January 31st: A Day of Firsts, Farewells, and Far-Reaching Change

As the final day of January, January 31st has often marked transitions—whether through scientific breakthroughs, political shifts, or cultural turning points. From the launch of the first American satellite to the abolition of centuries-old practices, this date reminds us that change is always on the horizon.

📅 January 31st in the Calendar

In the Gregorian calendar, January 31st is the 31st day of the year, with 334 days remaining (or 335 in leap years). It typically serves as the conclusion of the first month of the year—a time to evaluate beginnings and prepare for the year ahead.

In the Julian calendar, still used by some Orthodox churches, this date corresponds to February 13th.

🚀 1958 – The United States Launches Explorer 1

On January 31, 1958, the United States successfully launched its first satellite, Explorer 1, into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This marked America’s entry into the Space Age, following the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik 1 just months earlier.

Explorer 1 not only orbited the Earth but also provided the first scientific discovery from space: evidence of the Van Allen radiation belts, which protect the planet from solar wind and cosmic rays.

This mission ignited a space race that would define international competition, technological development, and scientific discovery for decades.

🇺🇸 1865 – U.S. Congress Passes the 13th Amendment

On this day in 1865, the United States House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which would abolish slavery in the United States. The amendment had already passed the Senate in April 1864, but its passage in the House was historic and hard-fought.

It was later ratified by the required number of states in December 1865, permanently outlawing slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. This moment remains a defining milestone in American civil rights history.

🇬🇧 1606 – Execution of Guy Fawkes

On January 31, 1606, Guy Fawkes—the most well-known conspirator in the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605—was executed in London. Fawkes and his fellow plotters had planned to blow up the House of Lords to assassinate King James I and restore Catholic rule.

Although Fawkes died while attempting to avoid the gruesome fate of being hanged, drawn, and quartered, his legacy lives on in Britain’s annual Bonfire Night celebrations every November 5th, when effigies of Fawkes are traditionally burned.

🌍 1990 – The First McDonald’s Opens in the Soviet Union

On this day in 1990, the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Moscow, symbolizing the beginning of a new era of openness to Western business and culture amid the declining years of the Soviet Union.

Over 30,000 people lined up to taste what was marketed as a taste of the West. The event was both a commercial and cultural turning point, reflecting the crumbling divide between East and West as the Cold War neared its end.

🧬 1747 – The First Clinical Trial in Modern Medicine

Scottish physician James Lind began what is considered the first controlled clinical trial on January 31, 1747, while aboard a ship in the British Navy. He tested the effects of different dietary treatments for scurvy among sailors, eventually proving that citrus fruits were effective in curing the disease.

His pioneering approach laid the groundwork for evidence-based medicine, a foundation of modern healthcare.

📜 Other Notable Events on January 31st

1930 – 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes the Izu Peninsula in Japan, causing over 1,000 deaths.
1950 – President Harry S. Truman orders the development of the hydrogen bomb, accelerating the Cold War arms race.
1966 – The Soviet Union’s Luna 9 probe is launched; it would become the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon.

🎂 Famous Birthdays on January 31st

Franz Schubert (1797) – Austrian composer known for his art songs (lieder) and symphonies, bridging the Classical and Romantic eras.
Zane Grey (1872) – American author famed for popularizing the Western novel.
Norman Mailer (1923) – Influential American novelist, journalist, and co-founder of The Village Voice.
Justin Timberlake (1981) – American singer, songwriter, and actor, formerly of *NSYNC and successful solo artist.
Kerry Washington (1977) – American actress known for her role in Scandal and as an activist for civil rights.

🕯️ Notable Deaths

A. A. Milne (1956) – English author and creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, whose gentle storytelling has enchanted generations.
Samuel Goldwyn (1974) – Pioneering film producer and co-founder of several Hollywood studios.
Molly Ivins (2007) – American political columnist and humorist known for her wit and sharp commentary.

🌟 Did You Know?

The crowd at Moscow’s first McDonald’s was so large that the restaurant served over 30,000 customers in a single day—a world record at the time.
James Lind’s scurvy trial involved 12 sailors, divided into six groups. Only those given oranges and lemons recovered—highlighting the importance of vitamin C before vitamins were even known.
A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh was inspired by a real bear named Winnipeg and his son Christopher Robin’s stuffed animals.

🌍 Keep Exploring History with Earth Site’s On This Day Series!

From revolutions in medicine and civil rights to space launches and symbolic openings, January 31st showcases humanity’s constant pursuit of progress and understanding. Every day holds lessons, stories, and inspiration.

Come back tomorrow for a brand new entry in Earth Site’s On This Day series—where history is more than a memory. It’s a daily adventure. 🗺️📚

: 1961 In 1961 Ham, the chimp returns to Earth safely after his journey into space 157 miles above the Earth's surface. Ham (named after the Holloman Aerospace Medical Centre) was one of six chimps trained by the United States to perform certain tasks in space. Unlike the Russians, who preferred dogs, the US chose chimps to test in space flights as they have more similarities to humans. Ham, who was originally from Cameroon, had the task of pressing buttons and pulling levers in response to certain lights while in space. This was to test if future pilots would still have cognitive abilities while in space flight. Ham lived to the age of 25 (19 years after his space flight) and his body was buried at the International Space Hall of Fame in New Mexico.; 1971 In 1971 NASA’s Luna 14 mission launched on this day. The American mission was to land on the moon (this was NASA’s third mission to do so), collect samples, perform seismic studies and moonwalk, and take images from the Luna Module while in orbit. Commander Alan Shepard, Command Module Pilot Stuart Roosa and Lunar Module Pilot Edgar Mitchell were aboard the module. Shepard and Mitchell landed on the surface of the moon using the Luna Module while Roosa stayed in the moon's orbit onboard the command module, taking photos. Shepard and Mitchell landed on the 5^th of February and remained on the surface for 33 hours, 9 of which were spent outside the module. Shepard famously hit golf balls from the Luna surface on this trip.; 2000 In 2000 Dr Harold Shipman was jailed for life after being convicted of the murder of 15 of his patients. An official enquiry led by Dame Janet Smith found that Shipman may have killed another 250 people, making him England’s most prolific serial killer. Dr Shipman’s last victim was Mrs Kathleen Grundy who was given a lethal dose of morphine during what was meant to be a routine blood test. Then he crudely forged her will leaving a substantial piece of her estate to him. Mrs Grundy had no serious illness and neither did any of Shipman’s victims who mysteriously died shortly after his visits.