What happened in 1931

15 entries recorded for 1931, listed by date. That was 95 years ago.

1931 at a glance

Years ago
95 (as of 2026)
Century
20th century
Decade
1930s
Generation born
Silent Generation
Entries here
15
Breakdown
15 historical events

January

  • January 7

    Guy Menzies

    Historical event

    Australian aviator Guy Menzies (pictured) flew from Sydney to New Zealand's West Coast, making the first solo trans-Tasman flight.

  • January 21

    Isaac Isaacs

    Historical event

    Isaac Isaacs (pictured) became the first Australian-born governor-general of Australia.

February

  • February 19

    Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia

    Historical event

    The Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia (flag pictured) was dissolved and reformed as the Abkhaz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, an autonomous republic of the Soviet Union within Georgia.

  • February 20

    Taking of Encarnación

    Historical event

    Paraguayan anarchists briefly seized the city of Encarnación as part of a larger plan to initiate a social revolution in the country.

March

  • March 7

    Parliament House, Helsinki

    Historical event

    The Parliament House of Finland is officially inaugurated in Helsinki, Finland.

  • March 14

    Alam Ara

    Historical event

    Alam Ara, the first Indian sound film, premiered at the Majestic Cinema in Bombay.

  • March 15

    Sing-Song Girl Red Peony

    Historical event

    Sing-Song Girl Red Peony (booklet pictured), one of the first sound films produced in China, was released in Shanghai.

  • March 23

    Bhagat Singh

    Historical event

    Bhagat Singh, one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement, and two others were executed by the British authorities for their murder of a police officer.

  • March 25

    Scottsboro Boys

    Historical event

    The Scottsboro Boys are arrested in Alabama and charged with rape.

April

  • April 14

    Alfonso XIII

    Historical event

    After King Alfonso XIII left Spain, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed by a provisional government led by Niceto Alcalá-Zamora.

May

  • May 1

    Empire State Building

    Historical event

    New York City's Empire State Building (pictured), at the time the tallest building in the world, opened.

  • May 14

    Ådalen

    Historical event

    Five people were killed in Ådalen, Sweden, as soldiers opened fire on an unarmed trade union demonstration.

July

  • July 16

    Haile Selassie

    Historical event

    Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie promulgated the nation's first modern constitution.

October

  • October 17

    Al Capone

    Historical event

    American gangster Al Capone was convicted on five counts of income-tax evasion.

  • October 24

    George Washington Bridge

    Historical event

    The George Washington Bridge (pictured), connecting New York City to Fort Lee, New Jersey, and today the world's busiest motor-vehicle bridge, was dedicated.

Questions about 1931

What happened in 1931?

This site records 15 entries for 1931, including Guy Menzies on January 7. They are listed below by date.

How long ago was 1931?

95 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1931 turns 95 this year.

Which century is 1931 in?

1931 falls in the 20th century, in the 1930s.

Which generation was born in 1931?

Silent Generation (1928–1945). Children of the Depression and war years.

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