Born in 1961 - Zodiac Signs, Personality and Horoscopes

1961 Tropical Ephemeris

What happened in January 1961

• January 3, 1961: United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces severance of diplomatic relations with Cuba, restored in 2015.
• January 5, 1961: Italian sculptor Alfredo Fioravanti confesses to forging Etruscan terracotta warriors in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• January 7, 1961: Casablanca Group, comprising Morocco, United Arab Republic, Ghana, Guinea, and Mali, plans NATO-type African organization.
• January 8, 1961: French referendum supports Charles de Gaulle's policies on Algerian independence.
• January 9, 1961: British authorities uncover Soviet spy ring, the Portland Spy Ring, in London.
• January 17, 1961: President Dwight Eisenhower delivers final State of the Union Address and warns of the growing power of the military-industrial complex.
• January 20, 1961: John F. Kennedy is inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States.
• January 24, 1961: B-52 Stratofortress crashes near Goldsboro, North Carolina, with two nuclear bombs.
• January 25, 1961: President John F. Kennedy holds the first live presidential news conference, announcing the release of two surviving crewmen from a USAF RB-47 reconnaissance plane shot down by Soviet flyers.
• January 28, 1961: Supercar, the first family sci-fi TV series filmed in Supermarionation, debuts on ATV in the UK.
• January 30, 1961: President John F. Kennedy delivers his first State of the Union Address.
• January 31, 1961: Chimpanzee Ham is launched into space aboard Mercury-Redstone 2, testing the Project Mercury spacecraft designed for US astronauts.
• February 1, 1961: The United States tested its first Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missile, a significant step in the Cold War arms race.
• February 4, 1961: The Portuguese Colonial War began in Angola, lasting 13 years and resulting in Angola's independence in 1975.
• February 5, 1961: In Congo, President Joseph Kasa-Vubu appointed Joseph Iléo as the new Prime Minister, amidst political instability and the Congo Crisis.
• February 9, 1961: The Beatles performed under the name 'The Beatles at The Cavern Club: Lunchtime' for the first time following their return to Liverpool from Hamburg, marking a significant moment in their early career.
• February 12, 1961: The USSR launched Venera 1 towards Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to attempt a flyby of another planet.
• February 13, 1961: The Congo government announced that villagers had killed Patrice Lumumba, the country's first Prime Minister, sparking international outrage and political turmoil.
• February 14, 1961: Element 103, Lawrencium, was first synthesized in Berkeley, California, expanding the periodic table and contributing to the understanding of heavy elements.
• February 15, 1961: United States President John F. Kennedy warned the Soviet Union to avoid interfering with the United Nations' pacification of the Congo, highlighting the Cold War tensions and international involvement in the Congo Crisis.
• February 26, 1961: Hassan II is pronounced King of Morocco. He ruled Morocco for 38 years and was a key figure in the country's history.
• March 1, 1961: Project Mohole, an ambitious scientific endeavor to drill into the Earth's mantle, commences off the coast of Guadalupe Island, Mexico.
• March 3, 1961: Hassan II ascends to the throne as the King of Morocco, marking the beginning of his reign.
• March 8, 1961: Max Conrad achieves a remarkable feat by circumnavigating the Earth in a record-breaking time of 8 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes.
• March 11, 1961: The iconic fashion doll "Barbie" gains a companion when the "Ken" doll is introduced in the United States, captivating audiences worldwide.
• March 13, 1961: The United Kingdom discontinues the use of black and white £5 notes as legal tender, marking a transition in its currency.
• March 15, 1961: South Africa declares its intention to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations upon becoming a republic, later rejoining in 1994.
• March 18, 1961: A ceasefire agreement is reached in the Algerian War of Independence, bringing an end to the conflict and paving the way for Algeria's independence.
• March 29, 1961: The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, granting residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections.
• March 30, 1961: The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is signed in New York, establishing international controls on the production and distribution of narcotics.
• April 5, 1961: The New Guinea Council of Western Papua, a consultative assembly, was established to promote self-government and independence for the territory of Western New Guinea (now Papua province, Indonesia).
• April 8, 1961: The British India Steam Navigation Company passenger ship MV Dara exploded and sank off the coast of Dubai, resulting in the tragic loss of 238 passengers and crew members.
• April 11, 1961: The trial of Nazi Adolf Eichmann, one of the main organizers of the Holocaust, commenced in Jerusalem, marking a significant step in bringing justice to those responsible for the atrocities of World War II.
