previous year1979
1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
1990next year

Major Events of July 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 July 1981 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

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

  • 01 Jul 1981 The Wonderland Murders: The infamous Wonderland Murders took place in the early morning hours, allegedly orchestrated by businessman and drug dealer Eddie Nash. This violent crime became a notorious case in Los Angeles criminal history.
  • 02 Jul 1981 US Supreme Court Ruling on Iran Hostage Crisis: The United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled that President Jimmy Carter had acted within his constitutional authority in resolving the Iran hostage crisis. The ruling confirmed the legality of the Algiers Accords, which stipulated the release of frozen Iranian assets by July 19 in exchange for the liberation of 52 American hostages held in Iran since November 1979.
  • 03 Jul 1981 First Mention of AIDS in New York Times: The New York Times published its first mention of a mysterious disease that would later be identified as AIDS, marking an early public acknowledgment of the emerging health crisis.
  • 04 Jul 1981 John McEnroe Defeats Bjorn Borg at Wimbledon: In a thrilling and historic Wimbledon men's final, John McEnroe defeated the legendary Bjorn Borg with a dramatic four-set victory. The match was characterized by intense rallies and close tiebreakers, with McEnroe winning 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4), 6-4, showcasing his exceptional tennis skills.
  • 05 Jul 1981 Mathematical Memory Feat: Pi Digit Recitation World Record: On July 5, 1981, mathematician Rajan Mahadevan achieved a remarkable feat by reciting 31,811 digits of pi from memory, setting a world record for mathematical memorization. This extraordinary demonstration of human memory and mathematical prowess showcased the incredible cognitive capabilities of the human brain.
  • 06 Jul 1981 London Transit System Terrorist Attacks: On July 6, 1981, a series of coordinated suicide bombings targeted the London public transportation network, resulting in a devastating terrorist attack. Multiple locations across the city's transit system were simultaneously struck, causing 39 fatalities and leaving over 700 people injured. The attacks represented a significant moment of terror that shocked the United Kingdom and highlighted the vulnerability of urban transportation infrastructure to terrorist activities.
  • 07 Jul 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor Nominated to Supreme Court: President Ronald Reagan made history by nominating Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female justice to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. This groundbreaking nomination represented a significant milestone for gender equality in the highest levels of the American judicial system.
  • 08 Jul 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor Confirmed to Supreme Court: The US Senate unanimously confirms Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female Supreme Court Justice, marking a historic milestone in gender representation in the US judicial system. O'Connor was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed with a 99-0 vote, breaking a significant barrier for women in high-level judicial positions.
  • 09 Jul 1981 Nintendo Releases Donkey Kong: Nintendo launched the groundbreaking video game Donkey Kong, which introduced the world to Mario (then known as Jumpman), a character who would become one of the most iconic figures in video game history.
  • 10 Jul 1981 Israel-Lebanon Conflict Escalation: The Israel Defense Forces initiated a military campaign against Palestine Liberation Organization strongholds in Lebanon, responding to Palestinian guerrilla attacks on Israeli settlements. The conflict resulted in significant casualties: 450 Palestinians and Lebanese, and 6 Israelis died before a ceasefire was established on July 24.
  • 11 Jul 1981 Widespread UK Riots Erupt: Significant civil unrest swept across multiple cities in England, with thousands of protesters engaging in violent confrontations with law enforcement, highlighting deep social tensions.
  • 12 Jul 1981 Devastating Floods in Sichuan Province, China: A catastrophic three-day period of torrential rains struck China's Sichuan Province, causing massive flooding along the Yangtze River and its tributaries. Rainfall reached up to 18.8 inches (480 mm), dramatically raising water levels by approximately 16.5 feet (5.0 m). The initial Xinhua news agency report suggested 3,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries, but official numbers were later revised to 753 confirmed deaths, 558 missing persons, 28,140 injured, and approximately 1.5 million people displaced from their homes.
  • 13 Jul 1981 The Specials' "Ghost Town" Dominates UK Music Scene: On July 13, 1981, "Ghost Town" by The Specials reached the top of the UK Singles Chart. This ska and new wave track was a powerful social commentary on urban decay and economic decline in Britain during the early Thatcher era, reflecting the social tensions of the time.
  • 14 Jul 1981 DUPE - Ronald Reagan Shooting Incident: President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. This incident was a significant moment in American political history, though the date provided seems incorrect as Reagan was actually shot on March 30, 1981.
  • 16 Jul 1981 Mahathir Mohamad Becomes Malaysia's Prime Minister: Mahathir bin Mohamad is sworn in as Malaysia's 4th Prime Minister, beginning a historic 22-year tenure that would make him Asia's longest-serving political leader, significantly shaping Malaysia's modern political landscape.
