1980 in History

John Lennons first new single in more than five years, "(Just Like) Starting Over," is released

Abdicates aged 71 in favor of her 42 year old daughter Beatrix

The Tin Drum wins the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Zimbabwe is admitted as a member of the United Nations.

Supports boycott and diplomatic pressure after Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.

Cabinet backs an Olympic boycott response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Makes a speech in the National Assembly declaring the agreement with Iraq null & void

Begin agrees that civilian flights, telephone lines and postal services will open during normalisation.

Meets Thatcher in Dublin for Anglo-Irish talks.

Addresses Commons questions on the Department's anti-waste programme.

Banana becomes Zimbabwe's first President at independence.

Mugabe is appointed Prime Minister after ZANU-PF's election victory.

Mugabe is appointed Prime Minister following the election result.

Releases Ashes to Ashes, revisiting Major Tom and becoming a major UK number one single.

Discusses Middle Eastern security and Soviet-Syrian cooperation with Hafez al-Assad.

Is assassinated in Paraguay after exile from Nicaragua.

John Lennon is shot by deranged assailant, Mark Chapman as he and Yoko return to the Dakota after a recording session, he is pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital

Quiroga Santa Cruz is killed during the Garcia Meza coup

Begin and Sadat agree to proceed with ambassadors, air links, telephone services and postal relations.

Voyager science imagery identifies the small Saturnian moon later named Atlas.

Assumes power as head of a theocratic state

The BJP is re-founded under the direct leadership of the duumvirate of Vajpayee and Advani

With his new manager and wife Sharon, Osbourne releases the first album, "Blizzard of Ozz," with his new band, Ozzy Osbourne & Blizzard of Ozz - guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslak

Iraq bombs the Abadan refinery

The Iranian town of Dezfuk is heavilly bombed

Iraq bombs 10 Iranian airbases

Spain agrees to re-open its border with Gibraltar

Calls for a boycott of the Moscow Olympics because of the invasion of Afghanistan

Faces Nigerian nationalisation of BP assets during diplomatic tension.

Voyager 1 images reveal the complex braided appearance of Saturn's narrow F ring.

Announces with the band that Led Zeppelin cannot continue without Bonham.

Delivers the 1980 Budget with tax rises and spending restraint.

Raises duties and prescription charges while announcing public spending savings of pounds 900 million.

Pensions and social security rise below inflation; National Insurance and North Sea oil taxation rise.

Addresses Commons questions involving the Building Societies Association and housing finance.

The Israeli Knesset passes a law reaffirming all of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state

The United Nations Security Council condemns (14-0, US abstains) Israeli declaration that all of Jerusalem is its capital

Iraq gets off to a succesful start to the war

Iraqi forces capture Khorramshahr

Iraq captures the Iranian port of Khorramshar

Proposes a compromise approach to Britain's European Community budget dispute.

Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners

Keeps a clean sheet for Italy in the goalless European Championship group match with Belgium.

Keeps a clean sheet as Belgium draw 0-0 with hosts Italy and qualify for the European Championship final.

Completes the report on public sector pay comparability.

Receives the Clegg report on public sector pay comparability.

Mugabe includes ZAPU representatives in the first independence government.

Hosts the 1st Commonwealth Conference to be held in Africa

M'Bow marks completion of the twenty-year international campaign to save Nubian monuments.

Hosts the 1st Commonwealth Conference to be held in Africa

The Foreign Minister's of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference deplore the invasion and demand Soviet withdrawal at a meeting in Islamabad

The Foreign Minister's of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference deplore the invasion and demand Soviet withdrawal at a meeting in Islamabad

Rejects calls to change course at Conservative conference.

Uses the Brighton conference speech to reject a change of economic course.

The government declares approval of a new constitution in a plebiscite conducted without normal electoral registers.

Arranges constitutional conference business linked to the Rhodesia settlement.

