March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 301 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about March 5th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about March 5th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- International Open Data Day.
- Reel Film Day.
- Hearing Awareness Week.
- National Cheese Doodle Day
- National Absinthe Day
- National Multiple Personality Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – March 5
1981: The home computer ZX81 is launched
The British ZX81 was one of the world’s first home computer and was sold over 1.5 million times.
1970: The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty enters into force
Nuclear powers China, Russia, U.S., U.K., and France initiated the treaty in 1968. It has since been ratified by 190 nations around the world.
1960: Alberto Korda takes his famous picture of revolutionary Che Guevara
The iconic photograph, called Guerrillero Heroico, was taken at a memorial service for the victims of the La Coubre explosion.
1872: The air brake is patented
George Westinghouse is credited with the design of the railway braking system that uses compressed air.
1616: Nicolaus Copernicus’ revolutionary book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium is banned by the Catholic Church
In the book, Copernicus claimed that the Earth revolves around the sun. The Church maintained Ptolemy’s geocentric system. The book is considered a milestone in the history of astronomy.
1930: Driver’s cabin on the British three-turret Medium Tank Mk.III A3. UK, 1930s

Funeral car of Jap[anese] Emperor; Photo shows funeral of Emperor Taisho, who died in Dec. 1926. Published 1927 Mar. 5
1919: New Zealanders at the main entrance to Cologne Cathedral, Germany. Photographed by official photographer Henry Armytage Sanders, February, 1919.

1923: Racing some cars on the roof of the Fiat Factory. Turin, Italy, 1923.

1770: Boston Massacre, British soldiers kill 5 men in a crowd by throwing snowballs, stones and sticks at them!
1558: Smoking tobacco was introduced into Europe by Spanish physician Francisco Fernandes! The Spanish physician sent to Mexico to investigate their flora is said to have introduced tobacco to Europeans for the first time, bringing back the “herb panacea.
Tragic Incidents
- Smoking tobacco was introduced into Europe by Spanish physician Francisco Fernandes!
- The astronomical work ‘de Revolutionibus’ by Nicolaus Copernicus was placed on the Catholic Forbidden index!
- Boston Massacre, British soldiers kill 5 men in a crowd by throwing snowballs, stones and sticks at them!
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, March 5
1970: John Frusciante, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer
1951: Lat, Malaysian cartoonist
1948: Elaine Paige, English singer, actress
1898: Zhou Enlai, Chinese politician, 1st Premier of the People’s Republic of China
1871: Rosa Luxemburg, Russian economist, philosopher
Madison Beer was born.
Penn Jillette was born.
Saurav Shukla was born.
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, March 5
2013: Hugo Chávez, Venezuelan military officer, politician, President of Venezuela
1963: Patsy Cline, American singer-songwriter, pianist
1953: Sergei Prokofiev, Russian pianist, composer, conductor
1953: Joseph Stalin, Soviet marshal, politician, 4th Premier of the Soviet Union
1895: Nikolai Leskov, Russian author, playwright, journalist
Joseph Stalin died.
Sergei Prokofiev died.
Peirre Simon Laplace died.