1990⚡ Event
Manuel Noriega Surrenders
During the United States invasion of Panama, Manuel Noriega, the deposed strongman of Panama, surrendered to American forces.
warpolitics
What Happened in 1990?
Explore 37 historical moments from 1990 — 31 events, 6 birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
Events in 1990(31)
1990⚡ Event
Marion Barry arrested for drug possession
During an FBI sting operation, Marion Barry, the mayor of Washington, D.C., was arrested for possession of crack cocaine. The event took place on January 18, 1990.
politicslaw
1990⚡ Event
Soviet crackdown in Baku
The Soviet Red Army violently cracked down on Azeri pro-independence demonstrations in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR.
politicswar
1990⚡ Event
Hiten spacecraft launched
Japan launched the Hiten spacecraft, the first lunar probe launched by a country other than the Soviet Union or the United States.
spacetechnology
1990⚡ Event
Prosper Avril ousted in Haiti
Eighteen months after seizing power, Prosper Avril was ousted as the military head of state of Haiti.
politics
1990⚡ Event
Lithuania declares independence from the Soviet Union
Lithuania becomes the first Soviet republic to declare the restoration of its independence.
politicslaw
1990⚡ Event
Farzad Bazoft Hanged
Iraqi authorities hanged Iranian freelance reporter Farzad Bazoft on charges of spying for Israel.
lawpolitics
1990⚡ Event
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Theft
Thieves stole thirteen artworks valued at $500 million from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
artslaw
1990⚡ Event
Strangeways Prison riot begins
The longest prison riot in British history began at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, lasting for 25 days.
lawdisaster
1990⚡ Event
Hubble Space Telescope launch
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-31 mission.
spacesciencetechnology
1990⚡ Event
Violeta Chamorro becomes President of Nicaragua
Violeta Chamorro took office as President of Nicaragua, becoming the first female head of state in the Americas to have been elected in her own right.
politics
1990⚡ Event
Van Gogh painting sells for record price
Vincent van Gogh's Portrait of Dr. Gachet was sold at auction for US$82.5 million, setting a world record for the most expensive painting at the time.
artseconomics
1990⚡ Event
Paperback Software copyright infringement
Paperback Software was found guilty of copyright infringement on June 28, 1990, for using Lotus 1-2-3's interface in its own spreadsheet program.
lawtechnology
1990⚡ Event
Taiwanese Deportation Incident
The Taiwanese military ordered the deportation of dozens of illegal immigrants from mainland China in sealed boat holds, causing 25 deaths due to suffocation.
politicslawdisaster
1990⚡ Event
Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt
Jamaat al Muslimeen, a radical Islamic group, began a coup attempt against the government of Trinidad and Tobago by taking hostages, including Prime Minister A. N. R. Robinson.
politicswarreligion
1990⚡ Event
Assassination of Ian Gow
British Conservative MP Ian Gow was killed outside his home in a car bombing by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
politicswar
1990⚡ Event
Discovery of 'Sue' the T. rex Skeleton
Near Faith, South Dakota, paleontologist Sue Hendrickson discovered one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons on August 12, 1990. The skeleton was nicknamed 'Sue'.
science
1990⚡ Event
Stevie Ray Vaughan Helicopter Crash
American musician Stevie Ray Vaughan, a highly influential blues guitarist, died in a helicopter crash. He was known for his role in the 1980s blues revival.
musicdisaster
1990⚡ Event
General Schwarzkopf Issues Order No. 1
Gulf War: US General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. issued General Order No. 1 prohibiting US troops from consuming alcohol or possessing pornographic material.
warpoliticslaw
1990⚡ Event
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Consecrated
Pope John Paul II consecrated the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, one of the largest churches in the world.
religionpolitics
1990⚡ Event
Northern Xinjiang railway completion
Construction of the Northern Xinjiang railway was completed between Ürümqi South and Alashankou, linking the railway lines of China and Kazakhstan.
technologyeconomicsexploration
1990⚡ Event
Ram Rath Yatra begins
The Ram Rath Yatra, a political-religious rally, began in Gujarat, India. It was organized to erect a temple to the Hindu deity Rama on the site of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
politicsreligion
1990⚡ Event
Lockheed YF-22 Prototype First Flight
The Lockheed YF-22, the prototype for the F-22 Raptor, made its first flight.
technologywar
1990⚡ Event
Guangzhou airport plane collision
A hijacked airliner collided with two other planes while attempting to land at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China, killing 128 and injuring 71.
disasterlaw
1990⚡ Event
Meir Kahane assassinated
Israeli ultra-nationalist rabbi Meir Kahane was assassinated in a New York City hotel by an Arab gunman.
politicsreligionlaw
1990⚡ Event
Andrei Chikatilo Arrested
Andrei Chikatilo, a notorious Soviet serial killer, was arrested in Novocherkassk on November 20, 1990. He is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in Soviet history.
law
1990⚡ Event
Mary Robinson becomes first female President of Ireland
Mary Robinson was inaugurated as the first female president of Ireland. Her election marked a significant milestone in the country's political history.
politics
1990⚡ Event
Italian Air Force Jet Crashes into School
An Italian Air Force military jet crashed into a high school near Bologna, killing 12 students and injuring 88 others. The crash occurred on December 6, 1990, after the pilot abandoned the aircraft due to an on-board fire.
wardisasterpolitics
1990⚡ Event
Slobodan Milošević wins Serbian presidential election
In Serbia's first multi-party election, Slobodan Milošević won the presidential election and the Socialist Party of Serbia won the majority of seats in the National Assembly.
politics
1990⚡ Event
Same-sex marriage licenses sought in Hawaii
American gay rights activist William E. Woods brought three same-sex couples to fill out marriage licenses in Honolulu. This was a significant action in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
lawpolitics
1990⚡ Event
Slovenia Independence Referendum
About 88 percent of eligible voters in Slovenia voted to secede from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
politics
Born in 1990(6)
1990🎂 Birth
Machine Gun Kelly
Machine Gun Kelly is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor.
musicentertainment
Deaths in 1990(0)
No deaths recorded for 1990.
Dates in 1990
January 3January 18January 20January 24March 10March 11March 15March 18April 1April 20April 22April 24April 25May 15May 17June 28July 21July 27July 30August 12August 27August 30September 10September 16September 25September 29October 2November 5November 20December 3December 6December 9December 17December 23
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in 1990?
- 1990 saw 37 notable historical moments, including 31 events, 6 famous birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
- What were the biggest events of 1990?
- Key events of 1990 include: Manuel Noriega Surrenders, Marion Barry arrested for drug possession, Soviet crackdown in Baku.
History, Delivered Daily.
Join thousands of history buffs. Get a curated 1-minute read of the day's most fascinating historical events sent straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy.