 "The ZX81, a British home computer, was launched on March 5, 1981. It was one of the first home computers in the world and sold over 1.5 million copies. Illustration: Santan")
In today’s day and age, we cannot imagine a world without computers. From working on school projects to keeping tabs on your monthly expenditure these machines are used for practically everything. But there was a time when computers were not easily accessible. But that changed on March 5, 1981, when Sinclair Research launched the first home computer, Sinclair ZX81.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
In 1770, the Boston Massacre took place when British soldiers fired into a crowd of American colonists, killing five people and escalating tensions between Britain and its American colonies. Meanwhile, the iconic photograph of Che Guevara was taken by Cuban photographer Alberto Korda in Havana, Cuba.
Here is all that happened on this day.
World’s first home computer came into existence
On March 3, 1981 one of the first low-cost home computers, Sinclair ZX81, was released. Within some time, the machine gained a huge popularity in the United Kingdom.
After the success of ZX80 in 1980, Sinclair Research launched the Rick Dickinson-designed ZX81 just a year later. With the market ready for a more developed version, the ZX81 became an instant hit among consumers. Prospective owners of the ZX81 were presented with two options - they could purchase a kit version and construct the microcomputer themselves, or they could opt for a fully assembled model, which was ready to operate upon connection to a television and a power source.
The ZX81 provided a pivotal introduction for numerous individuals, not only to the fundamentals of computing and coding but also to the diverse and rapidly growing landscape of video games. The machine went on to sell over one million copies, with the Dundee factory often struggling to keep up with demand for the machines from a new computer-hungry audience.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA key player in the home computing revolution, the ZX81, with over 1.5 million units sold, left a lasting legacy by inspiring future programmers and fostering the UK’s computing industry. Its contribution to making computers accessible to the public remains significant.
Boston Massacre takes place
March 5, 1770, is a dark day in US history. It was on this day or rather night when a group of American colonists gathered at the Customs House in Boston and began taunting the British soldiers standing at guard. The colonists who called themselves Patriots were protesting the occupation of their city by the British. To enforce widely disliked tax laws enacted by a British parliament lacking American representation, British troops were sent to Boston in 1768.
Captain Thomas Preston, in command at the Customs House, deployed his troops to reinforce the guard. Colonists retaliated by hurling snowballs and other objects. When Private Hugh Montgomery was struck, he fired his rifle into the crowd, prompting the other soldiers to open fire. The resulting chaos left five colonists namely, Crispus Attucks, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick and James Caldwell dead and three wounded.
Some historians regard this incident as the first fatality in the American Revolutionary War.
The British soldiers faced trial and in a demonstration of commitment to the colonial justice system, patriots John Adams and Josiah Quincy agreed to serve as their defense. The trial concluded in December 1770, with two soldiers being found guilty of manslaughter, resulting in the branding of their thumbs with an “M” as punishment.
The Boston Massacre remains a significant moment in American history, symbolising the struggle for independence and justice.
Revolutionary Che Guevera photo clicked
On this day in 1960, Cuban photographer Alberto Korda captured one of the most iconic images in history — Guerrillero Heroico, the famous portrait of Ernesto “Che” Guevara. Taken in Havana, Cuba, the image became a global symbol of revolution, defiance and anti-imperialism.
Guevara’s revolutionary spirit was immortalized in Korda’s photograph, taken during a memorial for the La Coubre explosion victims. His intense gaze, furrowed brows, and starred beret were captured in a fleeting moment.
Korda’s photograph of Guevara went largely unnoticed at first, but after his 1967 execution, publisher Feltrinelli distributed it widely. Che’s image quickly became a global symbol of rebellion, appearing on posters and banners worldwide.
Today, the Guerrillero Heroico portrait remains one of the most reproduced images in history. It continues to inspire activists, artists, and revolutionaries, representing ideals of resistance and justice across generations.
This Day, That Year
On this day in 2013, Venezuelan politician Hugo Chávez passed away.
In 1953, Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin died at age 74.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill popularised the term “Iron Curtain” in 1946.