1971 - American astronauts Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Edgar Mitchell and Stuart Roosa blast off to the moon aboard Apollo 14. Shepard demonstrated his golf skills on the moon.
1950 - U.S. President Harry Truman announces that development has started on the hydrogen bomb, a weapon hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb.
1936 - "Green Hornet" radio show is first heard on WXYZ Radio in Detroit
1915 - World War I: Germany uses poison gas against Russians. Liquid bromide gas was first launched in a large scale war at the Battle of Bolimov.
1605 - Guy Fawkes, member of the Gunpowder Plot, executed in Britain.
This Day In Business
1990 - The world's biggest Mcdonald's opens in Moscow - it also happens to be the first ever McDonald's to open up in Russia.
1949 - The first daytime soap opera, "These Are My Children," is broadcast by NBC.
1876 - The United States orders all Native Americans to move into reservations.
1988 - Doug Williams is first African-American quarterback to play in Super Bowl and wins MVP.
January 31st Holiday
Independence Day (Nauru) - Celebrates Nauru gaining independence from Australia in 1968.
Today's Birthday Trivia
He ran a ballroom dancing school in Kent, England. Who is he?
Today's Birthday Horoscope
Learn about people born on this day by reading the January 31 Birthday Horoscope.
Famous Birthdays iPhone App
Are you an iPhone user? Get the fun and free Famous Birthdays iPhone app.