• April 12, 1961: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space, successfully orbiting the Earth in the Vostok 1 spacecraft and returning safely, marking a pivotal moment in the history of space exploration.
• April 13, 1961: An attempted coup against António de Oliveira Salazar, the authoritarian Prime Minister of Portugal, failed, highlighting the political tensions and instability within the country.
• April 17, 1961: The Bay of Pigs Invasion, a CIA-backed attempt to overthrow the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro, commenced but ultimately failed by April 19, resulting in a major setback for the United States in the Cold War.
• April 18, 1961: Portugal dispatched its first military reinforcement to Angola, escalating its involvement in the ongoing colonial conflict in the region, which eventually led to the Angolan War of Independence.
• April 20, 1961: Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban Revolution, announced the defeat of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, asserting his government's resilience and strengthening his position in Cuba.
• April 22, 1961: The Algiers putsch, an attempted coup led by four French generals opposed to President Charles de Gaulle's policies in Algeria, failed, further complicating the political situation in Algeria during the Algerian War.
• April 23, 1961: Judy Garland, an iconic American singer and actress, gave a legendary comeback concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City, marking a significant moment in her career and captivating audiences with her powerful performance.
• April 24, 1961: The Swedish warship Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628, was successfully recovered from Stockholm Harbor after centuries, providing valuable insights into 17th-century shipbuilding techniques and naval history.
• April 27, 1961: President John F. Kennedy addressed the American Newspaper Publishers Association, urging newspapers to consider the national interest during times of struggle against international threats, emphasizing the importance of responsible journalism in maintaining national security.
• May 4, 1961: U.S. Freedom Riders began interstate bus rides to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court's integration decision, sparking the Civil Rights Movement.
• May 5, 1961: Alan Shepard became the first American in space aboard Mercury-Redstone 3, marking a significant milestone in the space race.
• May 6, 1961: Tottenham Hotspur F.C. achieved a historic feat by winning both the English league and cup double, becoming the last team to accomplish this feat as of 2023.
• May 8, 1961: Briton George Blake received a 42-year prison sentence for spying, highlighting the tensions of the Cold War.
• May 9, 1961: FCC chairman Newton N. Minow criticized commercial television programming as a "vast wasteland", sparking discussions about media responsibility.
• May 14, 1961: A Freedom Riders bus was fire-bombed and civil rights protestors were attacked by the Ku Klux Klan in Anniston, Alabama, intensifying racial tensions.
• May 15, 1961: J. Heinrich Matthaei conducted the Poly-U-Experiment, leading to the understanding of the genetic code, a fundamental breakthrough in genetics.
• May 16, 1961: Park Chung Hee seized power in a military coup in South Korea, shaping the country's political landscape.
• May 19, 1961: Venera 1 became the first spacecraft to fly by another planet, Venus, although it lost contact with Earth and failed to transmit data.
• May 21, 1961: Alabama Governor John Patterson declared martial law to quell race riots, highlighting the escalating tensions during the Civil Rights Movement.
• May 22, 1961: An earthquake struck New South Wales, causing significant damage and underscoring the region's seismic activity.
• May 24, 1961: Freedom Riders were arrested in Jackson, Mississippi for disturbing the peace, further escalating tensions during the Civil Rights Movement.
• May 25, 1961: President Kennedy announced his ambitious goal to put a man on the Moon before the end of the decade, galvanizing the nation's space program.
• May 27, 1961: Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, comprising Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, Brunei, and North Borneo, shaping the region's political格局.
• May 28, 1961: Peter Benenson's article "The Forgotten Prisoners" was published, marking the foundation of the human rights organization Amnesty International, advocating for the rights of political prisoners worldwide.
• May 30, 1961: Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, the authoritarian ruler of the Dominican Republic, was assassinated, leading to political instability and a period of transition.
• May 31, 1961: Rebel generals Maurice Challe and Andre Zelelr were sentenced to 15 years in prison in France, highlighting the consequences of military insurrections.
• June 1, 1961: Ethiopia experiences a 6.7 magnitude earthquake, causing widespread destruction, landslides, and leaving 5,000 homeless.
• June 4, 1961: US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev meet in Vienna to discuss nuclear tests, disarmament, and Germany.
• June 16, 1961: Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev seeks asylum in France while on tour with the Kirov Ballet, marking a significant defection during the Cold War.
• June 17, 1961: A train derails near Vitry-le-François, France, resulting in 24 deaths and 109 injuries.
• June 19, 1961: Kuwait gains independence from British protectorate and becomes an emirate, marking a significant milestone in its history.
