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1994

Gliese 229B is the first Substellar Mass Object to be unquestionably identified.

Gliese 229B is the first Substellar Mass Object to be unquestionably identified.

1961

NASA tests the first Saturn I rocket in Mission Saturn-Apollo 1.

NASA tests the first Saturn I rocket in Mission Saturn-Apollo 1.

1958

Iskander Mirza, the first President of Pakistan, is deposed by General Ayub Khan, who had been appointed the enforcer…

Iskander Mirza, the first President of Pakistan, is deposed by General Ayub Khan, who had been appointed the enforcer of martial law by Mirza 20 days earlier.

1954

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. becomes the first African-American general in the United States Air Force.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. becomes the first African-American general in the United States Air Force.

1930

Ratifications are exchanged in London for the first London Naval Treaty go into effect immediately, further limiting…

Ratifications are exchanged in London for the first London Naval Treaty go into effect immediately, further limiting the expensive naval arms race among its five signatories.

1726

J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56, one of few works he called a…

J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56, one of few works he called a cantata.

1904

The first underground segment of the New York City Subway opened, connecting New York City Hall (station pictured)…

The first underground segment of the New York City Subway opened, connecting New York City Hall (station pictured) with Harlem.

1726

J. S. Bach led the first performance of Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56, one of few works he called a…

J. S. Bach led the first performance of Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56, one of few works he called a cantata.

2007

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner becomes the first directly elected female President of Argentina.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner becomes the first directly elected female President of Argentina.

1942

The Alaska Highway first connects Alaska to the North American railway network at Dawson Creek in Canada.

The Alaska Highway first connects Alaska to the North American railway network at Dawson Creek in Canada.

1928

Indonesia Raya, now the national anthem of Indonesia, is first played during the Second Indonesian Youth Congress.

Indonesia Raya, now the national anthem of Indonesia, is first played during the Second Indonesian Youth Congress.

1492

Christopher Columbus lands in Cuba on his first voyage to the New World, surmising that it is Japan.

Christopher Columbus lands in Cuba on his first voyage to the New World, surmising that it is Japan.

1818

Abigail Adams, American writer and second First Lady of the United States (born 1744)

Abigail Adams, American writer and second First Lady of the United States (born 1744)

2013

The first terrorist attack in Beijing's recent history took place when members of the Turkistan Islamic Party drove a…

The first terrorist attack in Beijing's recent history took place when members of the Turkistan Islamic Party drove a vehicle into a crowd, killing five people and injuring thirty-eight others.

2007

In the Argentine general election, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner became the first woman to be elected president of…

In the Argentine general election, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner became the first woman to be elected president of Argentina.

1971

Prospero (flight spare pictured), the first British satellite launched on a British rocket, lifted off from Launch…

Prospero (flight spare pictured), the first British satellite launched on a British rocket, lifted off from Launch Area 5B in Woomera, South Australia.

1925

The funerary mask of Tutankhamun, possibly originally made for Queen Neferneferuaten, was uncovered for the first time…

The funerary mask of Tutankhamun, possibly originally made for Queen Neferneferuaten, was uncovered for the first time in approximately 3,250 years.

1835

In the first major engagement of the Texas Revolution, the Texian Army repelled a Mexican attack at the grounds of…

In the first major engagement of the Texas Revolution, the Texian Army repelled a Mexican attack at the grounds of Mission Concepcion south of Downtown San Antonio.

1991

The American Galileo spacecraft makes its closest approach to 951 Gaspra, becoming the first probe to visit an asteroid.

The American Galileo spacecraft makes its closest approach to 951 Gaspra, becoming the first probe to visit an asteroid.

1985

Major General Samuel K. Doe is announced as the winner of the first multi-party election in Liberia.

Major General Samuel K. Doe is announced as the winner of the first multi-party election in Liberia.