31 January

Across recorded history, 1,654 notable lives are recorded as having ended on 31 January. Below are the 24 most widely documented — ranked by how many language editions of Wikipedia carry an article about them.

← January 30 February 1 →

John Galsworthy

1867–1933

English novelist and playwright

John Galsworthy was an English novelist and playwright known for his literary contributions to twentieth-century literature.

John Bosco

1815–1888

Italian Roman Catholic priest, educator, writer

John Bosco was an Italian Roman Catholic priest who worked as an educator and writer.

A. A. Milne

1882–1956

British author known for creating Winnie-the-Pooh

A. A. Milne was a British writer best known for creating the character Winnie-the-Pooh.

Ragnar Frisch

1895–1973

Norwegian economist

Ragnar Frisch was a Norwegian economist who pioneered the field of econometrics.

Jean Giraudoux

1882–1944

French novelist, essayist, diplomat and playwright

Jean Giraudoux was a French writer and diplomat known for his contributions to literature and theater.

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

British preacher, author, pastor and evangelist

Charles Spurgeon was a British preacher who authored numerous religious texts and sermons.

Friedrich Rückert

1788–1866

German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages

Friedrich Rückert was a German poet and translator who specialized in Oriental languages.

John Mott

1865–1955

American Methodist and founder of the YMCA

John Mott was a missionary who served as a founder of the YMCA.

Samuel Goldwyn

1882–1974

Polish-American film producer

Samuel Goldwyn was a film producer who contributed to the development of the American motion picture industry.

Mary Higgins Clark

1927–2020

American author of suspense novels

Mary Higgins Clark was an American novelist who wrote numerous suspense novels.

Edwin Howard Armstrong

1890–1954

American electrical engineer and inventor

Edwin Howard Armstrong was an electrical engineer and inventor who developed frequency modulation radio technology.

Miklós Jancsó

1921–2014

Hungarian film director and screenwriter

Miklós Jancsó was a Hungarian film director and screenwriter known for his contributions to international cinema.

Alexander Ypsilantis

1792–1828

Greek general

Alexander Ypsilantis was a Greek general who served as a military leader during the Greek War of Independence.

Dalai Lama 11 Khedrub Gyatso

1838–1856

11th Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama 11 Khedrub Gyatso was a Buddhist monk who served as the eleventh Dalai Lama.

Udo Lattek

1935–2015

German football player and coach

Udo Lattek was a German football coach who also worked as a professional player and sports commentator.

Maria Cristina of Savoy, Queen of the Two Sicilies

1812–1836

Queen Consort of the Two Sicilies (1812-1836) and Blessed

Maria Cristina of Savoy was a Queen Consort of the Two Sicilies who was beatified by the Catholic Church.

Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier

1815–1891

French painter and sculptor

Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier was a French painter and sculptor known for his detailed historical scenes.

Mahendra I of Nepal

1920–1972

King of Nepal

Mahendra I of Nepal was a monarch who served as the King of Nepal.

Lizabeth Scott

1921–2015

American actress and singer

Lizabeth Scott was an American actress and singer who appeared in numerous film, television, and stage productions.

Mikhail Mil

1909–1970

Soviet helicopter designer

Mikhail Mil was a Soviet helicopter designer who led the development of numerous rotorcraft models.

Ivan Puliui

1845–1918

Ukrainian physicist

Ivan Puliui was a physicist who contributed to the early development of X-ray imaging technology.

Matvei Zakharov

1898–1972

Soviet military commander

Matvei Zakharov was a Soviet military commander who served as a high-ranking officer in the armed forces.

Leonid Kadeniuk

1951–2018

Ukrainian cosmonaut

Leonid Kadeniuk was a Ukrainian astronaut who participated in a space flight mission.

Glenn Morris

1912–1974

American track and field athlete

Glenn Morris was an American track and field athlete who competed in the decathlon.

Source: Wikidata, released into the public domain under CC0. Snapshot: 2026-07. Names, dates and roles come from Wikidata; summaries are condensed from it. Nothing here is generated to fill a gap.