On This Day for July 31 - Lunar Roving Vehicle first used on the Moon, Milton Friedman is featured, and more

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view. July 31 FEATURED BIOGRAPHY Milton Friedman READ MORE   FEATURED EVENT 1971 Lunar Roving Vehicle first used on the Moon READ MORE   Advertisement Advertisement   MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY 2019: American theatrical producer and director Harold Prince—the recipient of a record-setting 21 Tony Awards, including one for lifetime achievement—died at age 91. [Take our theatre quiz.] 2012: At the Summer Games in London, American swimmer Michael Phelps captured an unprecedented 19th career Olympic medal when he helped the U.S. team win the 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay; he surpassed the record set by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. [Sort fact from fiction in our swimming quiz.] 2012: American novelist, playwright, and essayist Gore Vidal, who was noted for his irreverent and intellectually adroit novels, died at age 86. [Name the novelist in our quiz.] 2006: Because of health problems, longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro handed over provisional power to his brother Raúl; the latter served as the country's acting president until officially assuming the post in 2008. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about the Caribbean.] 1965: British author J.K. Rowling, creator of the immensely popular Harry Potter series, was born. [Test your knowledge of famous authors.] 1921: Whitney M. Young, Jr., who spearheaded the drive for equal opportunity for African Americans in industry and U.S. government service while he was head of the National Urban League (1961–71), was born in Lincoln Ridge, Kentucky. SEE ALL EVENTS ON THIS DAY ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY 1965 J.K. Rowling British author 1962 Wesley Snipes American actor 1912 Milton Friedman American economist 1880 Premchand Indian author 1919 Primo Levi Italian writer and chemist 1932 John Searle American philosopher SEE ALL BIOS ON THIS DAY   Advertisement   FOLLOW: To unsubscribe from Britannica e-mails, click here. Encyclopædia Britannica 325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 United States © 2020 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Privacy Policy • Help