Major Events of February 1985: 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 1985 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of February 1985: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Feb 1985 Azharuddin's Test Cricket Century: Mohammad Azharuddin scored his third Test century, achieving 122 runs against England in a remarkable display of batting skill during the third Test match.
- 02 Feb 1985 Brian Boitano Wins US Male Figure Skating Championship: Brian Boitano secured victory at the 1985 United States Male Figure Skating Championship, demonstrating exceptional skill and technical prowess in the competitive skating event.
- 03 Feb 1985 Joanne Carner Wins LPGA Elizabeth Arden Golf Classic: Professional golfer Joanne Carner secured victory at the Elizabeth Arden Golf Classic, showcasing her skill and competitive prowess in women's professional golf during the mid-1980s.
- 04 Feb 1985 New Zealand-US Nuclear Tensions Escalate: Naval exercises were canceled when the United States refused to disclose the presence of nuclear weapons, highlighting the growing diplomatic friction between the two nations over nuclear policy.
- 05 Feb 1985 Birth of Cristiano Ronaldo: Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most famous and accomplished football players in history, was born in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. He would go on to become a global sports icon, playing for top clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, and representing the Portuguese national team.
- 06 Feb 1985 Steve Wozniak Departs Apple Computer: Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, officially leaves the company he helped establish, marking a significant moment in the early history of personal computing.
- 07 Feb 1985 "New York, New York" Becomes NYC's Official Anthem: The iconic song "New York, New York", famously performed by Frank Sinatra, was officially adopted as the anthem of New York City, celebrating the city's spirit and cultural identity.
- 08 Feb 1985 Kim Dae Jung Returns to South Korea: Opposition leader Kim Dae Jung returned to South Korea, marking a significant moment in the country's political landscape. A prominent pro-democracy activist, his return signaled potential political shifts and resistance against the authoritarian regime.
- 09 Feb 1985 Murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena in Mexico: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique Camarena was kidnapped in Guadalajara, Mexico, by members of the Guadalajara Cartel led by Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo. Camarena was brutally tortured and murdered for his investigations into drug trafficking operations. His body was discovered on March 5, 1985, marking a significant moment in the ongoing battle against drug cartels in Mexico.
- 10 Feb 1985 Nelson Mandela Rejects Freedom Offer: Nelson Mandela, a prominent anti-apartheid activist, refuses conditional release from prison, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to ending racial segregation in South Africa.
- 11 Feb 1985 Jordan-PLO Diplomatic Accord: King Hussein of Jordan and Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat signed a significant diplomatic accord, representing an important moment of potential cooperation and dialogue in the complex Middle Eastern political landscape.
- 12 Feb 1985 Michael Jordan's NBA Debut: Michael Jordan made his historic NBA debut with the Chicago Bulls on February 12, 1985, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most legendary careers in basketball history. This moment signaled the start of Jordan's transformative impact on professional basketball.
- 13 Feb 1985 Solidarity Leaders Arrested in Poland: In a significant crackdown on the pro-democracy movement, Polish police arrested seven leaders of the Solidarity trade union. This action represented continued government suppression of opposition forces during the communist era in Poland.
- 14 Feb 1985 Whitney Houston Debuts Self-Titled Album: Whitney Houston released her groundbreaking self-titled debut album, which would go on to win multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Performance and Best Female, and was named Billboard Album of the Year in 1986. This album launched her legendary music career.
- 15 Feb 1985 World Chess Championship Match Abandoned: The intense World Chess Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov was abandoned after a grueling series of games, with Karpov leading 25 to Kasparov's 23 games. This dramatic interruption highlighted the psychological and competitive nature of high-level chess during the mid-1980s.
- 16 Feb 1985 Hezbollah Founding: Hezbollah, a prominent Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and militant group, is officially established in Lebanon.
- 17 Feb 1985 Artificial Heart Recipient Milestone: Murray Haydon becomes the third person in medical history to receive an artificial heart, representing a significant advancement in cardiac transplantation and medical technology.
- 18 Feb 1985 WWF War to Settle the Score Wrestling Event: A professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main event featured Hulk Hogan defending the WWF World Heavyweight Championship against 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. In an intense match, Hogan successfully retained his title after Piper was disqualified, maintaining his championship status.
- 19 Feb 1985 Iberia Airlines Flight 610 Tragedy: An Iberia Airlines Boeing 727 crashed into Mount Oiz near Bilbao, Spain, resulting in the devastating loss of all 148 passengers and crew. The accident was officially attributed to pilot error, marking one of the most significant aviation disasters in Spanish history.
- 20 Feb 1985 Minolta Revolutionizes Photography with First Autofocus SLR Camera: Minolta launches the groundbreaking Maxxum 7000, the world's first commercially successful autofocus single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, marking a significant technological leap in photography that would transform the industry.
- 21 Feb 1985 Tim Raines Secures Major Baseball Contract: Major League Baseball player Tim Raines was awarded a significant salary of US$12 million for the 1985 season through arbitration, marking a notable moment in baseball contract negotiations.
- 22 Feb 1985 Space Shuttle Challenger Preparation: The Space Shuttle Challenger was moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for the STS 51-E mission. This event was part of NASA's ongoing space exploration efforts, tragically preceding the Challenger disaster later that year.
- 23 Feb 1985 Edwin Meese III Confirmed as US Attorney General: The US Senate confirmed Edwin Meese III as the 75th Attorney General of the United States, a significant appointment during the Reagan administration. Meese was a close advisor to President Ronald Reagan and played a key role in shaping legal policy during the 1980s.
- 24 Feb 1985 Coronation of King Birendra of Nepal: Birendra, Bir Bikram Shah Dev was officially crowned as the King of Nepal, marking a significant moment in the country's monarchical history. As the eleventh monarch of the Shah dynasty, his coronation represented a continuation of Nepal's traditional royal lineage.
- 25 Feb 1985 French Intelligence Sinks Greenpeace Ship Rainbow Warrior: On February 25, 1985, French secret service agents conducted a covert operation to sink the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand. The attack was part of a deliberate state-sponsored effort to prevent the ship from protesting French nuclear testing in the Pacific. The bombing resulted in the death of Fernando Pereira, a Portuguese-born photographer, and caused significant international diplomatic tension between France and New Zealand. This event highlighted the extreme measures some governments would take to suppress environmental activism and drew global attention to the controversial nuclear testing program.
- 26 Feb 1985 27th Grammy Awards Highlights: The 27th Annual Grammy Awards celebrated outstanding achievements in music. Notable winners included Tina Turner for 'What's Love Got to Do With It' and Cyndi Lauper, marking significant moments in 1980s pop music.
- 27 Feb 1985 US Farmers Protest in Washington: Farmers from across the United States converged in Washington, D.C. to demand economic relief during a challenging period for agricultural communities, highlighting the economic struggles of rural America in the 1980s.
- 28 Feb 1985 Deadly IRA Mortar Attack in Newry: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) executed a devastating mortar attack on the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) police station in Newry, Northern Ireland. This attack resulted in the single deadliest day for the RUC, with nine officers killed, marking a significant escalation in the Northern Ireland conflict.