May 31 belongs to Ingrid Serrà
Historical events & facts — May 31
What happened on May 31?
On May 31, 1916, the Battle of Jutland began in the North Sea — the largest naval engagement of World War I and the last great battleship combat in history. The British (Royal Navy) and German (Kaiserliche Marine) fleets fought for two days without a clear winner: Germany inflicted more damage, but Britain retained control of the North Sea, which ultimately proved decisive.
On May 31, 1819, German Romantic composer Robert Schumann was born in Zwickau, Saxony — whose piano works — Kinderszenen, Symphonic Études, Carnaval — and Lieder cycles — Dichterliebe, Frauenliebe und -leben — are considered peaks of Romanticism. The mental illness he had suffered since youth led him in 1854 to voluntarily commit himself to an asylum, where he died two years later.
On May 31, 1902, the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed, ending the Second Boer War between the British Empire and the Boer republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State in South Africa. The republics accepted British sovereignty, but in exchange were promised political autonomy and recognition of their cultures. The treaty was the direct precursor to the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910.
Notable birthdays — May 31
Famous people born on May 31
Julius Richard Petri
Julius Richard Petri was a German microbiologist who is generally credited with inventing the device known as the Petri dish, which is named after him, while working as assistant to bacteriologist Robert Koch.
Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson
Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. representative (1941–1953) and U.S. senator (1953–1983) from the state of Washington.
Alida Valli
Baroness Alida Maria Laura Altenburger von Marckenstein-Frauenberg, better known by her stage name Alida Valli, or simply Valli, was an Italian actress who appeared in more than 100 films in a 70-year career, spanning from the 1930s to the early 2000s.
Shirley Verrett
Shirley Verrett was an American operatic mezzo-soprano who successfully transitioned into soprano roles making her a Soprano sfogato. Verrett enjoyed great fame from the late 1960s through the 1990s; she was particularly known for performing works by Giuseppe Verdi and Gaetano Donizetti.
Gilbert Shelton
Gilbert Shelton is an American cartoonist and a key member of the underground comix movement. He is the creator of the iconic underground characters The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Fat Freddy's Cat, and Wonder Wart-Hog.
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