1962
1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar).
Events
January January 1 - Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand January 3 - Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro January 4 - New York City introduces a train that operates without a crew on-board January 5 - The first record by The Beatles is released by Deutsche Grammophon January 8 - Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is exhibited in the United States for the first time (National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC) January 9 - Trade pact between Cuba and the Soviet Union January 10 - Avalanche on Nevado Huascarán in Peru; 4000 deaths January 13 - Albania allies itself with the People's Republic of China January 22 - The Organization of American States (OAS) suspends Cuba's membership January 26 - Ranger 3 is launched to study the moon. The space probe later missed the moon by 22,000 miles January 30 - Two of the high-wire "Flying Wallendas" are killed when their famous seven-person pyramid collapsed during a performance in Detroit, Michigan
February-April February 2 - For the first time in 400 years Neptune and Pluto align February 3 - US announces its trade embargo with Cuba February 4 - The Sunday Times becomes the first paper to print a colour supplement February 5 - French President Charles De Gaulle calls for allowing Algeria to be an independent nation February 7 - The United States Government bans all US-related Cuban imports and exports February 9 - Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation opened February 14 - First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy takes television viewers on a tour of the White House February 10 - Captured American spy pilot Francis Gary Powers is exchanged for captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel February 12 - Six members of the Committee of 100 of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament are found guilty of a breach of the Official Secrets Act February 20 - Mercury program: While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn orbits the Earth three times in 4 hours, 55 minutes becoming the first American to orbit the Earth March 1 - An American Airlines Boeing 707 crashes on takeoff at New York International Airport after its rudder separates from the tail, with loss of all life on board March 2 - Military coup in Burma March 8 - In Geneva, France and Algerian FLN begin negotiations March 18 - France and Algeria sign an agreement in Evian ending the Algerian War. See Evian Accords. March 19 - Armistice in Algeria - however, Organisation de l'armée secrète continues its terrorist attacks against Algerians March 23 - Scandinavian States of Nordic Council sign Helsinki Convention on Nordic Co-operation April 4 - James Hanratty is hanged in Bedford Gaol for A6 murder - many believe he was innocent April 8 - In France, the Évian Accords are adopted in a referendum with a majority of 90%. April 26 - The Ranger 4 spacecraft crashes into the Moon
May-June May 2 - Bomb explodes in Algeria - 110 dead May 5 - 12 East Germans escape via a tunnel under the Berlin Wall May 14 - Juan Carlos marries the Greek Princess Sophia in Athens May 14 - Milovan Djilas, former vice-president of Yugoslavia, is given further sentence for publishing Conversations with Stalin May 23 - Drilling for new Montreal, Quebec subway commences May 23 - Founder of the French terrorist Organisation de l'armée secrète, Raoul Salan, is sentenced to life imprisonment in France May 24 - Scott Carpenter orbits the Earth three times in the Aurora 7 space capsule May 25 - Consecration of the new Coventry cathedral May 31 - Adolf Eichmann hanged in Israel June 3 - An air crash at Orly Airport in Paris - 130 dead, two stewardesses survive June 15 - Students for a Democratic Society complete the Port Huron Statement June 17 – OAS signs a truce with FLN in Algeria June 25 - The Supreme Court rules in Engel v. Vitale that prayers in public schools are unconstitutional
July-September July 1 - Independence of Rwanda and Burundi July 1 – Supporters of Algerian independence win in referendum July 1 - Another heavy smog over London July 5 - Algeria becomes independent from France. July 6 - Irish broadcaster, Gay Byrne, presents his first edition of The Late Late Show. Byrne would go on to present the show for 37 years making it the longest running chat show in the world July 10 - Telstar, the world's first active communications satellite, is launched into orbit July 17 - Nuclear testing: The "Small Boy" test shot Little Feller I becomes the last atmospheric test detonation at the Nevada Test Site July 22 - Mariner program: Mariner 1 spacecraft flies erratically several minutes after launch and has to be destroyed July 23 - Telstar relays the first live trans-Atlantic television signal July 28 - Locust swarm threatens Delhi July 31 - Algeria proclaims independence; Ahmed Ben Bella is the first President August 5 - Film actress and sex icon, Marilyn Monroe is found dead in her Los Angeles, California home after apparently overdosing on sleeping pills August 6 - Jamaica becomes independent August 17 - East German border guards kill 18-year-old Peter Fechter as he attempts to cross the Berlin Wall into West Berlin August 23 - John Lennon secretly marries Cynthia Powell August 27 - NASA launches the Mariner 2 space probe August 31 - Trinidad and Tobago become independent September 2 - Soviet Union agrees to send arms to Cuba September 12 - President John F. Kennedy declares the USA will get a man on the moon by the end of the decade September 26 - Civil war erupts in Yemen September 29 - Alouette 1, the first Canadian satlite is launched
