The following events occurred in March 1985:
March 1, 1985 (Friday) Julio María Sanguinetti is sworn in as President of Uruguay, the first to be elected after a civic-military dictatorship of Uruguay lasting 12 years. Died: Eugene List, 66, US pianist
March 2, 1985 (Saturday) The United States Food and Drug Administration approves a blood test for AIDS, subsequently used to screen U.S. blood donations. 1985 Victorian state election: The Australian state of Victoria goes to the polls to elect all 88 members of the state's Legislative Assembly and 22 members of the 44-member Legislative Council. Services begin running on the Porto Alegre Metro, Line 1, between Mercado and Sapucaia in Brazil.
March 3, 1985 (Sunday) 1985 Santiago earthquake: a 7.5 magnitude earthquake occurs in Central Chile, resulting in at least 177 deaths and 2,575 injuries, plus extensive damage to property in the cities of San Antonio, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Santiago and Rancagua. The year-long UK miners' strike, which at its peak had involved 142,000 mineworkers, comes to an end. The 1985 Nabisco Grand Prix de Verano concludes in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Martín Jaite wins both the singles and the doubles titles, the latter with his partner Christian Miniussi. The US tug John A. Downs sinks in Long Island Sound as a result of colliding with a barge it is towing. The crew of eight survive.
March 4, 1985 (Monday) The Iraqi Air Force conducts a raid against an Iranian nuclear reactor under construction at Bushehr. Central Chile continues to experience earthquakes for several days after the major incident of March 3. Maarakeh massacre in Lebanon, committed by Mossad agents.
March 5, 1985 (Tuesday) 1985 Micronesian parliamentary election: Elections to parliament are held in the Federated States of Micronesia. All candidates run as independents.
March 6, 1985 (Wednesday) Soviet tanker Ludwig Svoboda explodes and sinks at Ventspils, Latvia; one crewman is killed and five others injured. Mike Tyson makes his professional boxing debut in Albany, New York, defeating Hector Mercedes in a first round TKO.
March 7, 1985 (Thursday) 1985 Hong Kong local elections: Elections are held for the all 19 districts of Hong Kong.
March 8, 1985 (Friday) 1985 Beirut car bombings: A car bomb explodes close to the house of Islamic cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah in Beirut, Lebanon, in a failed assassination attempt linked to the Central Intelligence Agency. More than 80 people are killed and another 200, are injured.
March 9, 1985 (Saturday) Seven people are killed in a fire on a train in Bulgaria, a possible terrorist incident.
March 10, 1985 (Sunday)
Mark Aguirre tallied 32 points and Rolando Blackman added 28, and coach Dick Motta notched his 700th career National Basketball Association victory as the Dallas Mavericks beat the New Jersey Nets 126-113 win. Motta became the 4th NBA head coach in history to win 700 games or more. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force carries out an air raid on Baghdad, capital of Iraq. The 1985 Labatt Brier curling competition concludes in Monckton, New Brunswick, Canada, with Pat Ryan of Alberta winning his second Brier title. Died: Soviet Leader Konstantin Chernenko age 73, Emphysema and heart failure.
March 11, 1985 (Monday) Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party and de facto leader of the Soviet Union. In retaliation for the previous day's attack on Baghdad, the Iraqi Air Force carries out a raid on Tehran. Mohamed Al-Fayed buys the top London department store company, Harrods. Born: Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lankan cricketer, in Moratuwa
March 12, 1985 (Tuesday) Died: Eugene Ormandy, 85, Hungarian-born conductor
March 13, 1985 (Wednesday) 1985 Luton riot: A riot occurs before, during and after a 1984–85 FA Cup sixth-round football match at the Kenilworth Road ground in Luton, Bedfordshire, UK. Thirty-one men were arrested and charged, the majority of whom were supporters of teams not participating in the match. The 1985 Tirreno–Adriatico cycle race is won by Joop Zoetemelk of the Netherlands.
March 14, 1985 (Thursday) The 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament opens in the United States, running until April 1.
March 15, 1985 (Friday) Vice-President José Sarney, upon becoming vice president, assumes the duties of President of Brazil, after new president Tancredo Neves falls ill. Symbolics, a US computer manufacturer, registers the world's first dotcom domain name.