  • 17 Jul 1981 Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse: A catastrophic structural failure occurred at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, when two interconnected skywalks collapsed during a crowded dance event in the hotel's atrium lobby. The disaster resulted in 114 fatalities and over 200 injuries, becoming one of the deadliest structural engineering failures in U.S. history.
  • 18 Jul 1981 Communist Party Leadership Change in Poland: On July 18, 1981, the Polish Communist Party selected Edward Gierek, a former party leader, in a significant political maneuver during the tumultuous period of communist governance in Eastern Europe. This leadership selection occurred during a time of growing social and economic tensions in Poland.
  • 19 Jul 1981 Farewell Dossier Revelation: In a private diplomatic meeting, French President François Mitterrand disclosed the Farewell Dossier to U.S. President Ronald Reagan. This classified collection of documents exposed extensive Soviet industrial espionage, revealing systematic theft of American technological research and development strategies during the Cold War era.
  • 20 Jul 1981 Somali Airlines Flight 40 Crash: Somali Airlines Flight 40 tragically crashed in the Balad District of Somalia, resulting in the loss of 40 lives. The incident highlighted the aviation safety challenges of the era.
  • 21 Jul 1981 Historic Cricket Match at Headingley: In a remarkable cricket match at Headingley, England dramatically defeated Australia. Australia set a target of 130 runs to win, but were dramatically bowled out for just 111 runs. Bob Willis was the standout performer, taking an extraordinary 8 wickets for 43 runs.
  • 22 Jul 1981 Mehmet Ali Agca Sentenced for Assassination Attempt: In a landmark legal proceeding, Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Rome court. This sentencing was related to his notorious assassination attempt, which had significant international political implications.
  • 23 Jul 1981 Centralia Mine Fire Surfaces: A devastating underground coal mine fire, which had been burning since May 27, 1962, broke to the surface in Centralia, Pennsylvania. This environmental disaster would eventually lead to the near-total abandonment of the town due to dangerous underground combustion and toxic gas emissions.
  • 24 Jul 1981 Mohammed Ali Rajai Elected President of Iran: Mohammed Ali Rajai was elected as the President of Iran during a tumultuous period following the Iranian Revolution. His presidency was marked by significant political tensions and ideological shifts in the post-revolutionary government. Rajai represented the conservative Islamic Republican Party and was a key figure in consolidating revolutionary power during the early years of the Islamic Republic.
  • 25 Jul 1981 Voyager 2 Spacecraft Reaches Saturn: NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft successfully completed its historic encounter with Saturn, capturing unprecedented close-up images and scientific data about the planet's rings, moons, and atmospheric composition. This mission significantly expanded human understanding of the outer solar system and planetary dynamics.
  • 26 Jul 1981 Asteroid Discoveries by E. Bowell: Astronomer E. Bowell made significant contributions to astronomical research by discovering two asteroids: #2845 Franklinken and #2882 Tedesco, expanding our understanding of celestial objects in the solar system.
  • 27 Jul 1981 Adam Walsh Kidnapping and Murder: A devastating child abduction case where 6-year-old Adam Walsh, son of John Walsh, was kidnapped in Hollywood, Florida. The tragic event led to his murder, which was discovered two weeks after his disappearance. This case would later become a pivotal moment in raising awareness about child safety and missing children in the United States.
  • 28 Jul 1981 Devastating Earthquake in Kerman, Iran: On July 28, 1981, a powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Southern Iran's Kerman region, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of human life. The seismic event resulted in approximately 1,500 fatalities, left 1,000 people injured, and displaced around 50,000 individuals who became homeless. The extensive damage to infrastructure and settlements highlighted the region's vulnerability to severe geological events.
  • 29 Jul 1981 Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer: Prince Charles of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in a lavish ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in London, watched by an estimated 750 million people worldwide. This wedding was a global media spectacle that captured international attention and marked a significant moment in British royal history.
  • 30 Jul 1981 Mass Protests in Łódź Against Food Shortages: On July 30, 1981, approximately 50,000 demonstrators, predominantly women and children, staged a significant protest in Łódź, Poland, against severe food ration shortages during the Communist era. The demonstration highlighted the economic hardships and growing social discontent in Poland during this period of political and economic instability.
  • 31 Jul 1981 Death of Omar Torrijos in Plane Crash: Panamanian military leader General Omar Torrijos died in a mysterious plane crash, marking a significant moment in Panamanian political history. The crash eliminated a key political figure who had been instrumental in negotiating the Panama Canal Treaties with the United States.