March 1
March 1 is the 61st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 305 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Pisces.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On March 1 the Sun's declination is approximately -7.9°. At this latitude the Sun is south of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere shorter days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a March 1.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- St David's Day (Wales)
- Independence Movement Day (South Korea)
- Beer Day (Iceland)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
1565 — The city of Rio de Janeiro was founded in Brazil. ↗(461 years ago)more
Rio de Janeiro, also known simply as Rio, is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the second-most-populous city in Brazil after São Paulo and the sixth-most-populous city in the Americas.
1781 — The Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, took effect. ↗(245 years ago)more
The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement and early body of law in the Thirteen Colonies, which served as the nation's first frame of government during the American Revolution.
1872 — Yellowstone became the world's first national park. ↗(154 years ago)more
Yellowstone National Park is a national park of the United States located in the northwest corner of the state of Wyoming, with small portions extending into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the 42nd U.S. Congress through the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.
1932 — The 20-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from his New Jersey home. ↗(94 years ago)more
On March 1, 1932, Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of Col. Charles Lindbergh and his wife, aviator and author Anne Morrow Lindbergh, was murdered after being abducted from his crib in the upper floor of the Lindberghs' home, Highfields, in East Amwell, New Jersey, United States.
1953 — Joseph Stalin suffered a stroke; he died four days later. ↗(73 years ago)more
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was a Soviet revolutionary and politician who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held office as general secretary of the Communist Party from 1922 to 1952 and as premier from 1941 until his death.
1954 — Four Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire on the U.S. House of Representatives, wounding five Congressmen. ↗(72 years ago)more
On March 1, 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists, seeking to promote Puerto Rican independence from the United States, attacked the United States Capitol. They fired 30 rounds from semi-automatic pistols onto the legislative floor from the Ladies' Gallery of the House of Representatives chamber within the United States Capitol.
1961 — U.S. President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps. ↗(65 years ago)more
The Peace Corps is an independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to communities in partner countries around the world. It was established in March 1961 by an executive order (10924) of President John F. Kennedy and authorized by the United States Congress the following September by the Peace Corps Act.
Notable births
1810 — Frédéric Chopin, Polish-French composer. ↗(216 years ago)more
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period who wrote primarily for solo piano. He has maintained worldwide renown as a leading composer of his era whose "poetic genius was based on a professional technique that was without equal in his generation".
1904 — Glenn Miller, American big-band leader. ↗(122 years ago)more
Alton Glen "Glenn" Miller was an American big band conductor, arranger, composer, trombonist, and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the US Army Air Forces. His civilian band, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, was one of the most popular and successful bands of the 20th century and the big-band era.
1994 — Justin Bieber, Canadian singer. ↗(32 years ago)more
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer. Regarded as a prominent figure in contemporary popular music, he rose to fame in the late 2000s with his debut extended play, My World (2009), receiving international recognition and establishing himself as a teen idol.
Notable deaths
1991 — Edwin H. Land, inventor of the Polaroid camera. ↗(35 years ago)more
Edwin Herbert Land, ForMemRS, FRPS, Hon.MRI was an American scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. He invented inexpensive filters for polarizing light, a practical system of in-camera instant photography, and the retinex theory of color vision.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (61) | 61 · prime |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (305) | 5 × 61 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 01032026 · no palindrome in next 200 years |
| Sun declination | -7.91° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 72 days |