August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 122 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about August 31st, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about August 31st in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- National Trail Mix Day
- We Love Memoirs Day
- Love Litigating Lawyers Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – August 31
1998: North Korea Announces the Launch of its First Satellite
According to government sources of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the satellite called Kwangmyongsong-1 was successfully launched into lower Earth orbit. Most space agencies around the world, have not been able to confirm whether the launch was successful.
1997: Princess of Wales, Diana, Dies in a Car Crash
Diana, the former wife of Charles, the heir apparent to the British Crown, was fatally injured when the driver of her car lost control while speeding away from paparazzi, and crashed in a road tunnel in Paris, France. Diana’s companion Dodi al Fayed and the car’s driver also died as a result of the accident. Her funeral was one of the most watched televised events of the century.
1994: Russian Troops Leave Estonia 3 years after Estonia declared independence from the Soviet Union
USSR had occupied the Baltic country in 1944, during the Second World War. Many Western countries never recognized the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, which was first established in 1940. Between 1941 and 1944, Nazi Germany occupied the country.
1991: Uzbekistan declares its independence from the Soviet Union
The Central Asian country had become a part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century, and was made part of the Soviet Union as the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic in 1924. The country celebrates September 1 as its Independence Day.
1957: Federation of Malaya Gains Independence
The Federation, now known as Malaysia gained its independence from the British. The Southeast Asian country, which was one of the world’s largest producer of rubber, came under British rule in the late 18th century.
1997: The wreckage of the car that carried Diana, Princess of Wales, and her companion, Dodi al-Fayed, into a Paris tunnel on August 31, 1997
1962: 31 August 1962: Trinidad and Tobago became independent.
1957: 31 August 1957: The Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia) gained its independence from the United Kingdom.
1897: 31 August 1897: Thomas Edison patented the Kinetoscope, the first movie projector.
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, August 31
1979: Mickie James, American wrestler, singer
1979: Yuvan Shankar Raja, Indian composer
1977: Jeff Hardy, American wrestler, singer, painter, writer
1945: Van Morrison, Irish singer-songwriter
1870 Maria MontessoriItalian physician, educator
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, August 31
1997: Diana, Princess of Wales
1985: Frank Macfarlane Burnet, Australian biologist, Nobel Prize laureate
1973: John Ford, American director
1927: Andranik Ozanian, Armenian military commander
1688: John Bunyan, English preacher, author