History for July 31

History for July 31 - On-This-Day.com:
Maximilian II 1527 - Holy Roman Emperor, S.S. Kresge 1867 - Founder of S.S. Kresge Company (renamed Kmart Corporation in 1977 and later Sears Holding Corporation), George Liberace 1911 - Musician and television performer, older brother of entertainer Liberace 


Milton Friedman 1912 - Economist, Curt Gowdy 1919 - Sportscaster, longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox, Gary Lewis 1946 - Musician (Gary Lewis and the Playboys) 


Wesley Snipes 1962 - Actor, J.K. Rowling 1965 - Author ("Harry Potter" series), Zac Brown 1978 - Country music singer and musician 


1790 - The first U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins for his process for making potash and pearl ashes. The substance was used in fertilizer. 


1928 - MGM’s Leo the lion roared for the first time. He introduced MGM’s first talking picture, "White Shadows on the South Seas." 


1932 - Enzo Ferrari retired from racing. In 1950 he launched a series of cars under his name. 


1945 - Pierre Laval of France surrendered to Americans in Austria. 


1948 - U.S. President Truman helped dedicate New York International Airport (later John F. Kennedy International Airport) at Idlewild Field. 

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1964 - The American space probe Ranger 7 transmitted pictures of the moon's surface. 


1989 - A pro-Iranian group in Lebanon released a videotape reportedly showing the hanged body of American hostage William R. Higgins. 


1991 - U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.