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2008

The Chaitén volcano in Chile began to erupt for the first time since around 1640

The Chaitén volcano in Chile began to erupt for the first time since around 1640.

1999

Mireya Moscoso (pictured) became the first woman to be elected President of Panama

Mireya Moscoso (pictured) became the first woman to be elected President of Panama.

1999

Panamanian general election: Mireya Moscoso becomes the first woman to be elected President of Panama

Panamanian general election: Mireya Moscoso becomes the first woman to be elected President of Panama.

1194

King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first royal charter

King Richard I of England gave the city of Portsmouth its first royal charter.

1952

A De Havilland Comet makes the first jetliner flight with fare-paying passengers, from London to Johannesburg

A De Havilland Comet makes the first jetliner flight with fare-paying passengers, from London to Johannesburg.

1920

The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis

The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis.

1867

Albert Günther publishes the first study to recognise that the New Zealand tuatara is not a lizard

Albert Günther publishes the first study to recognise that the New Zealand tuatara is not a lizard.

1611

The King James Version of the Bible is published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker

The King James Version of the Bible is published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker.

1194

King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first royal charter

King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first royal charter.

1711

Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester, English politician, First Lord of the Treasury (born 1641)

Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester, English politician, First Lord of the Treasury (born 1641)

2023

Nine students and a security guard are killed in the Belgrade school shooting, the first attack of its kind in Serbia

Nine students and a security guard are killed in the Belgrade school shooting, the first attack of its kind in Serbia.

1971

Erich Honecker became First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the governing party of East Germany

Erich Honecker became First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the governing party of East Germany.

2000

The sport of geocaching begins, with the first cache placed and the coordinates from a GPS posted on Usenet

The sport of geocaching begins, with the first cache placed and the coordinates from a GPS posted on Usenet.

1978

The first unsolicited bulk commercial email (which would later become known as "spam") is sent by a Digital Equipment Co

The first unsolicited bulk commercial email (which would later become known as "spam") is sent by a Digital Equipment Corporation marketing representative to every ARPANET address on the west coast of�

1971

Erich Honecker becomes First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, remaining in power until 1989

Erich Honecker becomes First Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, remaining in power until 1989.

1913

Raja Harishchandra, the first Indian feature-length film, was released

Raja Harishchandra, the first Indian feature-length film, was released.

1952

The Kentucky Derby is televised nationally for the first time, on the CBS network

The Kentucky Derby is televised nationally for the first time, on the CBS network.

1791

The Great Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth ratified the first codified national constitution in Europe

The Great Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth ratified the first codified national constitution in Europe.

1921

West Virginia becomes the first state to legislate a broad sales tax, but does not implement it until a number of years

West Virginia becomes the first state to legislate a broad sales tax, but does not implement it until a number of years later due to enforcement issues.

1913

Raja Harishchandra, the first full-length Indian feature film, is released, marking the beginning of the Indian film ind

Raja Harishchandra, the first full-length Indian feature film, is released, marking the beginning of the Indian film industry.