• June 22, 1961: Moise Tshombe is released due to lack of evidence linking him to the murder of Patrice Lumumba, a pivotal figure in the Congo Crisis.
• June 23, 1961: The Antarctic Treaty comes into effect, establishing Antarctica as a scientific preserve and banning all military activity on the continent.
• June 25, 1961: Iraqi President Abd al-Karim Qasim declares his intention to annex newly independent Kuwait, setting the stage for future tensions and conflict.
• June 27, 1961: Kuwait seeks British assistance against the Iraqi threat, prompting the United Kingdom to send troops to the region, further escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf.
• July 4, 1961: Soviet submarine K-19 suffers a reactor leak in the North Atlantic.""
• July 5, 1961: The launch of Israel's first rocket, Shavit 2, marked a significant milestone in the country's space program.
• July 8, 1961: A mine explosion in Czechoslovakia leaves 108 dead.""
• July 12, 1961: The tragic crash of a Czechoslovakian Ilyushin Il-18 aircraft in Casablanca, Morocco, resulted in the loss of 72 lives.
• July 17, 1961: The passing of baseball legend Ty Cobb at the age of 74 brought an end to an illustrious career, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.
• July 21, 1961: Virgil I. Grissom's sub-orbital flight aboard the Mercury-Redstone 4 spacecraft Liberty Bell 7 made him the second American to venture into space, though the mission was marred by the premature opening of the hatch and subsequent sinking of the spacecraft.
• July 25, 1961: U.S. President John F. Kennedy's televised address on the Berlin crisis emphasized the nation's resolve to remain steadfast in the face of Soviet pressure, while also sparking a debate on civil defense.
• July 31, 1961: The first Major League Baseball All-Star Game ended in a tie due to rain, marking the only such occurrence until 2002.
• August 1, 1961: The Alliance for Progress, a United States-led program to promote economic and social development in Latin America, is established.
• August 6, 1961: Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov becomes the second person to orbit the Earth and the first to spend more than a day in space.
• August 7, 1961: Vostok 2, carrying cosmonaut Gherman Titov, lands safely in the Soviet Union.
• August 10, 1961: The United Kingdom applies for membership in the European Economic Community, a precursor to the European Union.
• August 11, 1961: An annular solar eclipse, where the Moon covers the center of the Sun, is visible from the Southern Ocean.
• August 13, 1961: The construction of the Berlin Wall begins, dividing East and West Berlin and becoming a symbol of the Cold War.
• August 21, 1961: Jomo Kenyatta, a prominent Kenyan nationalist leader, is released from prison after nine years of detention.
• August 25, 1961: João Goulart takes over as President of Brazil, succeeding Jânio Quadros, who resigned after seven months in office.
• August 30, 1961: The Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness is signed at the United Nations, aiming to prevent and reduce statelessness worldwide.
• September 1, 1961: Eritrean War of Independence begins with Hamid Idris Awate shooting Ethiopian police.
• September 7, 1961: Tom and Jerry returns with Gene Deitch's Switchin' Kitten. He creates 12 more shorts until 1962.
• September 10, 1961: Wolfgang von Trips crashes into a stand at F1 Italian Grand Prix, killing 14 spectators and himself.
• September 12, 1961: African and Malagasy Union is established.
• September 14, 1961: Turkey's military government sentences 15 members of the previous government to death.
• September 17, 1961: Turkey's military rulers execute former prime minister Adnan Menderes and ministers Fatin Rüştü Zorlu and Hasan Polatkan.
• September 18, 1961: UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld dies in an air crash en route to Katanga, Congo.
• September 21, 1961: In France, the OAS inserts an anti-de Gaulle message into TV programming.
• September 24, 1961: Deutsche Opernhaus returns to its rebuilt house in Berlin as Deutsche Oper Berlin.
• September 28, 1961: A military coup in Damascus, Syria ends the union between Egypt and Syria, known as the United Arab Republic.
• September 30, 1961: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) replaces the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC).
• October 1, 1961: Cameroon gains independence from the UK and joins with French Cameroun to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.
• October 5, 1961: Breakfast at Tiffany's film is released, a critical and commercial success.
• October 10, 1961: Tristan da Cunha volcanic eruption causes evacuation of entire population to Britain until 1963.
• October 12, 1961: New Zealand abolishes the death penalty.
• October 17, 1961: Paris massacre: French police attack Algerian curfew protestors, official death toll 3, human rights groups claim 240.
• October 18, 1961: West Side Story film is released in the United States.
• October 19, 1961: Arab League takes over protection of Kuwait; last British troops leave.
