Sandra Day O'Connor

1. President Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Connor to the US Supreme Court on July 7.

2. The confirmation hearing was held at the beginning of September and by the end of the month the US Senate voted in favor of adding her to the court with a 99-0 vote (one Senator was absent).

3. Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court on September 25th. Her votes and opinions while on the court cast her as a moderate conservative.

4. She had previously held positions as an Arizona state senator (1969 - 1975), Superior Court judge for Maricopa County (1975 - 1979), and a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals (1979 - 1981).

5. She announced that she would retire on July 1st of 2005.

6. She was replaced by Justice Samuel Alito in January 31 News Events of 2006.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

The popular film “Raiders of the Lost Ark” makes its debut in theaters throughout the United States during June of 1981. The comedy-driven action/adventure film, created by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, was the first to feature the character of Indiana Jones. Jones, portrayed by actor Harrison Ford, was a cavalier archaeology professor intent on protecting the world’s most precious artifacts, was an instant favorite of moviegoers. Raiders of the Lost Ark became the highest grossing film of 1981 and remains one of the most popular and highest grossing film of all time.

Pope John Paul II

On May 13th of 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot by would-be assassin Mehment Ali Agca. The Pope survived the attack but sustained gunshot wounds to his left hand, right arm, and abdomen. Agca’s motive for the attempted assassination was unknown although at one point he suggested that the KGB and the country of Bulgaria were behind it. In July of 1981 he was sentenced to prison for life in Italy. Soon after the shooting Pope John Paul II publicly stated that he had already forgiven Agca. In 2010, Agca was released from prison. Agca was a Turkish national who had been previously convicted of the murder of a journalist in 1979 but had escaped his incarceration.

DeLorean Cars Debut

The first DeLorean DMC-12 futuristic sports car were produced on January 21st. Known for its distinctive gull-wing doors and stainless steel body panels, the vehicle garnered a lot of attention for its unusual look. It was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro who had also designed cars for major companies including Alfa Romeo, BMW, Fiat, and Maserati, throughout his career. The DeLorean was only manufactured for two years and about 9,000 vehicles were produced in total. The company quickly ran into financial troubles and its founder, John DeLorean, was charged with conspiracy to smuggle drugs. The DeLorean was most well-known for being featured as the time travel machine used in the popular 1985 film “Back to the Future.”

The First London Marathon

The first London Marathon is held in March of 1981. About 7,000 people participated in the first marathon with 6,255 participants completing the 26 mile race. It was created by former Olympians Chris Brasher and John Disley with the intention to raise money for charity. Thousands of spectators gathered along the route of the first race to cheer on the participants, and since it began it has been held during the spring every year, continuing to grow in size and popularity. The first winners were Dick Beardsley and Inge Simonsen for the men, crossing the finish line together, and Joyce Smith for the women.

Mozart's undiscovered symphony

In February of 1981 it is announced that the Bavarian State Library in Germany had acquired a previously unknown piece of music written by famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The piece of music was described as a three-movement symphony in F-Major that had been composed by Mozart at the age of nine while he had been living in London in 1765. The library stated that they had found the symphony in a bundle of 107 manuscripts that had been purchased from an anonymous seller for about $300,000. They also announced that a concert would be held to perform it.

Ronald Reagan becomes US President

The first high speed train service in Europe begins with the French TGV / high-speed train between Paris and Lyon

Following plans between European Countries and the US to base Nuclear Missiles in Europe protesters including those at Greenham Common picket US bases

Anti nuclear protesters invade the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactor in California

Iran releases 52 American hostages, who had been held for 444 days

Solidarity inspired popular protests and general strike lead to imposition of Marshal Law and eventual outlawing of solidarity party in Poland

Ronald Reagan becomes US President

The first high speed train service in Europe begins with the French TGV / high-speed train between Paris and Lyon

Following plans between European Countries and the US to base Nuclear Missiles in Europe protesters including those at Greenham Common picket US bases

Anti nuclear protesters invade the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactor in California

Iran releases 52 American hostages, who had been held for 444 days

Solidarity inspired popular protests and general strike lead to imposition of Marshal Law and eventual outlawing of solidarity party in Poland

Thatcher Government in England begin privatisation of Nationalised Industries creating economic revival , this format is later emulated in many other countries throughout the world

Air traffic controllers strike causing chaos in the US and The US President Ronald Reagan Fires Them

Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands dies on May 5th while on the hunger strike, During that time Bobby Sands is elected to Westminster as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

Jack Grimm announces that he believed he found part of the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, he and his researchers did not in fact find the location of the wreck but had passed close by it unknowingly. A joint French-American expedition run by Robert D. Ballard would go on to find the location of the wreck in 1985.

Muhammad Ali finally retires with career record of 55 wins and 5 defeats

US brings in new disability eligibility rules for those claiming disability affecting 500,000 who lose benefits

Rupert Murdoch shuts down the Sunday Times due to an industrial dispute

Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke admits her feature was fabricated and relinquished the Pulitzer Prize

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could require parental notification when teenage girls seek abortions .

Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper is caught, and imprisoned for life for 13 counts of murder

Earthquake hits Athens, killing 16 people

Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated

Sandra Day O'Connor is nominated to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The first American test-tube baby, is born

Riots break out in a number of UK Cities including Brixton ( London ), Toxteth ( Liverpool ), and Moss Side ( Manchester )

The introduction of the first Frequent Flyer Miles AAdvantage introduced by American Airlines ( frequent flyer miles can be redeemed for free air travel )

Four senior Labour MP'S announce they will breakaway from Labour Party and set up the Social Democratic Party SDP under the leadership of Roy Jenkins

147 passengers and crew of a Pakistan Airways are taken hostage and released in Syria

Attempted coup in Bangladesh and the President Ziaur Rahman is murdered

Antigua and Barbuda Gains Independence From Great Britain

Calendar For The Year 1981