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Major Events of February 1981: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from February 1981 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of February 1981: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Feb 1981 Infamous Underarm Bowling Incident: During the final of the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup, Australian cricketer Trevor Chappell controversially bowled an underarm delivery to New Zealand's Brian McKechnie on the last ball, preventing New Zealand from potentially scoring the six runs needed to tie the match. This unsportsmanlike act directly led to the International Cricket Council banning underarm bowling as it violated the spirit of the game.
  • 02 Feb 1981 Death of Donald W. Douglas, Aircraft Pioneer: Donald W. Douglas, a pioneering American aircraft designer and manufacturer who founded Douglas Aircraft Company, passed away at the age of 88. His innovative work significantly shaped the aviation industry, particularly during the early and mid-20th century, with iconic aircraft designs that revolutionized commercial and military aviation.
  • 03 Feb 1981 Gro Harlem Brundtland elected Premier of Norway
  • 04 Feb 1981 Prince Charles Proposes to Lady Diana Spencer: At an intimate dinner in Buckingham Palace, Prince Charles proposed marriage to Lady Diana Spencer, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most famous and scrutinized royal relationships of the 20th century. This proposal would lead to a globally watched wedding later that year.
  • 05 Feb 1981 Operation Soap: Toronto Gay Bathhouse Raids: The Metropolitan Toronto Police Force conducted a significant raid on four gay bathhouses in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, arresting approximately 300 individuals. This event sparked widespread protests and became a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ rights history, highlighting systemic discrimination and police harassment against the gay community.
  • 06 Feb 1981 Start of Ugandan Bush War: The National Resistance Army (NRA), led by future president Yoweri Museveni, launches an attack on a Ugandan Army installation in the Mubende District, marking the beginning of the Ugandan Bush War, a significant conflict that would reshape Uganda's political landscape.
  • 07 Feb 1981 Soviet Military Tupolev Tu-104 Crash: A Tupolev Tu-104 aircraft catastrophically crashed during takeoff, resulting in the complete loss of all passengers and crew. The flight, traveling from Leningrad to Vladivostok, carried 70 Soviet military personnel, including 24 high-ranking admirals and generals. The crash represented a significant military leadership loss and raised serious questions about aviation safety in the Soviet military during the early 1980s.
  • 08 Feb 1981 IBM Launches Personal Computer: IBM introduces its first personal computer (IBM PC), a landmark moment in personal computing history that would revolutionize the technology industry and set standards for future personal computer design.
  • 09 Feb 1981 Royal Engagement Announcement: Prince Charles proposes marriage to Lady Diana Spencer during an intimate dinner at Buckingham Palace, setting the stage for what would become one of the most famous royal marriages of the 20th century.
  • 10 Feb 1981 Las Vegas Hilton Hotel Fire Tragedy: A devastating fire at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino resulted in eight fatalities and 198 injuries, causing significant damage and loss of life. The fire broke out on the 8th floor around 8:00 pm and rapidly spread upward through the 22-story building, creating a catastrophic scene of destruction.
  • 11 Feb 1981 Soviet Military Leadership Decimated in Plane Crash: A Tupolev Tu-104 aircraft carrying 70 Soviet military officers crashed during takeoff from Leningrad to Vladivostok, resulting in the complete loss of all passengers. The catastrophic incident claimed the lives of 24 high-ranking admirals and generals, including Admiral Emil Spiridonov, Commander of the Soviet Pacific Fleet, and Lt. Gen. Georgi Pavlov, Commander of the Pacific Air Wing. The Soviet government delayed acknowledging the tragedy for four days.
  • 12 Feb 1981 Admiral Bobby R. Inman CIA Appointment: Admiral Bobby R. Inman of the US Navy is appointed as deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), bringing significant military leadership to intelligence operations.
  • 13 Feb 1981 Rupert Murdoch Acquires The Times and Sunday Times: Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch purchased The Times and The Sunday Times for £12 million, marking a significant moment in British media ownership. This acquisition represented a major shift in the landscape of British print journalism, with Murdoch's News International gaining control of two prestigious and influential newspapers.
