What happened in 1951
41 entries recorded for 1951, listed by date. That was 75 years ago.
1951 at a glance
- Years ago
- 75 (as of 2026)
- Century
- 20th century
- Decade
- 1950s
- Generation born
- Baby Boomers
- Entries here
- 41
- Breakdown
- 41 historical events
January
- January 4
Korean War
Korean War: Chinese and North Korean troops captured Seoul from United Nations forces.
- January 14
National Airlines Flight 83
National Airlines Flight 83 crashes during landing at Philadelphia International Airport, killing seven passengers and crew.
- January 15
Ilse Koch
Ilse Koch, wife of Karl-Otto Koch, the Nazi commander of the Buchenwald and Majdanek concentration camps, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a West German court.
- January 18
United Nations Memorial Cemetery
Construction of the United Nations Military Cemetery (pictured) began in Busan, South Korea.
- January 21
Mount Lamington
Mount Lamington, a volcano in Papua New Guinea, erupted (pictured) and killed more than 2,900 people.
February
- February 6
Woodbridge train derailment
A train derailed while crossing a temporary wooden trestle in Woodbridge, New Jersey, causing 85 deaths.
- February 25
Pan American Games
The first Pan American Games are officially opened in Buenos Aires by Argentine President Juan Perón.
- February 25
1951 Pan American Games
After being postponed due to World War II, the inaugural edition of the Pan American Games opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
March
- March 7
Korean War
Korean War: Operation Ripper: United Nations troops led by General Matthew Ridgway begin an assault against Chinese forces.
- March 7
Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 307
Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 307 crashes in Lynnhurst, Minneapolis, killing 15 people.
- March 7
Ali Razmara
Iranian prime minister Ali Razmara is assassinated by Khalil Tahmasebi, a member of the Islamic fundamentalist Fada'iyan-e Islam, outside a mosque in Tehran.
- March 14
Korean War
Korean War: United Nations troops recapture Seoul for the second time.
- March 15
Nationalization of the Iranian oil industry
The Iranian oil industry was nationalized in a movement led by Mohammad Mosaddegh.
- March 29
The King and I
The King and I, a musical about Mongkut of Siam by Rodgers and Hammerstein, premiered on Broadway.
April
- April 11
Stone of Scone
The Stone of Scone, removed months earlier by Scottish students, was found on the altar of Arbroath Abbey.
- April 11
Harry S. Truman
U.S. president Harry S. Truman relieved General of the Army Douglas MacArthur of his commands for making public statements about the Korean War that contradicted the administration's policies.
- April 17
Peak District
The Peak District was designated the first national park in the United Kingdom.
- April 22
Korean War
Korean War: The Chinese People's Volunteer Army attacked positions occupied mainly by Australian and Canadian forces, starting the Battle of Kapyong.
- April 23
Cold War
Cold War: American journalist William N. Oatis is arrested for espionage by the Communist government of Czechoslovakia.
- April 23
William N. Oatis
American journalist William N. Oatis was arrested for espionage by the communist government of Czechoslovakia.
- April 25
Korean War
Korean War: Assaulting Chinese forces are forced to withdraw after heavy fighting with UN forces, primarily made up of Australian and Canadian troops, at the Battle of Kapyong.
May
- May 14
Talyllyn Railway
Trains ran on the Talyllyn Railway in Wales for the first time since its preservation, making it the first railway in the world to be operated by volunteers.
- May 16
Transatlantic flight
The first regularly scheduled transatlantic flights begin between Idlewild Airport (now John F Kennedy International Airport) in New York City and Heathrow Airport in London, operated by El Al Israel Airlines.
June
July
- July 4
William Shockley
William Shockley announced the invention of the junction transistor, for which he, John Bardeen, and Walter Houser Brattain later won the Nobel Prize in Physics.
- July 13
Vuoristorata
Vuoristorata, one of the oldest still-operating wooden roller coasters in Europe, is opened at the Linnanmäki amusement park in Helsinki, Finland.
- July 14
Scuderia Ferrari
Ferrari take their first Formula One grand prix victory at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
- July 16
The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye (cover pictured), an American coming-of-age novel by J. D. Salinger, was published by Little, Brown.
- July 16
J. D. Salinger
J. D. Salinger publishes his popular yet controversial novel, The Catcher in the Rye.
- July 16
Leopold III of Belgium
King Leopold III of Belgium abdicates in favor of his son, Baudouin of Belgium.
- July 20
Abdullah I of Jordan
Abdullah I of Jordan was assassinated while visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
- July 22
Soviet space dogs
Soviet space dogs: Dezik and Tsygan were launched into a sub-orbital spaceflight from Kapustin Yar and became the first dogs to fly in space and the first to safely return.
September
- September 23
George VI
George VI, king of the United Kingdom, has his left lung removed in an operation after a malignant tumour was found.
October
- October 3
Major League Baseball
In Major League Baseball, the New York Giants' Bobby Thomson hit the "Shot Heard 'Round the World", a game-winning home run, to win the National League pennant.
- October 3
First Battle of Maryang-san
The First Battle of Maryang-san, widely regarded as one of the Australian Army's greatest accomplishments during the Korean War, began.
- October 20
Johnny Bright incident
The "Johnny Bright incident" occurs during a football game between the Drake Bulldogs and Oklahoma A&M Aggies.
- October 20
College football
African-American college football player Johnny Bright was the victim of an on-field assault, eventually leading to changes in NCAA football rules that mandated the use of more protective helmets with face guards.
November
- November 25
Wataru Kaji
The left-wing Japanese novelist Wataru Kaji disappeared, leading to a government inquiry in which CIA involvement was investigated; Kaji stated he was kidnapped and held against his will by intelligence officers, which the United States denied.
December
- December 16
Curtiss C-46 Commando
A Miami Airlines Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in Elizabeth, New Jersey, killing all 58 aboard including dancer Doris Ruby.
- December 17
Civil Rights Congress
The Civil Rights Congress presented a document to the United Nations Genocide Convention charging the United States government with genocide against African Americans.
- December 20
Experimental Breeder Reactor I
Experimental Breeder Reactor I near Arco, Idaho, U.S., became the world's first electricity-generating nuclear power plant when it became able to illuminate four 200-watt light bulbs.
Questions about 1951
What happened in 1951?
This site records 41 entries for 1951, including Korean War on January 4. They are listed below by date.
How long ago was 1951?
75 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1951 turns 75 this year.
Which century is 1951 in?
1951 falls in the 20th century, in the 1950s.
Which generation was born in 1951?
Baby Boomers (1946–1964). Born in the post-war birth surge.
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