Walter Whitman was born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, Long Island, USA. His parents Walter and Louisa Van Velsor Whitman immediately nicknamed him "Walt" to distinguish him from his father. Whitman is considered one of the most important and influential American poets both for the style and subject matter of his work. He is best known for his free verse poetry collection
Leaves of Grass, which scandalized the public with for its overt celebration of sexuality.
Clint Eastwood was born in San Francisco, California on May 31. 1930. His parents were Clinton Eastwood Sr., a steelworker and migrant worker, and Margaret Ruth (née Runner) Eastwood, an IBM factory worker. He was nicknamed "Samson" by the hospital nurses at birth as he weighed 11 lbs 6 ounces. (5.2 kg) Eastwood was a logger, steel furnace stoker and gas station attendant before becoming an actor. His first starring role was Rowdy Yates in the US TV Western series
Rawhide.
For more May 31 anniversaries, including Samuel Pepys' last entry in his diary, the premiere of Gioachino Rossini's
La Gazza Ladra (
The Thieving Magpie) opera , and the oldest bride in history check out
OnThatDay.
