1993 History Events: What Happened in 1993

The 1990s saw rapid technological advancements, the demise of communism, and the global spread of diversity. Despite fitting into several of these themes, the year 1993 had its own distinct flavour. This year, the world’s population surpassed 5.5 billion people, and many new parents chose the name Jessica for their child. That year, the film industry witnessed some incredible debuts.
Jurassic Park was released in theatres throughout the world, Schindler’s List was released in theatres, and Robin Williams made his cinematic debut as the spunky Mrs Doubtfire.

The libraries had plenty to offer those who preferred literature to movies. Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King and The Giver by Lois Lowry were on almost everyone’s reading lists. Audrey Hepburn, Thurgood Marshall, Andre the Giant, River Phoenix, drug lord Pablo Escobar, and freedom warrior Cesar Chavez were among the many celebrities that died that year. Nearly two decades later, the births of Zayn Malik and Ariana Grande characterised the chart-topping hints.

Both Russia and the United States experienced significant leadership transitions and increased diplomatic cooperation after signing an arms reduction deal in 1993. In Russia, Boris Yeltsin was elected president, while in the United States, Bill Clinton succeeded President George HW Bush. Russia has finally withdrew the last of its troops from Poland, marking yet another step toward peace. Martin Luther King Day was recognised in all 50 states for the first time in US history. The year also saw the DOW close above 3500, the launch of The X-Files, the closure of Sears catalogue department, and Nelson Mandela’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech.

Continue reading to discover more about the events of 1993.

Event
(January 13, 1993) STS-54 launches Endeavour into space for the third flight from the Kennedy Space Center. photo source: wikimedia.org
Advertisements (January 20, 1993) Audrey Hepburn, a Belgian-born actress who developed iconic cinema roles as the embodiment of refinement and glamour while mesmerising audiences and critics with her sprightly mannerisms and elfin charm, died in Switzerland.
(April 19, 1993) Some 80 members of the millennialist Branch Davidian religious organisation died in a fire at their property outside Waco, Texas, after a 51-day siege with US federal agents.
(April 23, 1993) The small East African country of Eritrea began three days of voting on a referendum to declare official its independence from Ethiopia on this day in 1993, following a lengthy history of foreign rule and decades of war.
(August 28, 1993) During its approach of asteroid 243 Ida, NASA's Galileo spacecraft relays images back to Earth. A photograph taken during the flyby subsequently reveals the first known asteroid moon, and astronomers give it the name Dactyl. photo source: wikimedia.org
Advertisements (September 10, 1993) The X-Files, an American science fiction television series starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, first aired on Fox, where it gained a tremendous audience. photo source: wikimedia.org
(November 01, 1993) The European Union was established when the Maastricht Treaty went into effect. photo source: wikimedia.org
(December 14, 1993) Philadelphia, directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, had its global premiere; it was the first major Hollywood picture to confront the AIDS issue, and Hanks received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal.