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1912

Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman to fly an airplane across the English Channel

Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman to fly an airplane across the English Channel.

1853

The Great Indian Peninsula Railway opens the first passenger rail in India, from Bori Bunder to Thane

The Great Indian Peninsula Railway opens the first passenger rail in India, from Bori Bunder to Thane.

73

Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the First Jewish–Roman War

Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the First Jewish–Roman War.

1457 BC

Battle of Megiddo – the first battle to have been recorded in what is accepted as relatively reliable detail

Battle of Megiddo – the first battle to have been recorded in what is accepted as relatively reliable detail.

1892

Dora Richter, German transgender woman and the first known person to undergo complete male-to-female gender-affirming su

Dora Richter, German transgender woman and the first known person to undergo complete male-to-female gender-affirming surgery (died 1966)

1661

Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, English poet and politician, First Lord of the Treasury (died 1715)

Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax, English poet and politician, First Lord of the Treasury (died 1715)

1912

American pilot Harriet Quimby (pictured) became the first woman to fly across the English Channel

American pilot Harriet Quimby (pictured) became the first woman to fly across the English Channel.

2014

NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another sta

NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star.

2003

Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland

Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland.

1951

The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park

The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park.

1080

Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized

Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.

1927

Margot Honecker, East German politician and First Lady (died 2016)

Margot Honecker, East German politician and First Lady (died 2016)

2018

Barbara Bush, American political matriarch and literacy advocate, First Lady of the United States (1989–1993), and Secon

Barbara Bush, American political matriarch and literacy advocate, First Lady of the United States (1989–1993), and Second Lady of the United States (1981–1989) (born 1925)

2014

NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-186f, the first exoplanet with a radius similar to Earth's discovered in the habi

NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-186f, the first exoplanet with a radius similar to Earth's discovered in the habitable zone of another star.

1951

The Peak District was designated the first national park in the United Kingdom

The Peak District was designated the first national park in the United Kingdom.

1980

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President. The Zimbabwean dollar replaces the Rhodesian dollar as the official currency.

1980

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history.

1783

Three-Fifths Compromise: The first instance of black slaves in the United States of America being counted as three-fifth

Three-Fifths Compromise: The first instance of black slaves in the United States of America being counted as three-fifths of persons (for the purpose of taxation), in a resolution of the Congress of t�

1980

Robert Mugabe became the first prime minister of Zimbabwe, beginning a 37-year period in power

Robert Mugabe became the first prime minister of Zimbabwe, beginning a 37-year period in power.

1938

Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster of DC Comics, made his debut in Action Comics #1, the first true super

Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster of DC Comics, made his debut in Action Comics #1, the first true superhero comic book.