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

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

01 Mar 1981 Bobby Sands Hunger Strike Begins: Bobby Sands, a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) member, initiated a hunger strike in HM Prison Maze, protesting for political prisoner status. This act would become a pivotal moment in the Northern Ireland conflict, drawing international attention to the republican prisoners' struggle and ultimately leading to his death on May 5, 1981, after 66 days of fasting.
02 Mar 1981 Black People's Day of Action in Response to New Cross Massacre: The inaugural Black People's Day of Action was organized by the New Cross Massacre Action Committee, led by John La Rose, to protest the tragic fire that killed 13 young Black people. The event featured a powerful march from the fire scene to the Houses of Parliament, highlighting racial injustice and community solidarity.
03 Mar 1981 Yip Harburg Tragic Death: Yip Harburg, the renowned 84-year-old American lyricist famous for writing 'Over the Rainbow', died in a tragic automobile accident. Harburg was a significant figure in American musical theater and popular music.
04 Mar 1981 Carol Banawa: Filipino Pop Singer Emerges: Carol Banawa is a prominent Filipino singer who gained significant recognition in the Philippine music industry during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Known for her powerful vocal range and emotive performances, she became a notable figure in the local pop music scene, releasing several hit albums and singles that resonated with Filipino audiences.
05 Mar 1981 ZX81 Home Computer Launch: Sinclair Research launched the ZX81, a pioneering British home computer that would revolutionize personal computing, ultimately selling over 1.5 million units worldwide and making computing accessible to the general public.
06 Mar 1981 Walter Cronkite Signs Off as CBS Evening News Anchor: Legendary broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite concludes his remarkable 19-year tenure as the anchor of CBS Evening News, marking the end of an era in American television journalism.
07 Mar 1981 Tragic Murder at Disneyland: An 18-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a violent altercation at Disneyland, marking the first homicide in the theme park's history. The incident occurred after a confrontation with James O'Driscoll, reportedly triggered by an inappropriate physical interaction with O'Driscoll's girlfriend.
08 Mar 1981 Radioactive Wastewater Spill at Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant: A significant environmental incident occurred at the Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, where thousands of gallons of radioactive wastewater were accidentally spilled, raising serious concerns about nuclear safety and potential ecological contamination.
09 Mar 1981 First Successful Human Heart-Lung Transplant: A groundbreaking medical achievement occurred at Stanford University Medical Center when Dr. Bruce Reitz and his surgical team successfully performed the first human heart-lung transplant. The recipient was Mary Gohlke, a 45-year-old woman from Mesa, Arizona, suffering from end-stage primary pulmonary hypertension. The donor was a 15-year-old boy who had tragically died from severe head trauma two days prior. This medical milestone represented a significant advancement in organ transplantation and surgical techniques.
10 Mar 1981 Kim Carnes' 'Bette Davis Eyes' Single Released: Popular music artist Kim Carnes released the hit single 'Bette Davis Eyes', which would become one of the most successful and memorable songs of 1981, eventually winning Grammy Awards and becoming a cultural touchstone of the early 1980s.
11 Mar 1981 Pinochet Continues Military Rule in Chile: Chile's new constitution takes effect, with military dictator Augusto Pinochet being sworn in for another 8-year presidential term, further solidifying his authoritarian regime's control over the country.
12 Mar 1981 Soyuz T-4 Mission to Salyut 6 Space Station: A Soyuz T-4 spacecraft successfully launched, carrying two cosmonauts to the Salyut 6 space station, continuing the Soviet Union's pioneering space exploration efforts during the early 1980s.
13 Mar 1981 Assassination Attempt on Pope John Paul II: On March 13, 1981, Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City. The Pope was critically wounded but survived the shooting, which was later revealed to have potential connections to international political conspiracies.
14 Mar 1981 NCAA Basketball Tournament Upset: In a shocking second-round upset of the NCAA tournament, St. Joseph's University defeated the unbeaten and top-ranked DePaul University basketball team with a narrow 49-48 victory.
15 Mar 1981 Pakistani Airline Hostage Crisis Resolved: 147 passengers and crew members traveling on a Pakistan Airways Boeing 720 airplane were held captive for almost 15 days before being released in Syria. The hostage situation was resolved through a complex negotiation where the Pakistan government agreed to release 54 prisoners of political significance in exchange for the safe return of the passengers and crew.
