More on this Day - January 31

January 31

Biographies: January 31

Jackie Robinson in a baseball uniform stands on a field holding a bat over his shoulder, looking into the distance, 1946.

Featured Biography Jackie Robinson

Above anything else, I hate to lose.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson—the first African American baseball player in the U.S. major leagues in the 20th century and the league’s Rookie of the Year in 1947 and Most Valuable Player in 1949—was born this day in 1919.

More Biographies

January 31, 1872 — October 23, 1939

Zane Grey

Zane Grey was a prolific writer whose romantic novels of the American...

December 18, 1890 — January 31, 1954 or February 1, 1954

Edwin H. Armstrong

Edwin H. Armstrong was an American inventor who laid the foundation...

January 31, 1761 — July 1, 1824

Lachlan Macquarie

Lachlan Macquarie was an early governor of New South Wales, Australia...

January 31, 1914 — February 25, 1994

Jersey Joe Walcott

Jersey Joe Walcott was an American world heavyweight boxing champion...

January 31, 1752 — November 6, 1816

Gouverneur Morris

Gouverneur Morris was an American statesman, diplomat, and financial...

January 31, 1884 — December 12, 1963

Theodor Heuss

Theodor Heuss was a liberal democratic legislator, the first president...

January 31, 1913 — June 26, 1997

Don Hutson

Don Hutson was an American professional gridiron football player who,...

January 11, 1896 — January 31, 1989

William Stephenson

William Stephenson was a Canadian-born millionaire industrialist whose...