Today in History - History - July 31st

1864Ulysses S. Grant is named General of Volunteers

1498Christopher Columbus on his third voyage discovers the island of Trinidad

1997A's trade Mark McGwire to St Louis Cardinals

1966Alabamans burn Beatle products due to John Lennon's anti-Jesus remark

1987Oriole Eddie Murray hits his 299th & 300th career home runs

1703Daniel Defoe is placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after publishing a politically satirical pamphlet, but is pelted with flowers.

30 BCBattle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian's forces, but most of his army subsequently deserts, leading to his suicide.

1990Nolan Ryan becomes 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games

1930Lou Gehrig grand slams as Yanks beat Red Sox 14-13

1993A's trade Rickey Henderson to Blue Jays

1932Ted Cassidy, Pittsburgh PA, American actor (Lurch-Addams Family)

1965J. K. Rowling, Gloucestershire England, writer (Harry Potter)

1956Michael Biehn, Anniston AL, actor (Rampage, Hog Wild, Aliens, Abyss)

1912Milton Friedman, Brooklyn New York, economist (Nobel 1976), (d. 2006)

1999Actor Patrick Dempsey (33) weds makeup artist Jillian Fink

1985Bee Gees member Robin Gibb (35) weds author and artist Dwina Murphy

1999NHL player Phil Esposito (57) weds Bridget Leigh

1954"Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" guest host Steve Allen (32) weds actress Jayne Meadows (33)

2010R&B singer-songwriter Alicia Keys (31) weds Grammy Award winning rapper Swizz Beatz (33) at a private home on the French island of Corsica

1951Musician Ray Charles (20) weds Eileen Williams in Georgia

1875Andrew Johnson, 17th pres, dies in Tennessee at 66

1784Denis Diderot, French writer/philosopher, dies at 70

1886Franz Liszt [Ferencz], Hungarian pianist/composer, dies at 74

54 BCAurelia Cotta, mother of Julius Caesar, dies at 66