Timeline

1859

Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

May

31

In this This Day in History video, take a look at May 31, the day in 1859 when the Big Ben clock tower was set up in St. Stephen’s tower above the British House of Commons, and also the day in 1961 when South Africa became an independent republic and withdrew from the Commonwealth of Nations. In 2005 on this day, Mark Felt made himself known as the secret deep throat source in Watergate.

History Every Day

Sign Up for "This Day in History"

Uncover fascinating moments from the past every day! Learn something new with key events in history, from the American Revolution to pop culture, crime and more.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Global Media. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.