video)
2000s / 21st century history on the 31st of July

2004 : Virginia Grey, the American actress died aged 87 (born in 1917). She appeared in more than 100 films, plus many television shows, radio shows, from the 1930s to the early 1980s.

The Life and Sad Ending of Virginia Grey (Black Star News YouTube channel video)

2006 : Fidel Castro handed over his power to Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz, his brother.

2012 : MiCHAEL PHELPS, the American swimmer, broke the record for the most medals won at the Olympics, with 22 medals won from 2000 to 2012. The previous record was set by Larisa Latynina, the Russian gymnast, with a total of 14 medals won at the Olympics, from 1956 to 1964. Since 2012, Michael Phelps won 6 more medals, which brought the record total to 28 medals won at the Olympics, from 2000 to 2016, when he retired.

Michael Phelps Cover Shoot Behind The Scenes : see how the cover photoshoot was shot of Michael Phelps modelling & showing off his 23 Olympic gold medals. (Sports Illustrated verified YouTube channel video) over 130,000 views

2015 : Roddy Piper, the Canadian wrestler and actor died from a heart attack in his sleep, aged 61 (born in 1954).

Rowdy Roddy Piper dead at 61 years old (CBC News : The National verified YouTube channel video)

2018 : Tony Bullimore, the British yachtsman and entrepreneur died from a rare form of stomach cancer, aged 79 (born in 1939). He was best known for being rescued during a sailing race, after he was thought to be dead in 1997.

Tony Bullimore – The Great Survivor (Classic.TV1985 YouTube channel video)

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This page was last updated on the 6th August 2021

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