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1805

First Barbary War: U

First Barbary War: U.S. Marines engaged forces of the Barbary Coast at the Battle of Derna in Tripoli, marking the first recorded land battle by the United States on foreign soil.

1922

Cathal Brugha, Irish revolutionary and politician, active in the Easter Rising, Irish War of Independence; first Ceann…

Cathal Brugha, Irish revolutionary and politician, active in the Easter Rising, Irish War of Independence; first Ceann Comhairle and first President of Dáil Éireann (born 1874)

1940

World War II: Chad becomes the first French colony to join the Allies under the administration of Félix Éboué,…

World War II: Chad becomes the first French colony to join the Allies under the administration of Félix Éboué, France's first black colonial governor.

1915

World War I: The first tank prototype, developed by William Foster & Co. for the British army, was completed and given…

World War I: The first tank prototype, developed by William Foster & Co. for the British army, was completed and given its first test drive.

1810

First Government Junta in Chile. Though supposed to rule only during the Peninsular War in Spain, it is in fact the…

First Government Junta in Chile. Though supposed to rule only during the Peninsular War in Spain, it is in fact the first step towards independence from Spain, and is commemorated as such.

1947

American financier and presidential adviser Bernard Baruch first described the post–World War II tensions between the So

American financier and presidential adviser Bernard Baruch first described the post–World War II tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States as a "cold war".

1296

First War of Scottish Independence: John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by an English army commanded by John de War

First War of Scottish Independence: John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by an English army commanded by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey at the Battle of Dunbar.

1846

Mexican–American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first

Mexican–American War: American forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the war.

1865

American Civil War: The Battle of Palmito Ranch: The first day of the last major land action to take place during the Ci

American Civil War: The Battle of Palmito Ranch: The first day of the last major land action to take place during the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory.

1950

Korean War: Five North Korean aircraft attacked an American air convoy above Suwon Air Base in the first air engagement

Korean War: Five North Korean aircraft attacked an American air convoy above Suwon Air Base in the first air engagement of the Korean War.

1861

American Civil War: At the order of President Abraham Lincoln, Union troops begin a 25-mile march into Virginia for…

American Civil War: At the order of President Abraham Lincoln, Union troops begin a 25-mile march into Virginia for what will become the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the wa�

1954

First Indochina War: Viet Minh troops successfully ambush the armoured French column 'G.M. 42' in the Battle of Chu…

First Indochina War: Viet Minh troops successfully ambush the armoured French column 'G.M. 42' in the Battle of Chu Dreh Pass in the Central Highlands. It is the last battle of the war.

1942

World War II: The Battle of Guadalcanal begins as the United States Marines initiate the first American offensive of…

World War II: The Battle of Guadalcanal begins as the United States Marines initiate the first American offensive of the war with landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands.

1962

Japan conducts a test of the NAMC YS-11, its first aircraft since World War II and its only successful commercial…

Japan conducts a test of the NAMC YS-11, its first aircraft since World War II and its only successful commercial aircraft from before or after the war.

1839

Battle of Kowloon: British vessels open fire on Chinese war junks enforcing a food sales embargo on the British…

Battle of Kowloon: British vessels open fire on Chinese war junks enforcing a food sales embargo on the British community in China in the first armed conflict of the First Opium War.

1942

World War II: Japanese high command orders withdrawal at Milne Bay, the first major Japanese defeat in land warfare…

World War II: Japanese high command orders withdrawal at Milne Bay, the first major Japanese defeat in land warfare during the Pacific War.

1863

American Civil War: The first day of the Battle of Chickamauga, in northwestern Georgia, the bloodiest two-day battle…

American Civil War: The first day of the Battle of Chickamauga, in northwestern Georgia, the bloodiest two-day battle of the conflict, and the only significant Confederate victory in the war's Western�

1950

Korean War: The Battle of Hill 282 is the first US friendly-fire incident on British military personnel since World…

Korean War: The Battle of Hill 282 is the first US friendly-fire incident on British military personnel since World War II.

1861

American Civil War: The United States Congress passes the Crittenden–Johnson Resolution, stating that the war is being…

American Civil War: The United States Congress passes the Crittenden–Johnson Resolution, stating that the war is being fought to preserve the Union and not to end slavery, in the wake of the defeat at�

1914

World War I: The guns of Point Nepean fort at Port Phillip Heads in Victoria (Australia) fire across the bows of the…

World War I: The guns of Point Nepean fort at Port Phillip Heads in Victoria (Australia) fire across the bows of the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamer SS Pfalz which is attempting to leave the Port of Melbo