October October 1 - The first black student James Meredith registers in University of Mississippi escorted by Federal marshals October 5 - French National Assembly censures the proposed referendum to sanction presidential elections by popular mandate; prime minister Georges Pompidou resigns, but President de Gaulle asks him to stay in office October 8 - German Der Spiegel magazine publishes an article about Bundeswehr's bad preparedness - Spiegel scandal erupts October 9 - Uganda becomes independent within the Commonwealth October 10 - Der Spiegel publishes an article on a NATO exercise criticizing the weakness of the West German army (the offices of the paper are occupied by the police on the 16th) October 11 - Second Vatican Council: Pope John XXIII convenes the first ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church in 92 years October 12 - Infamous Columbus Day Storm strikes the U. S. Pacific Northwest with wind gusts up to 170 mph; 46 dead, 11 billion board feet of timber blown down, $230 million U.S. in damages October 13 - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf opens on Broadway. October 14 - Cuban Missile Crisis begins: A U-2 flight over Cuba takes photos of Soviet nuclear weapons being installed. A stand-off then ensues the next day between the United States and the Soviet Union, putting the entire world under threat of a nuclear war October 26 - Spiegel scandal - German police occupies Der Spiegel offices in Hamburg October 28 - Cuban Missile Crisis: Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev announces that he had ordered the removal of Soviet missile bases in Cuba October 28 - a referendum in France favours the election of the president by universal suffrage October 31 - the UN General Assembly requests the United Kingdom to suspend enforcement of the new constitution in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), but the constitution comes into effect on November 1
November November 1 – Soviets begins dismantling their missiles in Cuba November 5 - Franz Josef Strauß, the West German defence minister, is relieved of his duties over the Spiegel affair because it is alleged that he was involved in police action against the magazine November 5 - Saudi Arabia breaks off diplomatic relations with Egypt following a period of unrest partly caused by the defection of several Saudi princes to Egypt November 5 - A coal mining disaster in Ny-Ålesund kills 21 people. The Norwegian government is forced to resign in the aftermath of this accident in August, 1963 November 6 - Apartheid: The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution condemning South Africa's racist apartheid policies and calls for all UN member states to cease military and economic relations with the nation November 7 - Richard M. Nixon loses the California governor's race. In his concession speech, he states that this is his "last press conference" and that "you won't have Dick Nixon to kick around any more" November 17 - In Washington, DC, US President John F. Kennedy dedicates Dulles International Airport November 20 - Cuban Missile Crisis ends: In response to the Soviet Union agreeing to remove its missiles from Cuba, US President John F. Kennedy ends the quarantine of the Caribbean nation. November 26 - Spiegel scandal - German police ends its occupation of Der Spiegel offices November 29 - An agreement is signed between Britain and France to develop the Concorde supersonic airliner November 30 - The United Nations General Assembly elects U Thant of Burma as the new UN Secretary-GeneralDecember December 2 - Vietnam War: After a trip to Vietnam at the request of US President John F. Kennedy, US Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield becomes the first American official to not make an optimistic public comment on the war's progress December 7 - Prince Rainier III of Monaco revises the principality's constitution, devolving some of his formerly autocratic power to several advisory and legislative councils. December 8 - Closing of first period of Second Vatican Council December 8 - North Kalimantan National Army revolts in Brunei – first stirrings of Indonesian Confrontation December 9 - Tanganyika (now Tanzania) becomes a republic within the Commonwealth, with Julius Nyerere as president December 11 - Formation in West Germany of coalition government of Christian Democrats, Christian Socialists, and Free Democrats December 19 - Britain acknowledges the right of Nyasaland (now Malawi) to secede from the Central African Federation*The last foreign occupied territories of India, Daman and Diu and Goa are freed from the Portuguese by the Indian Army December 22 - "Big Freeze" in Britain - no frost-free nights until March 5 1963
unknown date Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring released, giving rise to the modern environmentalist movement Pantyhose becomes available for sale in U.S. department stores American ad man Martin K. Speckter invents the interrobang, a new English-language punctuation mark Sino-Indian War border dispute involving two of the world's largest nations (between India and the People's Republic of China) University of Szeged assumed the name of the great Hungarian poet, Attila József, who was a student here in the 1920s.
