Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space on April 12, 1961 aboard Vostok 1. He spent 108 minutes in space. This day was decreed by the USSR’s Supreme Council on April 9th, 1962.
This flight marked the beginning of the space race. While Russia (then the USSR), put the first man in space, The United States went on to be the first to put a man on the moon.