1492day.year
All remaining Jews are expelled from Spain when the Alhambra Decree takes effect.
The Alhambra Decree took effect in 1492, expelling all remaining Jews from Spain under the Catholic Monarchs’ order.
On July 31, 1492, the Alhambra Decree, issued by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, went into effect. The edict demanded that all Jews convert to Christianity or leave their Spanish territories within four months. Approximately 200,000 Jews faced exile, leading to significant displacement and loss of property. Many sought refuge in Ottoman lands, North Africa, and elsewhere in Europe. The expulsion marked a tragic turning point for Spanish Jewry and reshaped the cultural landscape of the Iberian Peninsula. The decree also reflected the monarchs’ efforts to enforce religious homogeneity after the Reconquista.
1492
Alhambra Decree
1874day.year
Patrick Francis Healy became the first African-American inaugurated as president of a predominantly white university, Georgetown University.
In 1874, Patrick Francis Healy became the first African-American president of a predominantly white university when he assumed leadership of Georgetown University.
Born into slavery in 1834 and raised in Georgia, Patrick Francis Healy overcame racial barriers to pursue education at the College of the Holy Cross.
He earned advanced degrees in Europe and joined the Jesuit order before returning to Georgetown.
On July 31, 1874, Healy was inaugurated as president, making history in American higher education.
He implemented sweeping reforms, modernizing the curriculum and improving campus facilities.
Under his leadership, Georgetown expanded its reach, academic standards, and financial stability.
Healy's tenure symbolized progress in racial integration and the pursuit of excellence in 19th-century academia.
1874
Patrick Francis Healy
African-American
Georgetown University
1970day.year
Black Tot Day: The last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy.
Black Tot Day marked the end of the Royal Navy’s formal rum ration, a tradition that lasted over 300 years.
For centuries, Royal Navy sailors received a daily rum ration known as the “tot,” fostering camaraderie aboard ships.
On July 31, 1970, the Admiralty officially ended this practice, declaring “Black Tot Day” and ceasing all rum issue.
The decision stemmed from concerns over sailors’ safety and the impact of alcohol on modern ship operations.
Many veterans recall the final day with a mix of sorrow and celebration, marking the close of a naval era.
Since then, Black Tot Day has become a nostalgic observance among naval history enthusiasts worldwide.
It symbolizes both the end of an age-old custom and the Navy’s adaptation to changing times and technologies.
1970
Black Tot Day
rum ration
Royal Navy