Château Bel Air Lagrave 1978 By averyswine Jul 25, 1978 The world’s 1st test-tube baby is born ewt Nov 5, 1978 Rioters sack the British Embassy in Terhan May 4, 1979 Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain’s 1st female prime minister Dec 8, 1980 John Lennon murdered in New York Aug 12, 1981 IBM launches the 1st personal computer Jan 1, 1985 The 1st British cell phone goes on sale Apr 26, 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster Dec 15, 1987 Work on the channel tunnel begins Jan 1, 1988 The Soviet Union begins Perestroika Nov 9, 1989 The Berlin Wall falls Aug 2, 1990 The Gulf War began Nov 12, 1990 Robert Caillian publishes a “Hypertext Project” called World Wide Web Feb 7, 1992 The Maastricht Treaty is signed forming the EU May 10, 1994 Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s 1st black president Feb 26, 1995 Barings Bank collapses after Nick Leeson loses $1.4 billion Jun 16, 1996 Boris Yeltsin emerges as the winner in Russia's first round of presidential elections Jul 1, 1997 Britain hands over sovereignty of Hong Kong to China Sep 11, 2001 The twin towers were destroyed by terrorist attacks Oct 7, 2001 War begins in Afghanistan Dec 26, 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean Jun 19, 2008 Obama becomes the 1st African American president Oct 13, 2010 Chilean Miners trapped and rescued after 69 days Jan 7, 2011 England retain The Ashes Apr 29, 2011 Prince William marries Kate Middleton