16 Mar 1981 REO Speedwagon's 'Keep On Loving You' Tops US Charts: On March 16, 1981, REO Speedwagon's power ballad 'Keep On Loving You' reached the number one position on the US Billboard charts, marking a significant moment in the band's musical career.
17 Mar 1981 Propaganda Due Masonic Lodge Exposed in Italy: On March 17, 1981, Italian authorities uncovered the controversial Propaganda Due (P2) Masonic Lodge, a secretive and influential organization linked to political and financial elites. The discovery revealed a complex network of powerful individuals who had been operating behind the scenes, potentially influencing Italian politics and society.
18 Mar 1981 Kosovo Ethnic Tensions Escalate: Significant tensions erupted in Kosovo, Yugoslavia, as police and Albanian demonstrators engaged in violent clashes. This event highlights the growing ethnic and political tensions in the region during the early 1980s, foreshadowing future conflicts.
19 Mar 1981 Space Shuttle Columbia Accident: A tragic accident occurred during a test of the Space Shuttle Columbia, resulting in the deaths of three workers and injuries to five others. This incident highlighted the inherent risks in space exploration and technological development.
20 Mar 1981 Jean Harris Murder Conviction: Jean Harris was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the murder of Dr. Herman Tarnower, known as the 'Scarsdale Diet Doctor'. This high-profile case captured national attention and highlighted issues of personal relationships and criminal justice.
21 Mar 1981 Tragic Death of Mike Hailwood and Daughter: Legendary 9-time World Grand Prix motorcycle champion Mike Hailwood and his 9-year-old daughter Michelle were tragically killed in a fatal road accident near their home in Tanworth-in-Arden, England. Hailwood's Rover SD1 collided with a truck, cutting short the life of one of motorcycle racing's most celebrated athletes.
22 Mar 1981 First Mongolian in Space: Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa made history as the first Mongolian cosmonaut, launched into space aboard Soyuz 39 alongside Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov, representing a significant milestone in Mongolia's space exploration.
23 Mar 1981 US Supreme Court Abortion Parental Notification Ruling: The US Supreme Court ruled that states could require parental notification when teenage girls sought abortions, with certain exceptions to protect the rights and safety of minors.
24 Mar 1981 Nightline Debuts on ABC: ABC News launches 'Nightline' with Ted Koppel, a groundbreaking late-night news program that would become an influential platform for in-depth news analysis and reporting.
25 Mar 1981 Bowers and Ruddy Galleries Auction of Garrett Coin Collection: From March 25 to March 26, 1981, Bowers and Ruddy Galleries conducted a significant auction featuring a portion of the renowned Garrett coin collection. This auction was a notable event in the numismatic world, offering collectors and investors an opportunity to acquire rare and valuable coins from one of the most prestigious private collections.
26 Mar 1981 Carol Burnett Wins Landmark Libel Case: Comedian Carol Burnett won a significant legal victory, securing a $1.6 million verdict against the National Enquirer in a landmark libel lawsuit, which set an important precedent for celebrity legal rights and media accountability.
27 Mar 1981 Massive Solidarity Movement Strike in Poland: On March 27, 1981, the Solidarity movement in Poland staged a significant nationwide warning strike, demonstrating the labor union's growing power and resistance against communist government oppression. Approximately 12 million Polish workers walked off their jobs for four hours, making it one of the largest peaceful protests in Eastern European history during the Cold War era.
28 Mar 1981 Martina Navratilova Defeats Andrea Jaeger in WTA Tour Championships: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova defeated 16-year-old American tennis prodigy Andrea Jaeger 6-3, 7-6 in the final of the WTA Tour Championships at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
29 Mar 1981 First London Marathon Inaugural Race: The first London Marathon was held, featuring 7,500 runners. The race was jointly won by Dick Beardsley of the United States and Inge Simonsen, marking a historic moment in long-distance running.
30 Mar 1981 Reagan Assassination Attempt: On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John Hinckley Jr. This dramatic event marked a significant moment in U.S. presidential history, as Reagan became the first president to survive the so-called 'Tecumseh's curse' - a superstition where presidents elected in years ending with zero were believed to die in office.
31 Mar 1981 Attempted Assassination of US President Ronald Reagan: US President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Three others were also wounded during the incident, including White House Press Secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy, and a police officer.