31 May History
- 1433 - Sigismund is crowned emperor of Rome.
- 1678 - The Godiva procession, commemorating Lady Godiva's legendary ride while naked, becomes part of the Coventry Fair.
- 1862 - At the Battle of Fair Oaks, Union General George B. McClellan defeats Confederates outside of Richmond.
- 1879 - New York's Madison Square Garden opens its doors for the first time.
- 1889 - Johnstown, Pennsylvania is destroyed by a massive flood.
- 1900 - U.S. troops arrive in Peking to help put down the Boxer Rebellion.
- 1902 - The Boer War ends with the Treaty of Vereeniging.
- 1909 - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) holds its first conference.
- 1913 - The 17th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, providing for direct election of senators, is ratified.
- 1915 - A German zeppelin makes an air raid on London.
- 1916 - British and German fleets fight in the Battle of Jutland.
- 1928 - The first flight over the Pacific takes off from Oakland.
- 1941 - An armistice is arranged between the British and the Iraqis.
- 1955 - The Supreme Court orders that states must end racial segregation "with all deliberate speed."
- 1962 - Adolf Eichmann, the former SS commander, is hanged near Tel Aviv, Israel.
- 1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono record "Give Peace a Chance."
- 1974 - Israel and Syria sign an agreement on the Golan Heights.
- 1979 - Zimbabwe proclaims its independence.
- 1988 - President Ronald Reagan arrives in Moscow, the first American president to do so in 14 years.
31 May Birthdays
- 1469 - Manuel I, King of Portugal (1495-1521).
- 1819 - Walt Whitman, American poet.
- 1894 - Fred Allen [John Florence Sullivan], American comedian.
- 1898 - Norman Vincent Peale, American religious leader.
- 1925 - Julian Beck, theater manager.
- 1930 - Clint Eastwood, American film actor and director.