At A Glance

28 March 1979 at a glance

Day of the week
28 March 1979 was a Wednesday.
UK Number One
The UK Number One single was “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor.
Top Film of 1979
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1979 was Moonraker.
Star sign
The star sign for 28 March is Aries.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 28 March 1979 fell in the Year of the Goat.
Birthstone
The birthstone for March is Aquamarine.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 28 March 1979 was New Moon.

On this day: 28 March

  • 1969 Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate Giorgos Seferis makes a famous statement on the BBC World Service opposing the junta in Greece.
  • 1978 The US Supreme Court hands down 5–3 decision in Stump v. Sparkman, a controversial case involving involuntary sterilization and judicial immunity.
  • 1979 A coolant leak at the Three Mile Island's Unit 2 nuclear reactor outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania leads to the core overheating and a partial meltdown.
  • 1979 The British House of Commons passes a vote of no confidence against James Callaghan's government by one vote, precipitating a general election.
  • 1990 United States President George H. W. Bush posthumously awards Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal.

Famous people born on 28 March

  • Julia Stiles, American actress (born 1981)
  • Lady Gaga, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1986)
  • Dianne Wiest, American actress (born 1948)
  • Reba McEntire, American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1955)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1979 in the United Kingdom

A selection from Wikipedia's '1979 in the United Kingdom'. Not a complete list.

  • 22 February – Saint Lucia becomes independent of the United Kingdom.
  • 3 May – 1979 general election.
  • 7 June – European Parliament election, the first direct election to the European Parliament; the turnout in Britain is low at 32%. The Conservatives have the most MEPs at 60, while Labour only have 17.

Life in 1979

Prime Minister

James Callaghan

Monarch

Elizabeth II

Pint of Beer

38p

Loaf of Bread

27p

Average House

£19,925

Weekly Wage

£101.00

Or

Browse by Year

Famous Faces Born in the 1970s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →