August 31

12 The Roman emperor Caligula was born Gaius Caesar.in Antium (modern day Anzio) on August 31, 12AD. His Roman general father, Germanicus Caesar was the adopted son of Tiberius. The infant Gaius traveled with his parents among the legions of Rome and the soldiers were amused when he wore a miniature soldier costume He was soon given his nickname "Caligula" (or Caligulae), meaning "Little Soldier('s boots)" in Latin, after the small boots he wore as part of his costume.

Emperor Caligula, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. By Louis le Grand

161 Roman emperor Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus was born on August 31, 161 in Lanuvium, near Rome. He was the son of the reigning emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and Aurelius' first cousin, Faustina the Younger, the youngest daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. Commodus ruled as co-emperor with his father Marcus Aurelius from 177 until his father's death in 180. His accession as emperor in 180 was the first time a son had succeeded his father since Titus succeeded Vespasian in 79.

1422 Henry V of England was prematurely aged due to living the hard life of a soldier. After he caught dysentery at the Siege of Meaux in May 1422 Henry's health steadily deteriorated in the following months. He died at the Chateau of Bois de Vincennes in France  on the morning of August 31, 1422 leaving as heir his nine month old son Henry. 

1688 Pilgrim's Progress author John Bunyan died on August 31, 1688 in London while on a journey from Reading to settle an argument between a father and son. He was caught in a drenching rain storm and a violent fever seized him. He was buried at Bunhill, (Finsbury), London. Pilgrim's Progress has been translated in over 100 languages and for the next 150 years Bunyan's books, like the Bible, were found in every English home.

1798 The first bank robbery in the United States took place during the night of August 31, 1798 when $162,821 was stolen from vaults of the Bank of Pennsylvania at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia. The robbers were Isaac Davis, a member of the Carpenters' Company and a partner, who died of yellow fever within days of the robbery. Confronted with questions about his sudden wealth, Davis was promised a pardon in return for full disclosure and full restitution. He never served a day in prison.

1830 The first lawn mower was invented by farmer's son and textile mill laborer Edwin Budding on August 31, 1830 in Thrupp, just outside Stroud, in Gloucestershire, England. Inspired by rotary machines used to trim velvet, he joined forces with the businessman John Ferrabee to build a self-powered cylinder.  Budding's first mower was 19 inches wide, had a box that collected the clippings as they were thrown forward by the blades and allowed the user to adjust the height of the cut. 

1888 Mary Ann Nichols was the first of notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper's confirmed victims, The prostitute's mutilated and slayed body was found on the ground in front of a gated stable entrance in Buck's Row, London on August 31, 1888. The name 'Jack the Ripper' originated in a letter purportedly from the unidentified killer written in 1888. It has never been established whether this letter was genuine or a hoax.

1914 During World War I, when Russia and Germany were fighting each other, Russians thought the name Saint Petersburg sounded too German, so Tsar Nicholas II decided on August 31, 1914 that the city should be renamed Petrograd. In 1924, five days after Lenin's death, Petrograd was renamed Leningrad in his honor. The name Saint Petersburg was restored to Russia's second largest city in 1991.

1957 The Federation of Malaya gained its independence from the United Kingdom on August 31, 1957. The country of Malaysia was formed six years later  from the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, British North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawakon.

1962 The islands of Trinidad and Tobago were ceded to Britain in 1802 under the Treaty of Amiens as separate states and unified in 1889. Trinidad and Tobago received independence from the United Kingdom on August 31, 1962. The flag of Trinidad and Tobago was adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom. Red, black and white symbolizes fire (the sun, representing courage), earth (representing dedication) and water (representing purity and equality.

Trinidad and Tobago flag

1986 The English sculptor Henry Moore died on August 31, 1986. Moore was known for producing semiabstract bronze sculptures as public art, which can be found as far afield as London, Jerusalem and Hong Kong. After his death, Moore's total art output was valued at £130 million.

1989 Princess Anne and Mark Phillips separated on August 31, 1989 after almost 16 years of marriage. They divorced in 1992. Princess Anne wed for the second time 27 months later marrying Timothy Laurence, while Phillips married Sandy Pflueger. Both couples have remained close to their two children.

1991 Kyrgyzstan declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991 following the August 19-21 failed coup attempt in Moscow. The events in Moscow, where hardline Soviet leaders attempted to seize power from Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, played a role in accelerating the independence process of various Soviet republics, including Kyrgyzstan.

1991 August 31st is Independence Day in Kyrgyzstan, marking the country’s independence from the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991. The sun on Kyrgyzstan's flag has 40 rays in reference to the number of tribes united by Manas, the national hero of Kyrgyzstan, to fight against the Mongols.

1991 Uzbekistan declared its independence on August 31, 1991 after the failed coup attempt in Moscow that occurred on August 19-21, 1991. The failed coup attempt was a significant factor that accelerated the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Following its declaration of independence, Uzbekistan transitioned from being a Soviet republic to becoming a sovereign nation.

1994 Purple.com was a single-page website launched by Jeff Abrahamson on August 31, 1994. The first known single-serving site, it consisted of no links or text and its only content was a purple background.  In  November 2017, the domain name was sold to Purple, Inc. for approximately $900,000.

1997 Diana, Princess of Wales and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed were tragically killed in a car accident on the night of August 31, 1997, in Paris, France. The accident occurred in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel near the Eiffel Tower. Following her death, millions of mourners gathered in London to pay their respects and leave flowers, candles, and toys in her memory. 

1998 North Korea reportedly launched its first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1, on August 31, 1998. The launch was from the Musudan-ri Missile Test Facility in North Hamgyong Province. The satellite was a small, experimental satellite that was designed to send signals back to Earth.