May 31, 1848

At Grosse Isle, Canada, 40 Irish Famine immigrant ships wait to unload

During the Great Famine in Ireland (1845-1849), a mass exodus of Irish people fled to North America in search of a better life. Canada, then a part of British North America, was one of the primary destinations. The influx of immigrants, many of whom were suffering from famine and diseases such as typhus, led to a crisis at ports of entry like Grosse Île.

May 31, 1744

Birth of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, inventor, educationist and politician

May 31, 1257

Welsh forces under Meredudd - ap Rhys and Meredudd - ab Owain ambush a force of English and Welsh collaborators killing 3,000 in battle lasting three days at Pontargotto

May 31, 1798

Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey is appointed as Commander of the insurgent forces In Wexford town, a civilian government led by four Protestants and four Catholics is established