What Happened on March 11 in History?
March 11 has been a day of major geopolitical shifts, tragic natural disasters, and landmark cultural debuts. Most notably, it marks the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2011 Japanese earthquake.
Major Historical Events
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Declaration – The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic as cases surged worldwide.
2011: Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami – A massive magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan, triggering a devastating tsunami and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the second-worst nuclear accident in history.
2004: Madrid Train Bombings – Ten simultaneous terrorist bomb explosions on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, killed 191 people and injured nearly 2,000 others just days before the country's general elections.
1990: Lithuania Declares Independence – Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare its independence from the USSR, a pivotal step in the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.
1985: Mikhail Gorbachev Takes Power – Mikhail Gorbachev was chosen to succeed Konstantin Chernenko as the leader of the Soviet Union, eventually introducing the reforms of glasnost and perestroika.
1941: Lend-Lease Act Signed – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act, authorizing the U.S. to provide war supplies to Allied nations during World War II.
1861: Confederate Constitution Adopted – During the early months of the American Civil War, the Confederate States of America formally adopted its permanent constitution.
1824: Bureau of Indian Affairs Founded – The U.S. War Department officially created the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Cultural and Scientific Milestones
1997: Paul McCartney Knighted – Former Beatle Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music.
1989: "COPS" TV Premiere – The documentary-style television series "COPS" debuted on Fox, becoming one of the longest-running shows in TV history.
1959: "A Raisin in the Sun" Broadway Debut – Lorraine Hansberry's landmark play opened on Broadway, making her the first Black woman to have a play produced there.
1851: "Rigoletto" Premiere – Giuseppe Verdi’s world-renowned opera "Rigoletto" premiered at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
1702: First English Daily Newspaper – The Daily Courant began publication in London, becoming the first daily newspaper in England.
Notable Birthdays
Rupert Murdoch (1931) – Australian-American media mogul and founder of News Corp.
Douglas Adams (1952) – English author of the beloved sci-fi series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Bobby McFerrin (1950) – American musician famous for the hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy".
Johnny Knoxville (1971) – American actor and co-creator of "Jackass".