With the coup, comes the National Security Council (Milli Gevenlik Konseyi) as the ruling body

After a campaign marked by intimidation from all sides, mistrust from security forces and reports of full ballot boxes found on the road, the Shona majority is decisive in electing Mugabe to head the first Government as Prime Minister

Holds a plebiscite approving a new constitution without established democratic electoral safeguards.

Delivers the late corner from which Horst Hrubesch heads West Germany's winning goal against Belgium.

With the coup, comes the National Security Council (Milli Gevenlik Konseyi) as the ruling body

Leads the military coup in Turkey

Admits that the Government have crushed a plot against him

Akhtar briefs senior Pakistani officers on weapons being covertly supplied to Afghan insurgents resisting Soviet forces.

Dissidents occupy the Peruvian Embassy & Cuba allows a mass exodus from Port Mariel

125,000 migrant Cubans board US bound vessels at Port Mariel

Foreign Minister, Sadeq Qotbzadeh, condemned the rescue effort as "an act of war"

Gaddafi orders dissidents abroad to return by June or face revolutionary punishment.

Robson makes his full international debut, and his first appearance at Wembley, as England beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in a qualifier for that summers European Championships

Relinquishes the defence portfolio after fourteen years.

Healey becomes Deputy Leader of the Labour Party following Michael Foot’s leadership victory.

Healey serves as Deputy Leader after Michael Foot becomes Labour leader.

Egypt and Israel exchange Ambassadors for the 1st time

John Lennon releases "Double Fantasy" with Yoko Ono

Plays keyboards on Drama, giving Yes a sharper early-1980s sound.

Sings on Drama, the only Yes studio album with him as lead vocalist.

Plays keyboards on Duke as Genesis balances progressive writing with shorter songs.

First Special Economic Zones are established in Shenzhen

The British annual inflation rate stands at 21%, the first fall in two years

The Clegg Commission completes its report on pay comparability in the public sector

The registered unemployment total exceeds 2 million

Japan has a record trade deficit of $14.4 billion

Sees the Education Act receive Royal Assent.

Sadat and Begin settle practical arrangements for normal diplomatic and communications links.

Elections are held to the National Asembly, won by the Ba'ath Socialist Party

After a campaign marked by intimidation from all sides, mistrust from security forces and reports of full ballot boxes found on the road, the Shona majority is decisive in electing Mugabe to head the first Government as Prime Minister

ZANU allies itself with the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) in the Patriotic Front (PF), the two parties adopting the names ZANU-PF and PF-ZAPU respectively, but they split after achieving majority rule.

ZANU win 57 out of 80 Common Roll seats in the new Parliament, with the 20 white seats all going to the Rhodesian Front.

Death of Masayoshi Ohira during the election

ZANU-PF wins the largest share of seats in the independence election.

Sees the Employment Act receive Royal Assent.

Begins the first stage of Conservative trade union law reform.

Voyager images show Enceladus has contrasting cratered and smoother terrains, implying differing geological ages.

The Benedikt Grondal Government ends, concluding this term as Prime Minister of Iceland.

Remains prime minister while Magnus Malan becomes defence minister.

Completes the Third Presidential Term as President of Iceland.

Heads Spain's equaliser before Belgium recover to win their European Championship group match 2-1.

Scores Belgium's equaliser three minutes after England take the lead in their 1-1 European Championship draw.

Scores from the penalty spot to equalise for Belgium in the European Championship final.

Scores the late goal that gives Arsenal a 1-0 victory at Juventus and a place in the Cup Winners' Cup final.

Begins Led Zeppelin's final European tour.

Forced to resign after a civel war with the Sandanistas & takes refuge in Miami

Performs Led Zeppelin's final full concert before his death.

Performs with Pulp at Rotherham Arts Centre in the band's first official concert.

Somare leaves office after his first period as Prime Minister

Begins the First Presidential Term as President of Iceland.

Releases Foolish Behaviour, continuing his late-1970s and early-1980s commercial run.

Nigeria announces that it is nationalizing BP's assets in Nigeria

Mugabe begins forming Zimbabwe's first majority-rule government.

