Born on This Day
Actress and singer best known for her unique voice and personality as star of "Hello Dolly."
Pulitzer Prize-winning writer known for his pugnacious style in "The Naked and the Dead" and "The Executioner's Song."
Composer known for minimalist masterpieces, such as "Einstein on the Beach" and "Koyaanisqatsi."
Ham the astrochimp' becomes the first hominid in space, after enduring a 16-½-minute suborbital flight—and all the related physical and mental stresses. His success paved the way for the first human in space three months later.
Timeline
Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on January 31st
History Every Day
Uncover fascinating moments from the past every day! Learn something new with key events in history, from the American Revolution to pop culture, crime and more.