1991⚡ Event
Sharon Pratt Dixon sworn in as Mayor of Washington, D.C.
Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as the mayor of Washington, D.C., becoming the first African-American woman to hold the position.
politics
What Happened in 1991?
Explore 39 historical moments from 1991 — 33 events, 6 birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
Events in 1991(33)
1991⚡ Event
Jeremy Wade Delle suicide
Jeremy Wade Delle committed suicide in his high-school class in Richardson, Texas. This event inspired the Pearl Jam song "Jeremy".
entertainmentmusic
1991⚡ Event
Victoria Cross for Australia Instituted
The Victoria Cross for Australia was instituted, making Australia the first Commonwealth realm with a separate Victoria Cross award.
lawpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Battle of Khafji
The first major ground engagement of the Gulf War, the Iraqi invasion of Khafji, Saudi Arabia, began. Coalition forces recaptured the city three days later.
war
1991⚡ Event
Gulf War Bombing of Baghdad Shelter
The United States Air Force dropped two laser-guided bombs on an air-raid shelter in Baghdad, killing at least 408 civilians. The site was believed to be a military command site.
warpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Escondida Copper Mine Inaugurated
Escondida, which would become one of the world's most productive copper mines, was officially inaugurated.
economicstechnology
1991⚡ Event
Henderson and Ryan set baseball records
Rickey Henderson broke the record for stolen bases in Major League Baseball. On the same night, Nolan Ryan broke his own record for no-hitters.
sports
1991⚡ Event
Croatian Independence Referendum
With the local Serb population boycotting the referendum, Croatians voted in favour of independence from Yugoslavia.
politicswar
1991⚡ Event
Operation Solomon
The Israel Defense Forces began Operation Solomon, a covert mission to airlift thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
politicsexploration
1991⚡ Event
Jaycee Dugard kidnapping
Eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped in South Lake Tahoe, California, and remained a captive until 2009.
lawdisaster
1991⚡ Event
Sonic the Hedgehog released
The first installment of the video-game series Sonic the Hedgehog was released in North America.
entertainmenttechnology
1991⚡ Event
Brioni Agreement Ends Ten-Day War
The Brioni Agreement was signed, officially ending the Ten-Day War between SFR Yugoslavia and Slovenia during the Yugoslav Wars.
warpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Nigeria Airways Flight 2120 crash
Shortly after taking off from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria Airways Flight 2120 caught fire and crashed, killing all 261 people on board.
disastertechnology
1991⚡ Event
Jeffrey Dahmer arrested
American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Police discovered human remains in his apartment.
law
1991⚡ Event
George H. W. Bush warns Ukraine against independence
U.S. president George H. W. Bush delivered a speech in the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev warning against independence from the Soviet Union.
politics
1991⚡ Event
World Wide Web goes public
Tim Berners-Lee publishes the first website, making the World Wide Web available to the general public.
technology
1991⚡ Event
Libero Grassi murdered
Italian businessman Libero Grassi was killed by the Sicilian Mafia in Palermo. He had taken a public stand against their extortion demands.
lawpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Deadly fire at North Carolina chicken plant
A fire killed 25 people locked inside a burning chicken processing plant in Hamlet, North Carolina. The incident highlighted workplace safety issues.
disasterlaw
1991⚡ Event
Tailhook scandal allegations
At the Tailhook Association symposium in Las Vegas on September 8, 1991, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators were alleged to have sexually assaulted 90 persons.
lawpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Ötzi the Iceman discovered
Ötzi, a natural mummy dating from about 3300 BC, was discovered by two German tourists in the Alps.
exploration
1991⚡ Event
Beauty and the Beast Premieres Unfinished
The award-winning Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast premiered while unfinished at the New York Film Festival.
artsentertainment
1991⚡ Event
Nadine Gordimer wins Nobel Prize in Literature
Nadine Gordimer became the first South African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
literaturepolitics
1991⚡ Event
Croatian War of Independence
The Yugoslav People's Army conducted an air strike on Banski Dvori, the official residence of the president of Croatia in Zagreb.
war
1991⚡ Event
Killeen, Texas shooting
A man drove his vehicle through the window of a Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, and opened fire, killing 23 people before fatally shooting himself.
disasterlaw
1991⚡ Event
Uttarakhand Earthquake
An earthquake struck the Indian state of Uttarakhand, resulting in at least 768 fatalities and the destruction of thousands of homes.
disaster
1991⚡ Event
Madrid Conference
The Madrid Conference, an attempt by the international community to revive the Israeli–Palestinian peace process through negotiations, convened on October 30, 1991.
politicslaw
1991⚡ Event
Magic Johnson Retires
Magic Johnson announced his retirement from professional basketball due to HIV infection.
sportsmedicine
1991⚡ Event
Battle of the Dalmatian Channels Begins
Croatian naval commandos attacked the Yugoslav patrol boat Mukos, starting the Battle of the Dalmatian Channels during the Croatian War of Independence.
warpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Luis Miguel's Romance album release
Mexican singer Luis Miguel released the album Romance, which is credited with reviving interest in bolero music.
musicentertainment
1991⚡ Event
Helicopter Shot Down in Nagorno-Karabakh
An Azerbaijani military helicopter carrying a peacekeeping mission was shot down in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 20, 1991. This event disrupted ongoing peace talks during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
warpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Ukrainian Independence Referendum
A referendum was held to ratify the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine. The act passed with overwhelming support, receiving more than 92 percent of the vote.
politics
1991⚡ Event
Croatian War of Independence Operation Whirlwind failure
The Croatian Army retreated after the failure of Operation Whirlwind, destroying their tanks to avoid their capture. This marked a significant setback in the Croatian War of Independence.
warpolitics
1991⚡ Event
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev resigns, and the Soviet Union is formally dissolved, ending the Cold War.
politics
Born in 1991(6)
1991🎂 Birth
Birth of Mitchel Musso
Mitchel Musso, an American actor and singer, was born.
artsentertainmentmusic
Deaths in 1991(0)
No deaths recorded for 1991.
Dates in 1991
January 2January 8January 15January 29February 13March 14April 20April 22May 1May 17May 19May 24June 10June 23July 7July 9July 11July 22August 1August 6August 29September 3September 8September 19September 29October 3October 7October 16October 20October 30November 7November 14November 19November 20December 1December 13December 25
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in 1991?
- 1991 saw 39 notable historical moments, including 33 events, 6 famous birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
- What were the biggest events of 1991?
- Key events of 1991 include: Sharon Pratt Dixon sworn in as Mayor of Washington, D.C., Jeremy Wade Delle suicide, Victoria Cross for Australia Instituted.
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.