Year in topic 1962 in film*Lawrence of Arabia*The Longest Day*To Kill a Mockingbird, starring Gregory Peck*The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance starring Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne*How the West Was Won, starring Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, John Wayne, George Peppard, Debbie Reynolds *Hatari starring John Wayne 1962 in literature*Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor*Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein*One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey 1962 in music*Release of first Beatles recording: the single "Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You" on October 5 (in the United Kingdom only) 1962 in rail transport* January 8 - The Harmelen train disaster, the worst railway accident in the history of The Netherlands, results in 91 fatalities. 1962 in sports 1962 in television*March 16 - Walter Cronkite succeeds Douglas Edwards as anchorman of the CBS Evening News.*Les Crane and Regis Philbin host The Tonight Show for a short time, until Johnny Carson took over later in the year
BirthsJanuary-February January 5 - Joe Monzo, microtonal composer and tuning-theorist January 14 - Michael McCaul, American politician January 17 - Jim Carrey, actor, comedian January 21 - Marie Trintignant, French actress (d. 2003) February 1 - Tomoyasu Hotei, Japanese rock guitarist February 4 - Clint Black, country musician February 5 - Jennifer Jason Leigh, actress February 6 - Axl Rose, singer ("Guns N'Roses") February 7 - Garth Brooks, country music musician February 7 - Eddie Izzard, British actor and comedian February 10 - Bobby Czyz, boxer February 10 - Cliff Burton, bassist for Metallica (d. 1986) February 11 - Sheryl Crow, American singer February 11 - Scott Kolden, actor February 17 - Lou Diamond Phillips, actor February 21 - Vanessa Feltz, British TV presenter February 21 - Chuck Palahniuk, author February 21 - David Foster Wallace, American writer February 22 - Steve Irwin, Australian herpetologist and TV personality (The Crocodile Hunter) February 24 - Michelle Shocked, musician
March-April March 2 - Jon Bon Jovi, singer, songwriter, and actor March 3 - Jackie Joyner-Kersee, athlete
March 3 - Herschel Walker, American football player
March 7 - Brenda Hill, Greatest Mother in the World March 12 - Darryl Strawberry, baseball player March 15 - Terence Trent D'Arby, singer March 17 - Clare Grogan, Scottish actress and singer March 20 - Stephen Sommers, film director March 21 - Matthew Broderick, actor (WarGames, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) March 21 - Rosie O'Donnell, comedian, actress, talk show host, publisher (A League of Their Own, Harriet the Spy) March 23 - Steve Redgrave, five times Olympic gold-medallist March 26 - John Stockton, former basketball player, all-time NBA leader in assists and steals March 30 - MC Hammer, rapper April 2 - Mark Shulman, children's author April 7 - Alain Robert, world famous builderer April 10 - Steve Tasker, American football player April 11 - Vincent Gallo, actor April 15 - Nawal El Moutawakel, Moroccan hurdler April 16 - Ian MacKaye, musician April 19 - Al Unser, Jr, automobile racer, two-time Indianapolis 500 winner April 23 - John Hannah, Scottish actor
May-June May 3 - Anders Graneheim, Swedish bodybuilder May 9 - David Gahan, singer in Depeche Mode May 10 - David Fincher, film director May 12 - Emilio Estevez, actor May 17 - Lise Lyng Falkenberg, Danish writer May 20 - Mike Jeffries, American soccer coach May 24 - Gene Anthony Ray, actor (d. 2003) May 26 - Bobcat Goldthwait, actor, comedian May 27 - Ravi Shastri, Indian cricketer June 2 - Clyde Drexler, basketball player June 8 - Nick Rhodes, musician, Duran Duran June 10 - Gina Gershon, actress June 13 - Ally Sheedy, actress June 19 - Paula Abdul, dancer, choreographer and singer; American Idol judge June 29 - Amanda Donohoe, actress June 30 - Tony Fernandez, baseball playerJuly-August July 3 - Tom Cruise, actor July 8 - Rob Burnett, former head writer for David Letterman July 19 - Anthony Edwards, actor July 31 - Wesley Snipes, actor August 4 - Roger Clemens, baseball pitcher, six-time Cy Young Award winner August 5 - Patrick Ewing, former NBA star August 6 - Michelle Yeoh, actress August 9 - Kevin Mack, American football player August 24 - Craig Kilborn, talk show host August 29 - Rebecca De Mornay, actress
