when did he take this journey?
12 April 1961
Yuri Gagarin
On 12 April 1961, at 6:07 am UTC, the Vostok 3KA-3 (Vostok 1) spacecraft was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Aboard was Gagarin, 
what is yuri gagarin? A Soviet Air Forces pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space
wiki:19654449
Yuri Gagarin [SEP] Vostok 1
Gagarin was recognised as a qualified Military Pilot 1st Class and promoted to the rank of major in a special order given during his flight.