Karmal promulgates the Fundamental Principles of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan as an interim constitutional framework.

Attends the G7 summit in Venice.

The Government is forced to negotiate the Gdansk Agreement

Workers have the right to strike & organise independent unions

When the time came to choose who would lead London Labour in GLC election, Livingstone put his name down, but was challenged by the moderate Andrew McIntosh, McIntosh beat Livingstone by 14 votes to 13

When the time came to choose who would lead London Labour in GLC election, Livingstone put his name down, but was challenged by the moderate Andrew McIntosh, McIntosh beat Livingstone by 14 votes to 13

Scores England's goal with a lofted finish in the 1-1 European Championship draw with Belgium.

Scores Belgium's opening goal in the 2-1 European Championship victory over Spain.

Reagan says he will submit to periodic medical tests

Ronald Reagan formally accepts the Republican nomination for President

Appointed President of the USA, 40th President, 1st term

Resigns after a US commando mission fails to rescue hostages from Iran, 8 lives lost

The Clegg Commission completes its report on pay comparability in the public sector

David Kenneth Hay Dale becomes Governor of Montserrat

Begin guerrilla operations along the Thai border

Begins the Gunnar Thoroddsen Government and serves as Prime Minister of Iceland.

Begins the first republican hunger strike at Long Kesh.

Faces the beginning of the first H-Block hunger strike.

Duarte becomes head of the Revolutionary Government Junta

Sings on Heaven and Hell, restoring Black Sabbath's commercial and critical momentum.

Leads the renewed Black Sabbath sound on Heaven and Hell with Ronnie James Dio.

Begins reforms permitting new private higher-education institutions and restructuring the university system.

Sees the Housing Act 1980 receive Royal Assent.

Voyager imagery establishes Hyperion's strongly irregular shape and heavily cratered appearance.

Voyager observations emphasise the dramatic brightness contrast between Iapetus's hemispheres.

Mugabe leads Zimbabwe into independence and Commonwealth membership.

ZANU-PF wins 57 of the 80 common-roll parliamentary seats.

Mugabe leads the first government of the independent Republic of Zimbabwe.

Thatcher presents Trident as essential to the maintenance of Britain's independent nuclear deterrent

Discusses Afghanistan, regional security and Soviet-Indian relations with Indira Gandhi.

The British annual inflation rate stands at 21%, the first fall in two years

Sees inflation begin to fall after reaching very high levels.

Pensions and social security will increase by 1% less than inflation

Addresses Commons questions on the Government's inner-city policy.

The United Nations Security Council condemns (14-0, US abstains) Israeli declaration that all of Jerusalem is its capital

Zimbabwe gains internationally recognised independence under Mugabe's government.

The Foreign Minister's of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference deplore the invasion and demand Soviet withdrawal at a meeting in Islamabad

The Foreign Minister's of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference deplore the invasion and demand Soviet withdrawal at a meeting in Islamabad

Invades Iran & begins the Gulf War

Orders tank commanders to lead the invasion of Iran

Wants a quick war to capture the east bank of the Shatt al-Arab & parts of Khuzistan

Iraq launches an all out attack on Iran, hoping for a quick victory

Metropolitan Police command hands final assault responsibility to the SAS.

Authorises final action as the Iranian Embassy siege reaches its end.

The SAS storms the Iranian Embassy and ends the hostage siege.

Faces the start of the Iranian Embassy siege at Princes Gate.

Appointed Prime Minister of Iran, during the Islamic Revolutionary Council

Appointed Prime Minister of Iran, during the Islamic Revolutionary Council

The Israeli Knesset passes a law reaffirming all of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state

John Lennon takes a cruise to Bermuda, where his songwriting muse is rekindled

Joy Division is set to play a gig at the Derby Hall in Bury, Curtis had attempted suicide the previous night by overdosing on phenobarbitone prescribed for his epilepsy

With Martin Hannett again producing, the band record their second album Closer Britannia Row Studios

Curtis hangs himself in the kitchen of his home; Deborah Curtis, his wife, discovers his body

The posthumous single "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is released

With Martin Hannett again producing, the band record their second album Closer Britannia Row Studios

With Martin Hannett again producing, the band record their second album Closer Britannia Row Studios

With Martin Hannett again producing, the band record their second album Closer Britannia Row Studios

Duarte joins the Revolutionary Government Junta during the civil war crisis

Informed at an NSC meeting that KGB agents had been identified in the US Embassy

Healey challenges Michael Foot for the Labour leadership but narrowly loses on the second ballot.

