February 15 – The oil platform Ocean Ranger sinks during a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, killing all 84 rig workers aboard.
February 18 – The Republic of Ireland general election gives a boost to Fianna Fáil.
February 19 – The DeLorean Motor Company Car Factory in Belfast is put into receivership.
February 24 – In South Africa, 22 National Party MPs led by Andries Treurnicht vote for no confidence in P. W. Botha.
February 25 – The European Court of Human Rights rules that teachers who cane, belt or tase children against the wishes of their parents are in breach of the Human Rights Convention.
February 27 – Atlanta murders of 1979–81: Wayne Williams is convicted of murdering 2 adult men and is sentenced to two consecutive life terms.
February 28 – Adobe Systems was founded.
March 3 – Elizabeth II opens the Barbican Centre in London.
March 9 – Charles Haughey becomes Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland.
March 10
- The United States places an embargo on Libyan oil imports, alleging Libyan support for terrorist groups.
- Syzygy: All 8 planets align on the same side of the Sun (see also The Jupiter Effect).
March 16 – In Newport, Rhode Island, Claus von Bülow is found guilty of the attempted murder of his wife.
March 18
- An Argentine scrap metal dealer raises the Argentine flag in South Georgia.
- Mary Whitehouse's private prosecution of The Romans in Britain collapses.
March 26 – A ground-breaking ceremony for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is held in Washington, D.C.
March 29
- Royal Assent is given to the Canada Act 1982, setting the stage for the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution on April 17.
- The 54th Academy Awards, hosted by Johnny Carson, are held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. Chariots of Fire wins Best Picture and 3 other Academy Awards.
April 2 – The Falklands War begins: Argentina invades and occupies the Falkland Islands.
April 4 – Mexico's children's festival "Juguemos a Cantar" takes place and ends its first run on May 2 .
April 6 – A blizzard unprecedented in size for April dumps 1–2 feet of snow on the northeastern United States, closing schools and businesses, snarling traffic, and canceling several major league baseball games.
April 17 – By Proclamation of the Queen of Canada on Parliament Hill, Canada patriates its constitution, gaining full political independence from the United Kingdom; included is the country's first entrenched bill of rights.
