Famous people born on January 31 — and what else happened that day
If your birthday is January 31, you share it with Franz Schubert, Jackie Robinson, Justin Timberlake — and you were born under Aquarius, the sign of the original, independent, and years ahead of the curve.
Birthday basics for January 31
Aquarius ♒
Zodiac sign
Garnet
Birthstone
Carnation
Birth flower
31st
Day of the year
January 31 is the 31st day of the year, with 334 days still to come.
Famous people born on January 31
Franz Schubert — Austrian composer of more than 600 songs (born 1797).
Jackie Robinson — American baseball pioneer who broke the major league color barrier (born 1919).
Justin Timberlake — American pop singer and actor (born 1981).
Also sharing the day:
Zane Grey (b. 1872) — American dentist-turned-novelist whose Westerns like "Riders of the Purple Sage" sold millions.
Nolan Ryan (b. 1947) — Hall of Fame pitcher who threw a record seven no-hitters over 27 seasons.
Kerry Washington (b. 1977) — American actress who starred as Olivia Pope on "Scandal".
January 31 in history
1865 — The U.S. Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery.
1958 — Explorer 1, the first American satellite, was launched into orbit.
1961 — Ham the chimpanzee rocketed into space aboard a Mercury capsule and returned safely.
1949 — "These Are My Children", the first television daytime soap opera, debuted on NBC.
1971 — Apollo 14 launched, carrying Alan Shepard on his way to walk — and hit golf balls — on the Moon.
1990 — The Soviet Union's first McDonald's opened in Moscow, serving a record 30,000 customers on day one.
January 31 birthday questions
What zodiac sign is January 31?
Anyone born on January 31 is a Aquarius — original, independent, and years ahead of the curve.
What is the birthstone for January 31?
The birthstone for a January 31 birthday is Garnet, and the birth flower is the Carnation.
Who is the most famous person born on January 31?
Franz Schubert is among the best known — Austrian composer of more than 600 songs (born 1797).
What happened on January 31?
In 1865, The U.S. Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery.
What day of the year is January 31?
January 31 is the 31st day of the year, with 334 days still to come.
Make their day unforgettable
Know someone born on January 31? See the full story of their exact birthday — the headlines, the #1 song, what things cost — and turn it into a personalized front-page newspaper they can keep.