What Happened in 1961
26 historical events, 49 notable births, and 8 notable deaths in 1961.
Major Events
January 1961
1961 — year
combined oral contraceptive pill — birth control method that includes a combination of an estrogen (estradiol) and a progestogen (progestin)
1961 Formula One season — sports season
1961 in film — overview of the events of 1961 in film
EuroBasket 1961 — Basketball tournament
1961 Cannes Film Festival — film festival edition
October 1961
Tsar Bomba — hydrogen aerial bomb tested in 1961 by the Soviet Union; most powerful nuclear weapon ever created
European Social Charter — 1961 Council of Europe treaty
Paris massacre of 1961 — a crime committed in 1961 by the French National Police against hundreds of French Algerians, which was kept secret for decades
Apostille Convention — 1961 international treaty drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law
1961 United States Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1961
April 1961
Bay of Pigs invasion — failed landing operation of Cuba in 1961
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations — treaty that lays the framework for most diplomatic relationships
33rd Academy Awards — award ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for achievement in filmmaking in 1960
March 1961
Eurovision Song Contest 1961 — 6th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs — international treaty on recreational drugs
May 1961
1961 European Cup Final — association football match
1961 Dutch Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1961
1961 Monaco Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1961
December 1961
Annexation of Goa — Indian military operation in December 1961 to annex Goa into Indian Republic
September 1961
1961 West German federal election — election
1961 Italian Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1961
June 1961
1961 Belgian Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1961
July 1961
1961 French Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1961
1961 British Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1961
August 1961
1961 German Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1961