Writes the phrase used in Thatcher's conference speech.

Becomes Leader of the Opposition after winning the Labour leadership.

Leaves the Defence Ministry and is succeeded by Van Tien Dung

Led Zeppelin formally announces its break-up after John Bonham's death.

Appointed manager of Leeds United

Solidarity was founded at the Lenin Shipyards, where Lech Walesa and others formed a broad anti-communist social movement ranging from people associated with the Catholic Church to members of the anti-communist Left

Agrees with Carrington on steps toward easing the Gibraltar border.

Supports the Lisbon Agreement on easing the Gibraltar frontier.

Answers parliamentary questions concerning controls on local-authority expenditure.

Sees the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 receive Royal Assent.

Addresses Commons questions on regeneration of London Docklands.

Appointed manager of Leeds United

Borg marries tennis pro Mariana Simionescu

Wonders tribute to Bob Marley, the reggaefied "Master Blaster (Jammin)," enters the charts, tops the R&B charts for 7 weeks

Sets out the Medium Term Financial Strategy alongside the Budget.

Backs the Treasury's medium-term approach to inflation control.

Garcia Meza seizes power in a violent military coup.

Voyager 1 returns detailed images of Mimas dominated by the enormous Herschel impact crater.

Some British athletes compete in Moscow despite government boycott pressure.

Formally opens the Moscow Summer Olympic Games amid a major Western boycott.

Makes a speech in the National Assembly declaring the agreement with Iraq null & void

al-Rifai participates in national development connected with Jordanian political and historical developments.

Raises National Insurance contributions as part of fiscal policy.

With the coup, comes the National Security Council (Milli Gevenlik Konseyi) as the ruling body

Visits India and is received by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.

Introduces extra North Sea oil taxation in the autumn statement.

Carter requests the Senate majority leader to delay consideration of the Treaty on the Senate floor in view of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Carter announces the US will comply with the provisions of the Treaty as long as Russia reciprocates, Brezhnev make a similar statement

Leads the SAS structure involved in Operation Nimrod.

Commands the SAS assault that ends the Iranian Embassy siege.

Olaf Palme begins a peace shuttle between Tehran & Baghdad

"Dark Side Of The Moon" breaks the record for the longest stay on the Billboard Top 100

"Dark Side Of The Moon" breaks the record for the longest stay on the Billboard Top 100

Coordinates Soviet-bloc pressure on Poland as the Solidarity movement challenges Communist Party authority.

al-Rifai participates in political reform connected with Jordanian political and historical developments.

Diouf leaves the prime ministership to succeed Senghor as President

Senghor resigns and transfers power constitutionally to Abdou Diouf

Garcia Meza begins an authoritarian military presidency.

Vigdis Finnbogadottir begins serving as president and the worlds first female head of state. Appointed President of Iceland, 1st term

Appointed President of Turkey

Appointed President of Turkey, 1st term

Returns to power after the 1980 federal election.

Hua Guofeng is replaced by Zhao Ziyang (an ally of Deng Xiaoping) as premier of Communist China. Appointed Prime Minister of China

Appointed Prime Minister of Iceland

Indira Gandhi returns as Prime Minister after Congress wins the 1980 general election.

Appointed Prime Minister of Iran, during the Islamic Revolutionary Council

Appointed Prime Minister of Iran, during the Islamic Revolutionary Council

Appointed caretaker Prime Minister of Japan, after the death Masayoshi Ohira

Appointed Prime Minister of Japan, 1st term

Appointed Prime Minister of Russia

Mohamed Mzali became prime minister of Tunisia.

