July 31 - This Day in History

July 31: General Interest
1975: Jimmy Hoffa disappears

On July 31, 1975, James Riddle Hoffa, one of the most influential American labor leaders of the 20th century, disappears in Detroit, Michigan, never to be heard from again. Though he is popularly believed to have been the victim of a Mafia hit... read more


American Revolution
1777 : Marquis de Lafayette becomes a major-general without pay
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marquis-de-lafayette-becomes-a-major-general-without-pay


Automotive
1916 : "First Lady" of NASCAR Louise Smith born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-lady-of-nascar-louise-smith-born


Civil War
1816 : Union General George Thomas is born in Virginia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-h-thomas-is-born-in-virginia


Cold War
1953 : Senator Robert A. Taft dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/senator-robert-a-taft-dies


Crime
1975 : Jimmy Hoffa vanishes
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jimmy-hoffa-vanishes


Disaster
1715 : Hurricane sinks Spanish treasure ships
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hurricane-sinks-spanish-treasure-ships


General Interest
1556 : Ignatius of Loyola dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ignatius-of-loyola-dies

1945 : Fugitive Vichy leader surrenders in Austria
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fugitive-vichy-leader-surrenders-in-austria

1964 : Ranger 7 photographs moon
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/iranger-7i-photographs-moon


Hollywood
1965 : J.K. Rowling born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jk-rowling-born


Literary
1703 : Daniel Defoe is put in the pillory
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/daniel-defoe-is-put-in-the-pillory


Music
1923 : Ahmet Ertegun is born in Istanbul, Turkey
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ahmet-ertegun-is-born-in-istanbul-turkey


Old West
1937 : Apache scout Martine dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/apache-scout-martine-dies


Presidential
1875 : Former President Andrew Johnson dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/former-president-andrew-johnson-dies


Sports
1990 : Nolan Ryan wins 300th game
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nolan-ryan-wins-300th-game


Vietnam War
1964 : Agreement on conduct of war
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/agreement-on-conduct-of-war

1972 : Hanoi claims that U.S. bombers have struck dikes
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hanoi-claims-that-us-bombers-have-struck-dikes


World War I
1917 : Third Battle of Ypres begins in Flanders
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/third-battle-of-ypres-begins-in-flanders


World War II
1941 : Goering orders Heydrich to prepare for the Final Solution
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/goering-orders-heydrich-to-prepare-for-the-final-solution