Also on This Day in History August 31
Discover what happened on August 31 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.
Births on This Day, August 31
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1870
Maria Montessori
Italian physician and educator behind the Montessori Method of teaching
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1880
Wilhelmina
Queen of the Netherlands
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1663
Guillaume Amontons
French physicist who developed the air thermometer
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1874
Edward Thorndike
American psychologist (father of modern educational psychology)
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1899
Paul E Garber
American founder/1st curator of National Air & Space Museum
Deaths on This Day, August 31
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2012
Joe Lewis
American actor and martial artist who has been voted twice as the greatest fighter in karate history
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1920
Wilhelm Wundt
German physiologist, psychologist and philosopher
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1799
Nicolas-Henri Jardin
French architect who introduced Neoclassical architecture to Denmark
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1949
André-Louis Debierne
French chemist and physicist (discoverer of element actinium
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1688
John Bunyan
English minister and author (The Pilgrim's Progress)
1957
The Federation of Malaya gains its independence from the United Kingdom
On August 31, 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained independence from the United Kingdom after a long process of negotiations and agreements between the British colonial administration and local leaders. This milestone marked the end of British colonial rule and the beginning of self-governance for the Federation, which later became Malaysia after the inclusion of Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore.
1991
Kyrgyzstan declares its independence from the Soviet Union
Kyrgyzstan declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991. This followed the failed coup attempt in Moscow in August 1991, which accelerated the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Kyrgyzstan's declaration of independence marked a historic moment as it joined other former Soviet republics in asserting its sovereignty and embarking on a path of independence.
1886
The first U.S. earthquake on record with significant human consequence
The first recorded significant earthquake in the United States, with substantial human consequences, occurred on August 31, 1886, in Charleston, South Carolina. This earthquake, known as the Charleston earthquake, had a magnitude estimated between 6.6 and 7.3 and caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure in the city. It resulted in the deaths of more than 60 people and left thousands homeless.
1957
Malaya gained independence from British rule
Malayan independence refers to the historic event on August 31, 1957, when the Federation of Malaya gained independence from British colonial rule. This marked the culmination of efforts led by political leaders such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, who became the country's first Prime Minister. The independence agreement was negotiated over several years, and the peaceful transition of power was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country.