Appointed Prime Minister of Turkey

Julius Chan becomes Prime Minister after Somare loses parliamentary support

Heng Samrin continues as head of state of the People's Republic of Kampuchea

Answers parliamentary questions concerning the Property Services Agency.

Helps found the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) or Workers Party

Backs further restraint in public expenditure during the autumn statement.

Announces public spending savings during the March Budget.

Campaigns for the No side in Quebec first sovereignty referendum.

Takes part in Commons proceedings concerning the rate support grant.

The electorate rejects the military regime's proposed constitutional reform

The Government is forced to negotiate the Gdansk Agreement

Mugabe returns to campaign in the British-supervised independence election.

Mugabe returns from exile to campaign in the independence election.

Makes right to buy a central housing policy.

The Israeli Knesset passes a law reaffirming all of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state

The United Nations Security Council condemns (14-0, US abstains) Israeli declaration that all of Jerusalem is its capital

Carter agrees in correspondence with Thatcher to supply Trident missiles to the United Kingdom

Voyager 1 measures Saturn's magnetic field during the close flyby.

Voyager 1 images Saturn's rings and reveals intricate ring structure.

Voyager measurements refine Saturn's rotation period using radio and atmospheric observations.

Apologises to Saudi Arabia over the Death of a Princess broadcast dispute.

Releases the gospel album Saved.

Co-produces Scary Monsters and Super Creeps, Bowie's last studio album before the 1980s pop breakthrough.

Congress wins the seventh general election and Indira Gandhi returns to national office.

Voyager imaging shows small moons gravitationally confining material around Saturn's F ring.

Foreign Minister, Sadeq Qotbzadeh, condemned the rescue effort as "an act of war". Extremists seize the US Embassy, take 66 hostages & demand the extradition of the Shah. A helicopter mission to rescue the hostages leads to political disaster

Informed at an NSC meeting that KGB agents had been identified in the US Embassy

Gains senior party posts at the Sixth Party Congress.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam leads the SLV-3 team when the launcher successfully places the Rohini satellite into orbit.

Solidarity was founded at the Lenin Shipyards, where Lech Walesa and others formed a broad anti-communist social movement ranging from people associated with the Catholic Church to members of the anti-communist Left

Workers have the right to strike & organise independent unions

16,000 strike for political freedom & lower food prices

Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners

Solidarnosc, the independent trade union that emerged from the Lenin Shipyard strike, becomes a labor movement representing workers led by chairman Walesa

Signs a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

Tells Conservative conference that the lady's not for turning.

Residents clash with police after a raid on the Black and White Cafe.

Faces urban unrest after the St Pauls riot in Bristol.

Handles policing questions after the St Pauls riot.

Whitelaw faces questions after disorder in St Pauls.

The Government is forced to negotiate the Gdansk Agreement

16,000 strike for political freedom & lower food prices

Led by electrician Lech Walesa, the workers take control of the shipyard and demand labor reform and greater civil rights including the freedom of expression and religion, and the release of political prisoners

Solidarnosc, the independent trade union that emerged from the Lenin Shipyard strike, becomes a labor movement representing workers led by chairman Walesa

The Communist Government authorizes the increase in food prices for the summer of 1980, a revival of labor disturbances erupts throughout Poland, workers in the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk go on strike

Joy Division is set to play a gig at the Derby Hall in Bury, Curtis had attempted suicide the previous night by overdosing on phenobarbitone prescribed for his epilepsy

Attends the Anglo-Irish summit in Dublin

A new tax is introduced on North Sea oil

Opens on Broadway in The Elephant Man, earning praise for his stage performance as John Merrick.

Releases The River, a double album mixing party songs, working-class stories and darker adult themes.

Pink Floyd begin the original live performances of The Wall in Los Angeles

Voyager 1 studies Titan's thick atmosphere during the Saturn encounter.

Voyager 1 data establish that Titan possesses a dense atmosphere dominated by nitrogen.

