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1607

Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America, is founded

Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America, is founded.

1595

Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library

Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library.

1136

Hugues de Payens, first Grand Master of the Knights Templar (born c

Hugues de Payens, first Grand Master of the Knights Templar (born c. 1070)

1956

The first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland

The first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland.

1930

English aviator Amy Johnson landed in Darwin, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia

English aviator Amy Johnson landed in Darwin, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.

1830

The nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was first published as a poem by Sarah Josepha Hale

The nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was first published as a poem by Sarah Josepha Hale.

2012

The SpaceX Dragon 1 becomes the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous and berth with the International

The SpaceX Dragon 1 becomes the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station.

2001

Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, with Dr

Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, with Dr. Sherman Bull.

1979

John Spenkelink, a convicted murderer, is executed in Florida; he is the first person to be executed in the state after

John Spenkelink, a convicted murderer, is executed in Florida; he is the first person to be executed in the state after the reintroduction of capital punishment in 1976.

1978

The first of a series of bombings orchestrated by the Unabomber detonates at Northwestern University resulting in minor

The first of a series of bombings orchestrated by the Unabomber detonates at Northwestern University resulting in minor injuries.

1953

Nuclear weapons testing: At the Nevada Test Site, the United States conducts its first and only nuclear artillery test

Nuclear weapons testing: At the Nevada Test Site, the United States conducts its first and only nuclear artillery test.

1953

The first public television station in the United States officially begins broadcasting as KUHT from the campus of the U

The first public television station in the United States officially begins broadcasting as KUHT from the campus of the University of Houston.

240 BC

First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.

0

First National Government / National Day (Argentina)

First National Government / National Day (Argentina)

2012

In a test flight, SpaceX's Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to rendezvous and berth with the International

In a test flight, SpaceX's Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station.

1979

Six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared on his way to school in New York City, and later became one of the first missing chil

Six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared on his way to school in New York City, and later became one of the first missing children to have his picture featured on milk cartons.

1810

The Primera Junta, the first independent government in Argentina, was established in an open cabildo in Buenos Aires, ma

The Primera Junta, the first independent government in Argentina, was established in an open cabildo in Buenos Aires, marking the end of the May Revolution.

1998

The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia

The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia. Reconciliation events are held nationally, and attended by over a million people.

1991

Zviad Gamsakhurdia becomes the first elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era

Zviad Gamsakhurdia becomes the first elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era.

1970

The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2

The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2.