What Happened on May 31

Historical Events

1868 – 1st Memorial Day parade held in Ironton, Ohio
1880 – League of American Wheelmen (1st US bicycle association), forms in Newport, Rhode Island
1953 – Lebanese president Camille Shamun disbands government
1961 – US President John F. Kennedy visits Charles de Gaulle in Paris
1992 – 46th Tony Awards: “Dancing at Lughnasa” (play) and “Crazy For You” (musical) win
2018 – Danish government bans garments that cover the face, including the niqab and burqa

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Famous Birthdays

1921 – Robert Arthur Ley, English sci-fi author (Telepath, Power of X) (d. 1968)
1955 – Joe Longthorne, English singer, impressionist, and television presenter, born in Kingston upon Hull, England (d. 2019)
1962 – Sebastian Koch, German actor
1983 – David Hernandez, American pop singer (American Idol), born in Phoenix, Arizona
1984 – Nate Robinson, American basketball player (first three-time slam dunk champion), born in Seattle, Washington
1986 – Sopho Khalvashi, Georgian pop-electronic singer, born in Batumi, Adjara, Georgian SSR

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Famous Deaths

1848 – Eugénie de Guérin, French writer (b. 1805)
1981 – Barbara Ward, English economist and writer (Only One Earth), dies at 67
2010 – William A. Fraker, American cinematographer (b. 1923)
2010 – Merata Mita, New Zealander filmmaker (Mauri, Patu!), dies at 67
2013 – Tim Samaras, American tornado chaser, dies from tornado injuries at 55
2020 – Bob Bennett, American College Baseball Hall of Fame coach (Fresno State 1970-2002; record 1,302-759-4), dies at 86

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