1959
Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century
Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s - 1950s - 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
Years: 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 - 1959 - 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Events
- January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista overthrown by Fidel Castro.
- January 2 - CBS Radio cuts four soap operas: Backstage Wife Our Gal Sunday, Road of Life, and This is Nora Drake.
- January 3 - Alaska is admitted to the United States as the 49th state.
- January 7 - The United States recognizes the new Cuban government of Fidel Castro
- February 6 - At Cape Canaveral, Florida, the first successful test firing of a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile is accomplished.
- February 13 - The Barbie doll goes on sale
- February 16 - Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after President Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1.
- March - China annexes Tibet.
- June 8 - the first (and only) delivery of Missile Mail
- September 15 - Russian probe Luna 2 sends back first photos of the far side of Earth's Moon.
- TAT-2 cable goes into operation.
- The Saint Lawrence Seaway is opened.
Art, Culture & Fashion
- 1959 in film
- 1959 in literature
- 1959 in music
- February 3 - News of the February 2 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper becomes widely known. This date becomes known as "The Day The Music Died".
- 1959 in sports
- 1959 in television
- Fall – Scandals involving rigged network quiz shows create havoc within the television industry.
- Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone debuts
- Bonanza debuts, starring Lorne Greene.
Births
- January 6 - Kathy Sledge, singer
- January 16 - Sade, singer
- January 21 - Cecil B. DeMille, director
- January 22 - Linda Blair, actress
- February 4 - Lawrence Taylor, American football star
- February 11 - Corinne Shigemoto, US judo coach
- May 3 - Ben Elton, British comedian and author
- July 11 - Suzanne Vega, US singer
- October 15 - Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
- November 14 - Paul McGann, British actor
- November 25 - Charles Kennedy, British politician
Deaths
- January 22 - Mike Hawthorn, racing champion
- February 2 - rock and roll performers Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, in a plane crash outside Mason City, Iowa. The news isn't widely know until the next day.
- March 26 - Raymond Chandler, American novelist.
- July 15 - Billie Holiday, jazz and blues singer
- August 15 - Blind Willie McTell, blues singer
- October 14 - Errol Flynn, American actor.
- November 17 - Heitor Villa-Lobos, Brazilian composer.
Science