The first ride on the Moon (1971)
On July 31, 1971, humans rode across the moon for the first time in history. This was done by the Apollo 15 crew in a vehicle called the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). Apoll...
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Sv. Ignatius of Loyola – founder of the Jesuit order – 1556.
The famous work which is the legacy of St. Ignatius are his famous Spiritual Exercises, which are used today as a means of meditation even by non-Catholics. On July 31, 1...
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Croatian-Hungarian king who ruled in his youth as governor of Spain – 1527.
Maximilian married in the Spanish city of Valladolid his close cousin Maria of Habsburg, sister of King Philip II of Spain. On July 31, 1527, Maximilian II was born. Habs...
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Free rum abolished in the British Navy, sailors in deep mourning (1970)
Rum began to be given in 1655, after the British occupied Jamaica, an island rich in sugar cane from which rum is produced. After the abolition of free rum giving, some s...
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1777: French Marquis de La Fayette Becomes U.S. General at the Age of only 19
On this day in 1777, Marquis de La Fayette, a French nobleman, became a U.S. general in the War of Independence. The rank of general was awarded to him by the American Co...
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1658: Aurangzeb Becomes Great Mogul and Ruler of the Mightiest Empire in India
On this day in 1658, Aurangzeb became the great mogul and the ruler of the mightiest empire in India. At one time, he was quite possibly the richest and most powerful rul...
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1944: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Author of “The Little Prince”, Disappears over Nazi Territory
On this day the famous writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry disappeared over the Mediterranean while flying his military plane on a reconnaissance mission during World War II....
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1451: Jacques Coeur, One of the Richest European Entrepreneurs, Arrested
A famous scandal occurred in medieval France on this day in 1451. Namley, King Charles VII ordered the arrest of Jacques Coeur – one of the richest and most powerf...
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