Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 31, Wednesday January 1894, Isham Jones, American bandleader, born (d. 1956)
On 31, Wednesday January 1894, Percy Helton, American film, television actor, born (d. 1971)
On 31, Friday January 1919, Battle of George Square: The British Army is called in to deal with riots, during negotiations over working hours in Glasgow, Scotland. David Kirkwood being detained by police during the Battle of George Square
On 31, Friday January 1919, Jackie Robinson, African-American baseball player, born (d. 1972)
On 31, Friday January 1919, Nat C. Goodwin, American actor and comedian, died (b. 1857)
On 31, Monday January 1944, WWII: Battle of Kwajalein: American forces land on Kwajalein Atoll and other islands in the Japanese-held Marshall Islands.
On 31, Monday January 1944, Connie Booth, American writer and actress, born
On 31, Monday January 1944, Ivo Opstelten, Dutch politician, born
On 31, Monday January 1944, Jean Giraudoux, French writer, died (b. 1882)
On 31, Monday January 1944, Árpád Weisz, Hungarian footballer, died (b. 1896)
On 31, Saturday January 1959, Anthony LaPaglia, actor, born
On 31, Saturday January 1959, Kelly Lynch, American model and actress, born
On 31, Saturday January 1959, Kelly Moore, American race car driver, born
On 31, Friday January 1969, Meher Baba, Indian spiritual master, died (b. 1894)
On 31, Wednesday January 1979, Jenny Wolf, German speed skater, born
On 31, Tuesday January 1989, Victorian Deputy Premier Robert Fordham resigns under pressure from the factions and Opposition over his handling of the VEDC fiasco. Roger Pescott narrowly defeats Alan Stockdale in the final ballot for the position of deputy.
On 31, Tuesday January 1989, Fernando Gonçalves Namora, Portuguese writer and doctor, died (b. 1919)
On 31, Sunday January 1999, Norm Zauchin, American baseball player, died (b. 1929)
On 31, Saturday January 2009, Serena Williams wins the women’s singles title at the 2009 Australian Open, defeating Dinara Safina (6–0, 6–3).
On 31, Saturday January 2009, Sir John Fuller, 91, NSW government minister, died
On 31, Friday January 2014, Abdirizak Haji Hussein, Somali diplomat and politician and 4th Prime Minister of Somalia, died (b. 1924)
On 31, Friday January 2014, Miklós Jancsó, Hungarian film director, died (b. 1921)
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch
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