On February 8

The Irish-bred race horse Shergar was stolen by gunmen, who demanded a £2 million ransom.

Rhodesian Bush War: Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army cadres in Gwelo attacked Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army troops, killing over 60 of them and starting the 1981 Entumbane uprising.

Denis Sassou Nguesso (pictured) was chosen as the new President of the Republic of the Congo after Joachim Yhombi-Opango was forced from power.

Law enforcement officers in Orangeburg, South Carolina (pictured), fired into a crowd of college students who were protesting segregation, killing three and injuring twenty-seven others.

After taking evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision just after taking off from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Eastern Air Lines Flight 663 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 84 people on board.

The official groundbreaking of the Walk of Fame took place in Hollywood, Los Angeles, in California.

The closing ceremony of the first Olympics held after World War II was held in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Gee Jon became the first person in the United States to be executed by lethal gas.

William D. Boyce established the Boy Scouts of America, expanding the Scout Movement into the United States.

Angered by a controversial umpiring decision, cricket spectators rioted and attacked the England team during a match in Sydney, Australia.

Richard Mentor Johnson became the only person ever to be elected Vice President of the United States by the Senate.

Mary, Queen of Scots, was executed at Fotheringhay Castle for her involvement in the Babington Plot to murder her cousin, Elizabeth I of England.

William of Orange founded Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands.

Seventh Crusade: The Ayyubid Sultanate of Egypt defeated and captured King Louis IX of France at the Battle of Fariskur.

Honorius declared Constantius III to be his co-emperor of the Western Roman Empire.