Editing 1961 (section)

===February===
{{Main|February 1961}}
* [[February 1]] &ndash; The United States tests its first [[Minuteman I]] intercontinental ballistic missile.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spp.fas.org/military/program/6555th/6555c3-8.htm|title=The 6555th, Chapter III, Section 8, The Minuteman Ballistic Missile Test Program|website=spp.fas.org}}</ref>
* [[February 4]] &ndash; The [[Portuguese Colonial War]] begins in [[Angola]].
* [[February 5]]&ndash;[[February 9|9]] &ndash; In [[Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)|Congo]], President [[Joseph Kasa-Vubu]] names [[Joseph Iléo]] as the new Prime Minister.
* [[February 9]] &ndash; [[The Beatles at The Cavern Club]]: Lunchtime &ndash; [[The Beatles]] perform under this name at [[The Cavern Club]] for the first time following their return to [[Liverpool]] from [[Hamburg]], [[George Harrison]]'s first appearance at the venue. On March 21 they begin regular performances here.
* [[February 12]] &ndash; The [[USSR]] launches ''[[Venera 1]]'' towards [[Venus]].
* [[February 13]] &ndash; The [[Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)|Congo]] government announces that villagers have killed [[Patrice Lumumba]].
* [[February 14]] &ndash; [[Discovery of the chemical elements]]: Element 103, [[Lawrencium]], is first synthesized in [[Berkeley, California]].
* [[February 15]]
** United States President [[John F. Kennedy]] warns the [[Soviet Union]] to avoid interfering with the [[United Nations]]' pacification of the [[Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville)|Congo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+Desk/Selected+Milestones+in+the+Presidency+of+John+F.+Kennedy.htm |title=Selected Milestones of the Kennedy Presidency – John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum |publisher=Jfklibrary.org |access-date=2012-04-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521194254/http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical%2BResources/Archives/Reference%2BDesk/Selected%2BMilestones%2Bin%2Bthe%2BPresidency%2Bof%2BJohn%2BF.%2BKennedy.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2010 }}</ref>
** [[Sabena Flight 548]] crashes near [[Brussels]], Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States [[figure skating]] team and several coaches.
** American soul singer [[Jackie Wilson]] is shot and seriously wounded at his [[Manhattan]] apartment by jealous girlfriend Juanita Jones (claimed publicly to be an obsessive fan).<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Robinson|first=Major|date=1961-03-02|title=Rock 'N' Roll Idol Jackie Wilson Felled By Fan's Gun|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QrEDAAAAMBAJ&q=jackie+wilson+jet+1961&pg=PA60|magazine=Jet|pages=60–62}}</ref>
** The total [[solar eclipse of February 15, 1961]], visible in the southern part of Europe, occurs.
* [[February 26]] &ndash; [[Hassan II of Morocco|Hassan II]] is pronounced King of [[Morocco]].