May 31 in history
Events on May 31
Notable events that happened on May 31 in past years.
- 2026
An explosion at a Ta'ang National Liberation Army base kills 46 people.
Wikipedia article: 2026 Namhkam Township explosion - 2013
The asteroid 1998 QE2 and its moon make their closest approach to Earth for the next two centuries.
Wikipedia article: Asteroid - 2008
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-124 carrying the second portion of the Japanese Kibō module to the International Space Station.
Wikipedia article: Space Shuttle Discovery - 1991
Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-party democracy under the supervision of the United Nations' UNAVEM II peacekeeping mission.
Wikipedia article: Bicesse Accords - 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.
Wikipedia article: United States Senate - 1962
The West Indies Federation dissolves.
Wikipedia article: West Indies Federation - 1951
The Uniform Code of Military Justice takes effect as the legal system of the United States Armed Forces.
Wikipedia article: Uniform Code of Military Justice - 1924
Hope Development School fire kills 24 people, mostly disabled children.
Wikipedia article: Hope Development School fire - 1911
The President of Mexico Porfirio Díaz flees the country during the Mexican Revolution.
Wikipedia article: President of Mexico - 1902
Second Boer War: The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war and ensures British control of South Africa.
Wikipedia article: Second Boer War - 1864
American Civil War: Overland Campaign: Battle of Cold Harbor: The Army of Northern Virginia engages the Army of the Potomac.
Wikipedia article: Overland Campaign - 1813
In Australia, William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth reach Mount Blaxland, effectively marking the end of a route across the Blue Mountains.
Wikipedia article: William Lawson (explorer) - 1790
The United States enacts its first copyright statute, the Copyright Act of 1790.
Wikipedia article: Copyright law of the United States - 1578
King Henry III lays the first stone of the Pont Neuf (New Bridge), the oldest bridge of Paris, France.
- 455
Emperor Petronius Maximus is stoned to death by an angry mob while fleeing Rome.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0