1. In 1729, the colony of Maryland passed the Act to Prevent the Importation of Slaves, making it the first English colony to take a legislative stand against the slave trade. However, the act was poorly enforced and did not lead to a significant reduction in the number of slaves brought into the state.

2. On July 31, 1814, during the War of 1812, a British fleet sailed up the Patuxent River in Maryland and began attacking American forts and ships in the area. This culminated in the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, where American forces were defeated and the British marched into Washington, D.C.

3. The first passenger train in Baltimore began operation on July 31, 1830. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Tom Thumb locomotive pulled a car containing passengers on a demonstration run from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills, marking the beginning of the railroad era in Maryland.

4. In 1874, Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) was chartered on July 31. The college, located in Westminster, Maryland, has a rich history and has produced many notable alumni including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former NFL coach Vince Lombardi.

5. On July 31, 1987, the Orioles' Eddie Murray became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in consecutive games. The feat was accomplished during a series against the California Angels and helped Murray lead the Orioles to the American League Championship that year.