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1954

First Indochina War: The Geneva Conference partitions Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

First Indochina War: The Geneva Conference partitions Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

1971

The first Pacific Islands Forum (then known as the "South Pacific Forum") is held in Wellington, New Zealand, with the…

The first Pacific Islands Forum (then known as the "South Pacific Forum") is held in Wellington, New Zealand, with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Oce�

1927

Attempting to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Paris to New York, French war heroes Charles Nungesser a

Attempting to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight from Paris to New York, French war heroes Charles Nungesser and François Coli disappear after taking off aboard The White Bird biplane.

1989

Solidarity's victory in the 1989 Polish legislative election occurs, the first election since the Communist Polish Unite

Solidarity's victory in the 1989 Polish legislative election occurs, the first election since the Communist Polish United Workers' Party abandoned its monopoly of power. It sparks off the Revolutions�

1801

First Barbary War: The American schooner USS Enterprise captures the Tripolitan polacca Tripoli in a single-ship…

First Barbary War: The American schooner USS Enterprise captures the Tripolitan polacca Tripoli in a single-ship action off the coast of modern-day Libya.

1945

World War II: Sachsenhausen concentration camp is liberated by soldiers of the Red Army and Polish First Army

World War II: Sachsenhausen concentration camp is liberated by soldiers of the Red Army and Polish First Army.

1918

World War I: First tank-to-tank combat, during the second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux

World War I: First tank-to-tank combat, during the second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux. Three British Mark IVs meet three German A7Vs.

1895

Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard th

Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, sets sail from Boston, Massachusetts aboard the sloop Spray.

1956

SS Ideal X, the world's first successful container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey, for Houston, Texas

SS Ideal X, the world's first successful container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey, for Houston, Texas.

1844

Hong Kong Police Force, the world's second modern police force and Asia's first, is established

Hong Kong Police Force, the world's second modern police force and Asia's first, is established.

1964

First ascent of Shishapangma, the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the Eight-thousanders

First ascent of Shishapangma, the fourteenth highest mountain in the world and the lowest of the Eight-thousanders.

1942

World War II: Japanese naval troops invade Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands during the first part of Operation Mo th

World War II: Japanese naval troops invade Tulagi Island in the Solomon Islands during the first part of Operation Mo that results in the Battle of the Coral Sea between Japanese forces and forces fro�

1497

Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cádiz for his first voyage to the New World

Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cádiz for his first voyage to the New World.

1941

Konrad Zuse presents the Z3, the world's first working programmable, fully automatic computer, in Berlin

Konrad Zuse presents the Z3, the world's first working programmable, fully automatic computer, in Berlin.

1958

Ben Carlin becomes the first (and only) person to circumnavigate the world by amphibious vehicle, having travelled over

Ben Carlin becomes the first (and only) person to circumnavigate the world by amphibious vehicle, having travelled over 17,000 kilometres (11,000 mi) by sea and 62,000 kilometres (39,000 mi) by land d�

1891

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opened in Frankfurt, Germany, featuring the world's first long-distance tr

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opened in Frankfurt, Germany, featuring the world's first long-distance transmission of high-power, three-phase electric current (the most common form tod�

1911

Parks Canada, the world's first national park service, is established as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department

Parks Canada, the world's first national park service, is established as the Dominion Parks Branch under the Department of the Interior.

1891

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opens in Frankfurt, Germany, featuring the world's first long-distance tra

The International Electrotechnical Exhibition opens in Frankfurt, Germany, featuring the world's first long-distance transmission of high-power, three-phase electric current (the most common form toda�

1927

Charles Lindbergh touches down at Le Bourget Field in Paris, completing the world's first solo nonstop flight across the

Charles Lindbergh touches down at Le Bourget Field in Paris, completing the world's first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

2015

The Republic of Ireland becomes the first nation in the world to utilise a public referendum to legalise gay marriage

The Republic of Ireland becomes the first nation in the world to utilise a public referendum to legalise gay marriage.