Today in History for 31st October 2025

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Historical Events

1587 - Leiden University Library opens its doors after its founding in 1575
1867 - Australia's first royal tour begins as Prince Albert, son of Queen Victoria, arrives in Adelaide, South Australia
1950 - "The Big Cat" Earl Lloyd becomes the first African-American to play a game in the NBA, scoring 6 points on debut for the Washington Capitols
1967 - Nguyễn Văn Thiệu takes oath of office to become the first President of the Second Republic of South Vietnam
1982 - Musical revue "Rock 'n Roll!: The First 5,000 Years" closes at St James Theatre in New York City after 9 performances

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Famous Birthdays

1945 - Brian Doyle-Murray, American comedian and actor (Groundhog Day), born in Chicago, Illinois
1950 - Jane Pauley, American newscaster (Today, NBC Weekend), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
1961 - Alonzo Babers, American athlete (Olympic gold 400m, 4x400m relay 1984), born in Montgomery, Alabama
1966 - Koji Kanemoto, Japanese wrestler (NJPW/AAA/UWA, Tiger Mask, King Lee), born in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
1981 - Selina (Jiaxuan) Ren, member of Taiwanese girl-group S.H.E, born in Shilin, Taipei, Taiwan

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Famous Deaths

1733 - Eberhard Ludwig, Duke of Württemberg, dies at 57
1941 - Herwarth Walden, German art writer and critic, dies in a Soviet prison at 63
1986 - Robert S. Mulliken, American chemist and physicist (Nobel 1966), dies at 90
2007 - Edgar Ngoyi, South African anti-apartheid activist and ANC leader who spent 17 years in Robben Island Prison, dies at 81
2018 - Lord Skelmersdale [Roger Bootle-Wilbraham], British politician and horticulturalist who created Britain's first toad tunnel, dies of a stroke at 73

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