What Happened in 1992 (2025)

Table of Contents

Did You Know? Fun Fact About 1992 Articles About 1992 Famous People in 1992 World Leaders in 1992

Year1992

Major Events

Maastricht Treaty
Feb 7 The Maastricht Treaty is signed by 12 countries from the European Community (EC) to create the European Union (EU)
Apr 9 John Major is elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after his Conservative Party wins the most votes in British electoral history
Jul 14 386BSD is released by Lynne Jolitz and William Jolitz, starting the open source operating system revolution. Linus Torvalds releases Linux soon afterwards.

Sep 15 George Soros' Quantum Fund begins selling large amounts of pound sterling, helping force the pound out of the ERM the next day and earning him the label "the man who broke the Bank of England"
Nov 11 The Church of England approves the ordination of female priests
Operation Restore Hope
Dec 9 US Marines and allied nations launch an amphibious and airborne operation in Mogadishu, Somalia to restore order to the war-torn nation. Authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 794 passed on December 3.
More 1992 Events

May 22 Johnny Carson's final appearance as host of "The Tonight Show"
Oct 3 Irish pop singer Sinéad O'Connor rips up a picture of Pope John Paul II on "Saturday Night Live" [1]

1992 in Music

Jun 30 "End of the Road" single released by Boyz II Men (Grammy Award Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song 1993, Billboard Song of the Year 1992)
Aug 8 Metallica singer and guitarist James Hetfield suffers second and third-degree burns during a pyrotechnics explosion on stage at Olympic Stadium, Montreal
Nov 3 "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton cover) single is released by Whitney Houston (Billboard Song of the Year 1993)

1992 in Sport

Apr 1 NHL players begin first strike in 75-year history; 10 day action earns large playoff bonus increase, more control over licensing of their likenesses and changes to free agency system
May 7 Champion Puerto Rican jockey Ángel Cordero Jr. retires after winning 7,057 thoroughbred horse races
Sep 12 Stefan Edberg beats Michael Chang 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in 5 hours and 26 minutes, the longest match in US Open history at the time (eclipsed in 2024)
Nov 5 American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer defeats Russian Boris Spassky in an unofficial match in Belgrade dubbed the "Revenge Match of the 20th Century"
Dec 6 San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice catches NFL record 101st touchdown in a 27-3 win over the Miami Dolphins at Candlestick Park
Dec 15 Arthur Ashe is named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

Did You Know?

The Sámi people of the far northern Nordic countries have an official day to celebrate their culture

February 6, 1992

Yodeler Thomas School of Germany achieves 22 tones and 15 falsettos in a single second

February 9, 1992

Who Died in 1992

Actors Who Died in 1992

Musicians Who Died in 1992

Athletes Who Died in 1992

More 1992 Deaths

A First Lady Goes ShopliftingWhile former Panama military dictator Manuel Noriega was awaiting his fate on racketeering charges, his wife Felicidad was having her own run-in with the law.March 20
Rodney King RiotsDamage in Los Angeles after the 1992 riots, which killed 63 people and caused over $1 billion in damagesApril 29
Woman Jockey Rides Into Record BooksJockey Gay Kelleway is the only woman to ride a winner at England’s famous Royal Ascot. She was also the first jockey to wear a TV camera on her helmet.September 6

Famous Weddings in 1992

Jan 13 MLB baseball right fielder Sammy Sosa (23) weds Sonia Rodriguez
Jan 18 Chinese-American "The Last Emperor" actress Joan Chen (30) weds second husband, American cardiologist Dr Peter Hui
Feb 22 Ed McMahon (69) weds Pamela Hurn (37)

Famous Divorces in 1992

Apr 12 Actress Lisa Bonet files for divorce from singer Lenny Kravitz, after 5 years of marriage
Apr 13 Nelson Mandela announces he will seek divorce from Winnie Madikizela
Apr 23 British Princess Anne (the Princess Royal) and her 1st husband Captain Mark Phillips divorce after 19 years

More 1992 Weddings