• October 25, 1961: First edition of British satirical magazine Private Eye is published.
• October 29, 1961: DZBB-TV Channel 7, the Philippines' third TV station, launches.
• October 30, 1961: Soviet Union detonates Tsar Bomba, a 58-megaton yield hydrogen bomb, largest ever man-made explosion.
• October 31, 1961: Hurricane Hattie devastates Belize City, Belize, killing over 270; capital moves to Belmopan.
• November 1, 1961: The Hungry generation Movement, a literary and cultural movement, is launched in Calcutta, India.
• November 2, 1961: Kean, a Broadway musical, opens at the Broadway Theater in New York City, running for 92 performances.
• November 3, 1961: The United Nations General Assembly unanimously elects Burmese diplomat U Thant as the acting Secretary-General.
• November 6, 1961: The US government issues a stamp honoring the 100th birthday of James Naismith, inventor of basketball.
• November 8, 1961: Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8 crashes while attempting to land in Richmond, Virginia, killing 77 people.
• November 9, 1961: Robert White sets a world air speed record of 4,093 mph (6,587 km/h) in an X-15 aircraft.
• November 10, 1961: Catch-22, a satirical novel by Joseph Heller, is first published in the United States.
• November 11, 1961: Congolese soldiers murder 13 Italian United Nations pilots during the Congo Crisis.
• November 14, 1961: Yves Saint Laurent, a luxury fashion brand, is founded in Paris, France.
• November 17, 1961: Michael Rockefeller, son of New York Governor and later Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, disappears in the jungles of New Guinea during an expedition.
• November 18, 1961: U.S. President John F. Kennedy sends 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam, escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
• November 19, 1961: A military uprising led by pilots overthrows the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic, ending 31 years of dictatorship.
• November 20, 1961: İsmet İnönü of the CHP forms the new government of Turkey, marking the first coalition government in the country.
• November 21, 1961: The La Ronde opens in Honolulu, becoming the first revolving restaurant in the United States.
• November 24, 1961: The World Food Programme (WFP) is established as a temporary United Nations program to address global hunger.
• November 30, 1961: The Soviet Union vetoes Kuwait's application for membership in the United Nations.
• December 1, 1961: Netherlands New Guinea raises the new Morning Star flag and changes its name to West Papua, symbolizing its aspiration for independence.
• December 2, 1961: Cuban leader Fidel Castro publicly declares Cuba's alignment with Marxism–Leninism and socialism, marking a significant shift in the country's political ideology.
• December 5, 1961: U.S. President John F. Kennedy expresses support for the Volta Dam project in Ghana, demonstrating America's commitment to infrastructure development in Africa.
• December 9, 1961: Tanganyika gains independence within the Commonwealth, becoming a republic with Julius Nyerere as its first Prime Minister and Queen Elizabeth II as the symbolic head of state.
• December 10, 1961: The Soviet Union severs diplomatic ties with Albania due to ideological differences and Albania's alignment with China.
• December 11, 1961: The United States officially enters the Vietnam War with the arrival of American helicopters and personnel in Saigon, marking the beginning of a prolonged and controversial conflict.
• December 14, 1961: Walt Disney's first live-action musical, Babes in Toyland, fails to impress audiences despite its colorful production, resulting in a box office flop.
• December 15, 1961: An Israeli war crimes tribunal sentences Adolf Eichmann to death for his role in the Holocaust, bringing closure to one of the most notorious Nazi war criminals.
• December 17, 1961: A tragic circus tent fire in Niterói, Brazil, claims the lives of 323 people, leaving a lasting impact on safety regulations and public gatherings.
• December 18, 1961: India initiates military action to annex Portuguese India, including the colonies of Goa, Damao, and Diu, asserting its territorial claims.
• December 19, 1961: After 400 years of Portuguese rule, India successfully annexes Goa, marking a significant milestone in its quest for territorial unification.
• December 21, 1961: Katangan Prime Minister Moise Tshombe acknowledges the Congolese constitution, signaling a potential step towards resolving the political tensions in the region.
• December 23, 1961: Luxembourg's national holiday, the Grand Duke's Official Birthday, is formally set on June 23, establishing a day of celebration and national unity.
• December 30, 1961: Congolese troops successfully capture Albert Kalonji, the leader of South Kasai, although he later manages to escape, adding to the ongoing political instability.
• December 31, 1961: Ireland launches its first national television station, Telefís Éireann (later Raidió Teilifís Éireann), marking a significant milestone in the country's media landscape.