The 1960s

1961 65 years ago

United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld dies in an air crash while attempting to negotiate peace in the…

Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane …

United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld dies in an air crash while attempting to negotiate peace in the…

1961 65 years ago

U.S. President John F. Kennedy nominates African American civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall to the Court of…

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as JFK, was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the youngest person elected presi…

U.S. President John F. Kennedy nominates African American civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall to the Court of…

1961 65 years ago

East and West Cameroon merge to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African R…

East and West Cameroon merge to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.

1961 65 years ago

The CTV Television Network, Canada's first private television network, is launched.

The CTV Television Network, commonly known as CTV, is a Canadian English-language terrestrial television network. Launched in 1961 and acquired by BCE Inc. in 2000, CTV is Canada's…

The CTV Television Network, Canada's first private television network, is launched.

1961 65 years ago

A Douglas Dakota IV operated by Derby Aviation (later renamed to British Midland International) crashes in Canigou,…

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain, or Dakota, is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during Worl…

A Douglas Dakota IV operated by Derby Aviation (later renamed to British Midland International) crashes in Canigou,…

1961 65 years ago

Leyla Zana, Kurdish activist and politician

Leyla Zana is a Kurdish politician in Turkey. She was imprisoned for ten years for her political activism, which was deemed by the Turkish courts to be against the unity of the cou…

Leyla Zana, Kurdish activist and politician

1961 65 years ago

Jay Aston, English singer-songwriter and dancer

Jay Hilda Aston is a British singer and occasional songwriter. She was a member of the British pop group Bucks Fizz from 1981 to 1985. She was the youngest member of the group's or…

Jay Aston, English singer-songwriter and dancer

1961 65 years ago

Marg Downey, Australian actress

Marg Downey is an Australian comedian and actress, best known for her roles in The D Generation, Fast Forward and Full Frontal

Marg Downey, Australian actress

1961 65 years ago

Tom Hunter, Scottish businessman and philanthropist

Sir Thomas Blane Hunter is a Scottish businessman and philanthropist.

Tom Hunter, Scottish businessman and philanthropist

1961 65 years ago

Directed by their chief Maurice Papon, Paris police massacre scores of Algerian protesters.

Maurice Papon was a French civil servant, mass murderer and Nazi collaborator who was convicted of crimes against humanity committed during the occupation of France. Papon led the …

Directed by their chief Maurice Papon, Paris police massacre scores of Algerian protesters.

1961 65 years ago

The first attempt of the apartheid analogy by Ahmad Shukeiri.

Israeli apartheid is a system of institutionalized segregation and discrimination in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories and to a lesser extent in Israel proper. This syst…

The first attempt of the apartheid analogy by Ahmad Shukeiri.

1961 65 years ago

The Soviet Navy performs the first armed test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, launching an R-13 from a…

The Soviet Navy was the naval warfare uniform service branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy made up a large part of the Soviet Unio…

The Soviet Navy performs the first armed test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, launching an R-13 from a…

1961 65 years ago

The Soviet Union detonates the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful explosive device ever detonated.

The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from its formation in 1922 until its dissol…

The Soviet Union detonates the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful explosive device ever detonated.

1961 65 years ago

Don Mattingly, American baseball player, coach, and manager

Donald Arthur Mattingly, nicknamed "Donnie Baseball" and "the Hit Man", is an American former first baseman, manager and coach who currently serves as the bench coach for the Phila…

Don Mattingly, American baseball player, coach, and manager

1961 65 years ago

Frans Timmermans, Dutch politician and diplomat, First Vice President of the European Commission

Franciscus Cornelis Gerardus Maria Timmermans is a Dutch politician who was the leader of GroenLinks–PvdA in the House of Representatives from 2023 to 2025.

Frans Timmermans, Dutch politician and diplomat, First Vice President of the European Commission

1961 65 years ago

Sue Black, Scottish anthropologist and academic

Susan Margaret Black, Baroness Black of Strome is a Scottish forensic anthropologist, anatomist and academic. She was the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Engagement at Lancaster University…

Sue Black, Scottish anthropologist and academic

1961 65 years ago

Bill de Blasio, American politician, 109th Mayor of New York City

Bill de Blasio is an American former politician who served as the 110th mayor of New York City from 2014 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he held the office of New York C…

Bill de Blasio, American politician, 109th Mayor of New York City

1961 65 years ago

George Lopez, American comedian, actor, and talk show host

George Edward Lopez is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is most known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom George Lopez. His stand-up comedy examines race and et…

George Lopez, American comedian, actor, and talk show host

1961 65 years ago

Joan Chen, Chinese-American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter

Joan Chen is a Chinese-born American actress and film director. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including four Taipei Golden Horse Awards and an AACTA Award. She made h…

Joan Chen, Chinese-American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter

1961 65 years ago

Isiah Thomas, American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster

Isiah Lord Thomas III, also known as "Zeke", is an American former professional basketball player who is a current analyst for NBA TV and Fox Sports. He played his entire professio…

Isiah Thomas, American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster

1961 65 years ago

Hiroshi Hase, Japanese wrestler and politician

Hiroshi Hase is a Japanese politician and semi-retired professional wrestler who served as the governor of Ishikawa Prefecture from 2022 to 2026. As a professional wrestler, Hase …

Hiroshi Hase, Japanese wrestler and politician

1961 65 years ago

George Clooney, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

George Timothy Clooney is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for his leading man roles on screen in both blockbuster and independent films, Clooney has received numerous accola…

George Clooney, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter

1961 65 years ago

David Winning, Canadian-American director, producer, and screenwriter

David Winning is a Canadian-American film and television director, screenwriter, producer, editor, and occasional actor. Although Winning has worked in numerous film and TV genres,…

David Winning, Canadian-American director, producer, and screenwriter

1961 65 years ago

Tim Roth, English actor and director

Timothy Simon Roth is an English actor. He was among a group of prominent British actors known as the "Brit Pack". After garnering attention in television productions Made in Brita…

Tim Roth, English actor and director