  • 14 Feb 1981 Stardust Nightclub Fire Tragedy: In the early morning hours of February 14, 1981, a devastating fire broke out at the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin, Ireland. The catastrophic blaze resulted in 48 fatalities and left 214 people injured, becoming one of the worst fire disasters in Irish history. The incident prompted significant investigations into fire safety regulations and building standards.
  • 15 Feb 1981 Richard Petty Wins 23rd Daytona 500: Racing legend Richard Petty achieved a historic milestone by winning his record 7th Daytona 500 title, narrowly beating Bobby Allison by 3.5 seconds in an intense and memorable race.
  • 16 Feb 1981 Reagan's Executive Order Transforms Regulatory Landscape: President Ronald Reagan issued Executive Order 12291 on February 16, 1981, fundamentally reshaping the federal regulatory process. The order mandated that executive branch agencies submit proposed rules and regulations to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requiring a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis. This directive ensured that potential societal benefits of any new regulation would demonstrably outweigh potential implementation costs, marking a significant shift in governmental regulatory approach.
  • 17 Feb 1981 Reagan Issues Executive Order on Regulatory Review: President Ronald Reagan signed Executive Order 12291, a pivotal administrative directive requiring federal agencies to conduct comprehensive cost-benefit analyses for proposed regulations, marking a significant shift in governmental regulatory approach.
  • 18 Feb 1981 Ronald Reagan Presidential Inauguration: Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States. He proposes a significant shift in economic policy, advocating for increased defense spending while simultaneously calling for decreased taxes and domestic spending in his address to Congress.
  • 19 Feb 1981 Ford Motor Company Massive Financial Loss: Ford Motor Company announced a significant financial setback, reporting a substantial loss of $1.5 billion, highlighting the economic challenges facing the automotive industry in the early 1980s.
  • 20 Feb 1981 James Sanford Sets 50-Meter Indoor World Record: James Sanford equaled the 50-meter indoor world record with an impressive time of 5.61 seconds, showcasing remarkable speed and athletic prowess in track and field.
  • 21 Feb 1981 Capture of the Yorkshire Ripper: Peter Sutcliffe, a notorious serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper, was finally apprehended by law enforcement after a reign of terror that resulted in the murder of 13 women across Northern England. His capture brought significant relief to communities that had lived in fear during his killing spree.
  • 22 Feb 1981 Amy Alcott Wins LPGA Golf Tournament: Professional golfer Amy Alcott secured victory at the Bent Tree Ladies Golf Classic, showcasing her skill and competitive prowess in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournament.
  • 23 Feb 1981 1981 Spanish Coup Attempt: On February 23, 1981, Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejero, along with 200 armed Civil Guard officers, stormed the Congress of Deputies chamber in Madrid during a vote to swear in Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo as President of the Government. The officers held the parliamentarians and ministers hostage for 18 hours, but the coup failed after King Juan Carlos I denounced the coup in a public television broadcast, calling for rule of law and the democratic government to continue.
  • 24 Feb 1981 Devastating Athens-Corinth Earthquake: A severe magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Athens-Corinth region in Greece, resulting in 16 fatalities, over 400 injuries, and extensive structural damage across multiple towns.
  • 25 Feb 1981 Political Leadership Change in Spain: Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo was elected as the Prime Minister of Spain, marking a significant moment in the country's post-Franco democratic transition.
  • 26 Feb 1981 French TGV Sets Speed Record: The French Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) achieved an impressive average speed of 380 kilometers per hour during a trial run, demonstrating significant advancements in high-speed rail technology.
  • 27 Feb 1981 McCartney and Wonder Record Iconic Duet: Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder collaborate to record their groundbreaking hit song 'Ebony and Ivory', a powerful musical statement about racial harmony and unity.
  • 28 Feb 1981 Bobby Sands Begins Hunger Strike at Maze Prison: IRA member Bobby Sands initiated a hunger strike at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, marking a pivotal moment in the Irish Republican movement that would capture global media attention and become a significant event in the Northern Ireland conflict.