May 31

Historic Events

2026

An explosion at a Ta'ang National Liberation Army base kills 46 people. ›

2019

A shooting occurs inside a municipal building at Virginia Beach, Virginia, leaving 13 people dead, including the shooter, and four others injured. ›

2017

A car bomb explodes in a crowded intersection in Kabul near the German embassy during rush hour, killing over 90 and injuring 463. ›

2016

Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launch the Manbij offensive, in order to capture the city of Manbij from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). ›

2013

The asteroid 1998 QE2 and its moon make their closest approach to Earth for the next two centuries. ›

2013

A record breaking 2.6 mile wide tornado strikes near El Reno, Oklahoma, United States, causing eight fatalities (including three storm chasers) and over 150 injuries. ›

2010

Israeli Shayetet 13 commandos board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla while still in international waters trying to break the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip; nine Turkish citizens on the flotilla were killed in the ensuing violent affray. ›

2008

Usain Bolt breaks the world record in the 100m sprint, with a wind-legal (+1.7 m/s) 9.72 seconds. ›

2008

Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-124 carrying the second portion of the Japanese Kibō module to the International Space Station. ›

2005

Vanity Fair reveals that Mark Felt was "Deep Throat". ›

2003

Air France retires its fleet of Concorde aircraft. ›

1997

The Confederation Bridge opens, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick. ›

1991

Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-party democracy under the supervision of the United Nations' UNAVEM II peacekeeping mission. ›

1986

The Ariane 2 rocket is launched on its maiden flight, carrying Intelsat VA F-14, but the mission ends in failure. ›

1985

United States–Canada tornado outbreak: Forty-one tornadoes hit Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, leaving 76 dead. ›

1977

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is completed. ›

1973

The United States Senate votes to cut off funding for the bombing of Khmer Rouge targets within Cambodia, hastening the end of the Cambodian Civil War. ›

1973

Indian Airlines Flight 440 crashes near Palam Airport in Delhi, killing 48. ›

1971

In accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1968, observation of Memorial Day occurs on the last Monday in May for the first time, rather than on the traditional Memorial Day of May 30. ›

1970

The 7.9 Mw Ancash earthquake shakes Peru with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe) and a landslide buries the town of Yungay, Peru. Between 66,794 and 70,000 were killed and 50,000 were injured. ›

1962

The West Indies Federation dissolves. ›

1961

The South African Constitution of 1961 becomes effective, thus creating the Republic of South Africa, which remains outside the Commonwealth of Nations until 1 June 1994, when South Africa is returned to Commonwealth membership. ›

1961

In Moscow City Court, the Rokotov–Faibishenko show trial begins, despite the Khrushchev Thaw to reverse Stalinist elements in Soviet society. ›

1955

The U.S. Supreme Court expands on its Brown v. Board of Education decision by ordering district courts and school districts to enforce educational desegregation "at all deliberate speed." ›

1951

The Uniform Code of Military Justice takes effect as the legal system of the United States Armed Forces. ›

1947

Ferenc Nagy, the democratically elected Prime Minister of Hungary, resigns from office after blackmail from the Hungarian Communist Party accusing him of being part of a plot against the state. This grants the Communists effective control of the Hungarian government. ›

1942

World War II: Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarines begin a series of attacks on Sydney, Australia. ›

1941

Anglo-Iraqi War: The United Kingdom completes the re-occupation of Iraq and returns 'Abd al-Ilah to power as regent for Faisal II. ›

1935

A 7.7 Mw earthquake destroys Quetta in modern-day Pakistan killing 40,000. ›

1924

Hope Development School fire kills 24 people, mostly disabled children. ›

1921

The Tulsa race massacre kills at least 39, but other estimates of black fatalities vary from 55 to about 300. ›

1916

World War I: Battle of Jutland: The British Grand Fleet engages the High Seas Fleet in the largest naval battle of the war, which proves indecisive. ›

1911

The RMS Titanic is launched in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ›

1911

The President of Mexico Porfirio Díaz flees the country during the Mexican Revolution. ›

1910

The South Africa Act comes into force, establishing the Union of South Africa. ›

1909

The National Negro Committee, forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), convenes for the first time. ›

1906

The attempted regicide of Spanish King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie on their wedding day instead kills 24. ›

1902

Second Boer War: The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war and ensures British control of South Africa. ›

1889

Johnstown Flood: Over 2,200 people die after a dam fails and sends a 60-foot (18-meter) wall of water over the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. ›

1884

The arrival at Plymouth of Tāwhiao, King of Maoris, to claim the protection of Queen Victoria. ›

1879

Gilmore's Garden in New York City is renamed Madison Square Garden by William Henry Vanderbilt and is opened to the public at 26th Street and Madison Avenue. ›

1864

American Civil War: Overland Campaign: Battle of Cold Harbor: The Army of Northern Virginia engages the Army of the Potomac. ›

1862

American Civil War: Peninsula Campaign: Confederate forces under Joseph E. Johnston and G.W. Smith engage Union forces under George B. McClellan outside the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. ›

1859

The Great Clock at the Houses of Parliament (now known as the Elizabeth Tower) starts keeping time. ›

1847

Qajar Iran and the Ottoman Empire determine their international boundary in the second treaty of Erzurum. ›

1813

In Australia, William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth reach Mount Blaxland, effectively marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains. ›

1805

French and Spanish forces begin the assault against British forces occupying Diamond Rock, Martinique. ›

1795

French Revolution: The Revolutionary Tribunal is suppressed. ›

1790

Manuel Quimper explores the Strait of Juan de Fuca. ›

1790

The United States enacts its first copyright statute, the Copyright Act of 1790. ›

1775

American Revolution: The Mecklenburg Resolves are adopted in the Province of North Carolina. ›

1669

Citing poor eyesight as a reason, Samuel Pepys records the last event in his diary. ›

1610

The pageant London's Love to Prince Henry on the River Thames celebrates the creation of Prince Henry as Prince of Wales. ›

1578

King Henry III lays the first stone of the Pont Neuf (New Bridge), the oldest bridge of Paris, France. ›

1293

Mongols depart Java after the failed Mongol invasion against King Kertanegara of Singhasari. ›

1223

Mongol invasion of the Cumans: Battle of the Kalka River: Mongol armies of Genghis Khan led by Subutai defeat Kievan Rus' and Cumans. ›

1215

Zhongdu (now Beijing), then under the control of the Jurchen ruler Emperor Xuanzong of Jin, is captured by the Mongols under Genghis Khan, ending the Battle of Zhongdu. ›

455

Emperor Petronius Maximus is stoned to death by an angry mob while fleeing Rome. ›