What Happened in 2003

Significant Events

  • Feb 1 Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
  • Feb 15 An estimated 6-11 million people around the world take to the streets to protest against war with Iraq
  • Mar 13 The journal Nature reports that 350,000-year-old footprints of an upright-walking human have been found in Italy
  • Mar 19 Invasion of Iraq by American and British-led coalition begins without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion
  • Apr 9 Baghdad falls to U.S. forces ending the invasion of Iraqi but resulting in widespread looting
  • Apr 14 The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%
  • Apr 16 Treaty of Accession is signed in Athens admitting 10 new member states to the European Union
  • Jun 10 The Spirit Rover is launched, beginning NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission
  • Aug 11 NATO takes over command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history.
  • Dec 13 Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit, during Operation Red Dawn by US forces
More Historical Events

World Leaders in 2003

Famous People in 2003

Famous People Born in 2003

  • Jan 26 Robby Novak [Kid President], American internet personality (YouTube), born in Henderson, Tennessee
  • Apr 29 Barbaro, American thoroughbred racehorse (d. 2007)
  • Apr 29 Maud Behn, Princess of Norway
  • Jul 4 Alessia di Matteo, Italian medical figure (d. 2005)
  • Aug 20 Prince Gabriel of Belgium
More Famous Birthdays

Would You Believe?

The last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line in Mexico

On July 30, 2003

Famous Weddings

  • Jan 1 "Lord of The Rings" actress Miranda Otto (35) weds actor Peter O'Brien (44) at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia
  • Jan 1 "A Beautiful Mind" actress Jennifer Connelly (32) weds actor Paul Bettany in Scotland
  • Jan 3 Actress Emily Mortimer (31) weds actor Alessandro Nivola (30) in Chilterns, Buckinghamshire
  • Jan 11 "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" actor Taye Diggs (32) weds broadway actress Idina Menzel (31) at Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay, Jamaica
  • Jan 11 "The Sixth Sense" actress-singer Toni Collette (30) weds musician Dave Galafassi in a Buddhist ceremony near Sydney, Australia

Famous Divorces

  • May 27 Actress Angelina Jolie (26) divorces actor Billy Bob Thornton (47) due to irreconcilable differences
  • Dec 29 Retired NFL quarterback John Elway (43) divorces first wife Janet Buchan after 18 years of marriage
More Weddings & Divorces

Famous Deaths

More Famous Deaths

Articles on Events in 2003