1981 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	19th century – 20th century – 21st century
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s – 1980s – 1990s 2000s 2010s
Years:	1978 1979 1980 – 1981 – 1982 1983 1984

1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar.

Contents

Events
Births
Deaths
Movies released
Hit songs
New books

Events

January 20 – Hostages from the Iran hostage crisis are released at the same time when Ronald Reagan is inaugurated for the first time as President of the United States.
January 21 – The first DeLorean automotive is released in Northern Ireland.
January 27 – The Indonesian passenger ship Tamponas 2 catches fire and capsizes in the Java Sea, killing 580.
January 29 – Adolfo Suárez resigns as Prime Minister of Spain.
February 4 – Gro Harlem Brundtland becomes Prime Minister of Norway.
February 8 – Polish Prime Minister Józef Pinkowski resigns and is replaced by General Wojciech Jaruzelski.
February 25 – Adolfo Suárez leaves his office as Prime Minister of Spain.
March 30 - Shortly after being inaugurated, John Hinckley, Jr. tries to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. He survives the attack.
July 29 – Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales.
November 9 – Céline Dion's first album is released in Canada.

Births

January 4 – Alicia Keyes, American singer
January 28 – Elijah Wood, American actor
January 31 – Justin Timberlake, American singer and actor
February 11 – Kelly Rowland, American singer
February 24 – Lleyton Hewitt, Australian tennis player
March 3 – Justin Gabriel, South African professional wrestler
April 28 – Jessica Alba, actress
June 5 – Sebastien Lefebvre, Canadian Musician-Simple Plan
June 7 – Anna Kournikova, Russian tennis player
June 9 – Natalie Portman, Israeli actress
July 30 – Hope Solo, American goal keeper
August 8 – Roger Federer, Swiss tennis player
September 4 – Beyoncé Knowles, American singer and actress
September 8 – Jonathan Taylor Thomas, American actor
September 26 – Serena Williams, American tennis player
October 31 – Frank Iero MCR
December 2 – Britney Spears, American singer and actress
December 27 – Patrick Sharp, Canadian professional ice hockey player

Deaths

May 12 - Bob Marley
June 28 – Terry Fox
November 25 - Jack Albertson

Movies released

Hit songs

"The Tide Is High" – Blondie
"Celebration" – Kool & The Gang (2)
"9 To 5" – Dolly Parton (2)
"I Love A Rainy Night" – Eddie Rabbitt (2)
"Keep On Loving You" REO Speedwagon (1)
"Rapture" – Blondie (2)
"Kiss On My List" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (3)
"Morning Train (9 To 5)" – Sheena Easton
"Bette Davis Eyes" – Kim Carnes
"Stars On 45 Medley" – Stars On 45 (1)
"The One That You Love" – Air Supply (1)
"Jessie's Girl" – Rick Springfield
"Endless Love" – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (9)
"Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" – Christopher Cross (3)
"Private Eyes" – Daryl Hall & John Oates
"Physical" – Olivia Newton-John

New books

Ill Seen Ill Said – Samuel Beckett
Arabian Nights and Days – Naguib Mahfouz
La Bicyclette Bleue (The Blue Bicycle) – Régine Deforges
Bliss – Peter Carey
Creation – Gore Vidal
Cujo – Stephen King
Distant Star – Samuel R. Delany
Famous Last Words – Timothy Findley
Flames Across the Border – Pierre Berton
Giants of the Ottawa Valley – Joan Finnegan
The Glitter Dome – Joseph Wambaugh
The Golden Age of Science Fiction – Kingsley Amis
Goodbye, Janette – Harold Robbins
Gorky Park – Martin Cruz Smith
Hotel New Hampshire – John Irving
An Indecent Obsession – Colleen McCullough
Licence Renewed – John Gardner
Masquerade – Kit Williams
Midnight's Children – Salman Rushdie
No Time for Tears – Cynthia Freeman
Noble House – James Clavell
Other People: A Mystery Story – Martin Amis
Red Dragon – Thomas Harris
Strata – Terry Pratchett
Tar Baby – Toni Morrison
The Third Deadly Sin – Lawrence Sanders

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1981 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.