TODAY IN HISTORY - JULY 31ST

781 – The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji (Traditional Japanese date: July 6, 781).

1715 – Seven days after a Spanish treasure fleet of 12 ships left Havana, Cuba for Spain, 11 of them sink in a storm off the coast of Florida. A few centuries later, treasure is salvaged from these wrecks.

1777 – The U.S. Second Continental Congress passes a resolution that the services of Gilbert du Motier "be accepted, and that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and connexions, he have the rank and commission of major-general of the United States."

1867 – S. S. Kresge, American businessman, founded Kmart (d. 1966) is born.

1875 – Andrew Johnson, American general and politician, 17th President of the United States (b. 1808) dies.

1912 – Irv Kupcinet, American football player and journalist (d. 2003) is born.

1921 – Peter Benenson, English lawyer and activist, founded Amnesty International (d. 2005) is born.

1923 – Stephanie Kwolek, American chemist and engineer, invented Kevlar (d. 2014) is born.

1923 – Ahmet Ertegun, Turkish-American songwriter and producer, founded Atlantic Records (d. 2006) is born.

1930 – The radio mystery program The Shadow airs for the first time.

1948 – At Idlewild Field in New York, New York International Airport (later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport) is dedicated.

1948 – USS Nevada is sunk by an aerial torpedo after surviving hits from two atomic bombs (as part of post-war tests) and being used for target practice by three other ships.

1961 – At Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, the first All-Star Game tie in Major League Baseball history occurs when the game is stopped in the ninth inning because of rain.

1964 – Ranger program: Ranger 7 sends back the first close-up photographs of the moon, with images 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from earth-bound telescopes.

1973 – A Delta Air Lines jetliner, flight DL 723 crashes while landing in fog at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts killing 89.

1991 – The United States and Soviet Union both sign the START I Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the first to reduce (with verification) both countries' stockpiles.

2006 – Fidel Castro hands over power to brother Raúl Castro.

2012 – Michael Phelps breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the most medals won at the Olympics.