Today in History for 31st May 2026

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Historical Events

1879 - Madison Square Garden opens in New York, named after 4th President James Madison
1902 - Australia Cricket all out 36 v England, Edgbaston, their lowest ever
1931 - 36th French Championships Men's Tennis: Jean Borotra wins his only home title; beats fellow Frenchman Christian Boussus 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
1942 - 25th PGA Championship Men's Golf, Seaview CC: Sam Snead beats Jim Turnesa, 2 and 1 for his first PGA Tour major title
1983 - 37th NBA Championship: Philadelphia 76ers sweep LA Lakers in 4 games

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Famous Birthdays

1904 - Otto "Toby" Hardwicke, American jazz alto saxophone player (The Washingtonians, 1923-28; Duke Ellington Orchestra, 1932-46 - "Sophisticated Lady"; "In A Sentimental Mood"), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 1970)
1916 - Bert Haanstra, Dutch filmmaker and director (Fanfare; Glass), born in Holten, Netherlands (d. 1997)
1950 - Edward Barker, English cartoonist, born in Birmingham, England
1989 - Justine Lupe, American actress (Nobody Wants This), born in New York City
1989 - Marco Reus, German football player (Borussia Dortmund, German national team), born in Dortmund, West Germany

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Famous Deaths

1665 - Pieter Janz Saenredam, Dutch architectural painter, dies at 67
1983 - Jack Dempsey, American boxer (world heavyweight champion 1919-26), dies of heart failure at 87
1993 - John Granger, American actor (Advise and Consent), dies at 69
1994 - Sidney Gilliat, English screenwriter (Night Train to Munich) and director, dies at 86
2020 - Brother Ah [Robert Northern], American jazz and world music French hornist, band leader (Gil Evans, John Coltrane, Sun Ra, World Music Ensemble), educator, and radio deejay, dies of respiratory failure at 86

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