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, the 1981st year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 981st year of the 2nd millennium, the 81st year of the 20th century, and the 2nd year of the 1980s decade.

Contents

Events
Births
Deaths
Movies released
Hit songs
New books
Images for kids

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 Keys, 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

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

Images for kids

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1981 Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.