Happy Birthday January 31

Austrian pianist and composer Franz Schubert was born in Himmelpfortgrund (now a part of Alsergrund), Vienna, Archduchy of Austria on January 31, 1797. He was born in a one room apartment of a house called The Red Crayfish, now a museum at Nussdorf Erstrasse 54 Vienna. Young Franz showed an extraordinary childhood aptitude for music and learnt to play the piano, violin and viola, the latter he played in the family string quartet.

Schubert by Wilhelm August Rieder (1875)

For more January 31 anniversaries, including the first American soldier to be executed for desertion since the Civil War, the launch of the first American satellite, and the world’s longest ever reigning female ruler, check out OnThatDay.