July 31

Today in History
• 781 - The oldest recorded eruption of Mt. Fuji
• 1423 - Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant - the French army is defeated by the English
• 1498 - Christopher Columbus discovers the island of Trinidad on his third voyage
• 1620 - Pilgrim Fathers depart Leiden, Netherlands for England on their way to America
• 1751 - Fire in Stockholm destroys 1,000 houses
• 1777 - Marquis de Lafayette, 19, made major-general of Continental Army
• 1790 - 1st US patent granted, to Samuel Hopkins for a potash process
• 1792 - Cornerstone laid for 1st US government building: US Mint in Philadelphia


Holidays - Traditional and Obscure
• Hawaii Flag Day
• International Lifeguard Appreciation Day
• Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Udham Singh
• National Avocado Day
• National Mutt Day
• National Raspberry Cake Day
• Shredded Wheat Day
• World Ranger Day

Birthdays
• 1143 - Emperor Nijo of Japan
• 1527 - Maximilian II, German King/Emperor, 1564-76
• 1578 - Catharina Belgica of Nassau, daughter of Willem of Orange
• 1737 - Princess Augusta Frederica of Great Britain
• 1803 - John Ericsson, U.S., inventor, screw propeller, shipbuilder-USS Monitor
• 1834 - Peter H Hugenholtz, Dutch reformer/founder, Free Parish
• 1854 - Jose Canalejas, premier of Spain (1910-12)
• 1921 - Whitney M. Young, Jr., civil rights leader, head of Urban Leagues