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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.

1683

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum.

1992

The first World Oceans Day is celebrated, coinciding with the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The first World Oceans Day is celebrated, coinciding with the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

1892

The Limelight Department, one of the world's first film studios, is officially established in Melbourne, Australia

The Limelight Department, one of the world's first film studios, is officially established in Melbourne, Australia.

1944

World War II: Germany launches the first V1 Flying Bomb attack on England

World War II: Germany launches the first V1 Flying Bomb attack on England. Only four of the eleven bombs strike their targets.

1895

Émile Levassor wins the world's first real automobile race

Émile Levassor wins the world's first real automobile race. Levassor completed the 732-mile course, from Paris to Bordeaux and back, in just under 49 hours, at a then-impressive speed of about fifteen�

1960

Charlotte Motor Speedway holds its first NASCAR race, the inaugural World 600

Charlotte Motor Speedway holds its first NASCAR race, the inaugural World 600.

1943

World War II: The Royal Air Force launches Operation Bellicose, the first shuttle bombing raid of the war

World War II: The Royal Air Force launches Operation Bellicose, the first shuttle bombing raid of the war. Avro Lancaster bombers damage the V-2 rocket production facilities at the Zeppelin Works whil�

1877

Alexander Graham Bell installs the world's first commercial telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Alexander Graham Bell installs the world's first commercial telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.