September-October September 1 - Ruud Gullit, Dutch footballer September 11 - Elizabeth Daily, actress September 15 - Earnest Byner, American football player September 17 - Baz Luhrmann, film director September 24 - Jack Dee, comedian September 25 - Aida Turturro, actress September 26 - Melissa Sue Anderson, actress September 26 - Tracey Thorn, singer September 28 - Grant Fuhr, hockey goalie October 1 - Esai Morales, actor October 11 - Joan Cusack, actress and comedienne October 13 - Kelly Preston, actress October 13 - Jerry Rice, NFL star, holds most league receiving records October 16 - Flea, bassistist for Red Hot Chili Peppers and actor October 19 - Evander Holyfield, heavyweight boxer October 23 - Doug Flutie, American and Canadian Football star October 25 - Nick Hancock, British actor and television presenter October 26 - Cary Elwes, British actor (The Princess Bride) October 30 - Courtney Walsh, cricketer
November-December November 3 - Marilyn, British pop star and musician November 4 - Jeff Probst, American television personality November 11 - Demi Moore, actress November 19 - Jodie Foster, actress and director November 21 - Steven Curtis Chapman, contemporary Christian music star November 27 - Samantha Bond, British actress November 28 - Jon Stewart, actor, comedian November 29 - Andrew McCarthy, actor November 30 - Bo Jackson, American football and baseball star November 30 - Daniel Keys Moran, science fiction writer December 5 - José Cura, Argentine tenor December 9 - Felicity Huffman, actress (Magnolia, Sports Night, Desperate Housewives) December 12 - Tracy Austin, tennis champion December 22 - Ralph Fiennes, actor December 28 - Michel Petrucciani, French jazzman (d. 1999) December 30 - Alessandra Mussolini, Italian politician
DeathsJanuary-March January 13 - Ernie Kovacs, comedian (b. 1919) January 20 - Robinson Jeffers, poet (b. 1887) January 24 - André Lhote, French painter (b. 1885) January 26 - Lucky Luciano, American mobster (b. 1897) January 29 - Fritz Kreisler, Austrian violinist (b. 1875) February 10 - Eduard von Steiger, former president of Switzerland (b. 1881) February 17 - Bruno Walter, conductor (b. 1876) February 19 - Georgios Papanikolaou, inventor of the Pap smear (b. 1883) March 24 - Jean Goldkette, jazz musician (b. 1899) March 24 - Auguste Piccard, physicist and explorer (b. 1884)April-June April 10 - Michael Curtiz, film director (b. 1886) April 13 - Culbert Olson, 29th Governor of California (b. 1876). May 27 - Egon Petri, classical pianist (b. 1881) May 31 - Adolf Eichmann, Nazi official (executed) (b. 1906) June 2 - Vita Sackville-West, landscape gardener (b. 1892) June 4 - Charles William Beebe, American oceanic pioneer (b. 1877) June 6 - Yves Klein, French painter (b. 1928) June 12 - John Ireland, English composer (b. 1879) June 13 - Eugène Aynsley Goossens, English composer (b. 1893) June 15 - Alfred Cortot, Swiss pianist (b. 1877) June 28 - Mickey Cochrane, Baseball Hall of Famer (b. 1903)July-September July 6 - William Faulkner, American novelist (b. 1897) July 9 - Georges Bataille, French writer (b. 1897) July 12 - Roger Wolfe Kahn, band leader (b. 1907) July 20 - George Macaulay Trevelyan, English historian (b. 1876) August 5 - Marilyn Monroe, American actress (b. 1926) August 9 - Hermann Hesse, author (b. 1877) August 15 - Lei Feng, eminent PLA soldier (b. 1940) September 3 - E. E. Cummings, poet (b. 1894) September 6 - Hanns Eisler, composer (b. 1898) September 7 - Kirstin Flagstad, Norwegian soprano, (b. 1895)September 7 - Isak Dinesen, Danish writer (b. 1885)October-December October 6 - Tod Browning, director (b. 1882) October 9 - Milan Vidmar, Slovene electrical engineer and chess player (b. 1885) October 27 - Enrico Mattei, Italian politician (b. 1906) November 7 - Eleanor Roosevelt, first lady (b. 1884) November 18 - Niels Bohr, Danish physicist (b. 1885) November 28 - Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (b. 1880) November 29 - Erik Scavenius, Prime Minister of Denmark (b. 1877) December 15 - Charles Laughton, actor and director (b. 1899) December 20 - Emil Artin, mathematician (b. 1898) December 24 - Wilhelm Ackermann, mathematician (b. 1896)
Physics - Lev Davidovich Landau Chemistry - Max Ferdinand Perutz, John Cowdery Kendrew Medicine - Francis Harry Compton Crick, James Dewey Watson, Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins Literature - John Steinbeck Peace - Linus Carl Pauling
Fields MedalistsLars Hörmander, John Milnor
Heads of state in 1962
|
|