Voyager 1 measurements constrain Titan's atmospheric pressure and surface temperature despite its opaque haze.

Lawrie McMenemy calls a press conference at the Potters Heron hotel, Ampfield to announce that the European Footballer of the Year Kevin Keegan will be joining Southampton F.C. in the forthcoming summer

Lawrie McMenemy calls a press conference at the Potters Heron hotel, Ampfield to announce that the European Footballer of the Year Kevin Keegan will be joining Southampton F.C. in the forthcoming summer

Carter requests the Senate majority leader to delay consideration of the Treaty on the Senate floor in view of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Carter announces the US will comply with the provisions of the Treaty as long as Russia reciprocates, Brezhnev make a similar statement

Cooperates with Britain over purchase of the Trident missile system.

Announces the Trident decision to the House of Commons.

Francis Pym announces that Britain will purchase Trident.

The Thatcher Government decides to acquire the Trident missile system as the successor to Polaris

Scores both West German goals, including the late winner, in the 2-1 European Championship final victory over Belgium.

The United Nations Security Council condemns (14-0, US abstains) Israeli declaration that all of Jerusalem is its capital

Registered unemployment passes two million during the recession.

Addresses the Commons on the proposed use of urban development corporations.

John McEnroe beats Bjorn Borg for US Open

Supports the Venice Declaration, an important Community statement on the Middle East.

Supports the Community's Venice Declaration on the Middle East.

Hosts the European Council as Italy leads discussions on foreign policy, energy and economic cooperation.

Represents Ireland as leaders discuss economic conditions and European political cooperation.

Represents Germany at the Venice European Council during discussions on economic policy and European political cooperation.

Meets Thatcher and other leaders at the Venice G7 summit.

Attends the Venice G7 summit with other major industrial leaders.

Voyager 1 flies past Saturn and studies the planet, rings and major moons.

Mission design directs Voyager 1 close to Titan, a gravity assist that sends the spacecraft out of the planetary plane.

Manages second-tier West Ham United to a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Arsenal.

Bjorn Borg beats John McEnroe for the Wimbledon title

Scores the winning goal as Belgium defeat Spain 2-1 and move toward the European Championship final.

Ali challenges Larry Holmes for the WBCs version of the world Heavyweight title looking to set another record as the first boxer to win the Heavyweight title four times, Ali lost by technical knockout in round eleven

Sees the Lancaster House settlement produce Zimbabwe's independence.

Completes his role as governor during the transition to Zimbabwe.

Recognises Zimbabwe's independence after the Lancaster House settlement.

Lancaster House negotiations shape the constitutional settlement leading to Zimbabwean independence.

Birth of Bradley Wiggins

Birth of Steven George Gerrard

Dies after an armed attack on his vehicle in Paraguay.

Death of Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Curtis hangs himself in the kitchen of his home; Deborah Curtis, his wife, discovers his body

Former president Enrique Hertzog Garaiz dies in Buenos Aires.

Death of Hector Jose Campora Demaestre

Curtis hangs himself in the kitchen of his home; Deborah Curtis, his wife, discovers his body

Death of James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens

Jean-Paul Sartre dies in Paris, aged seventy-four.

Bonham dies, leaving Led Zeppelin unable to continue with its original line-up.

Dies at Jimmy Page's house after rehearsals for a planned American tour.

Death of John Lennon, Lennon is shot dead by Mark David Chapman, in front of his apartment block in New York City

Death of Josip Broz Tito, leaves a power vacuum that threatens the unity of Yugoslavia

Death of Josip Broz Tito

Death of Karl Doenitz

Death of Masayoshi Ohira during the election

Death of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi

Death of Patrick Chrestien Gordon Walker

Peter Sellers dies in London aged 54.

Plant joins the decision that Led Zeppelin will not continue after Bonham's death.

Death of Sanjay Gandhi

Death of Steve McQueen

Death of Steve Peregrin Took

Death of Vulko Velev Chervenkov

Publicly apologises to Saudi Arabia for the film "Death of a Princess"