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2011

The Conservative Party of Canada won enough seats in the federal election to establish their first majority government

The Conservative Party of Canada won enough seats in the federal election to establish their first majority government.

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.

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.

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.

1913

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

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

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.

2000

Ken Livingstone took office as the first mayor of London

Ken Livingstone took office as the first mayor of London.

1979

Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom

Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom.

1974

An all-female Japanese team reached the summit of Manaslu in the Himalayas, becoming the first women to climb a peak hig

An all-female Japanese team reached the summit of Manaslu in the Himalayas, becoming the first women to climb a peak higher than 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) above sea level.

1776

American Revolution: The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations became the first of the Thirteen Colonies to

American Revolution: The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations became the first of the Thirteen Colonies to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown.

1992

The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, 202 years after it was first proposed

The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, 202 years after it was first proposed.

1904

Pitching for the Boston Americans, Cy Young threw the first perfect game in modern professional baseball

Pitching for the Boston Americans, Cy Young threw the first perfect game in modern professional baseball.

1646

First English Civil War: Charles I surrendered himself to Scottish Covenanter leader David Leslie near Newark, England

First English Civil War: Charles I surrendered himself to Scottish Covenanter leader David Leslie near Newark, England.

1954

At Oxford's Iffley Road Track, English runner Roger Bannister became the first person to run the mile in under four minu

At Oxford's Iffley Road Track, English runner Roger Bannister became the first person to run the mile in under four minutes.

1941

American entertainer Bob Hope performed his first show with the United Service Organizations, beginning a 50-year involv

American entertainer Bob Hope performed his first show with the United Service Organizations, beginning a 50-year involvement with them.

1937

Employees at Fleischer Studios in New York City went on strike in the animation industry's first major labor strike

Employees at Fleischer Studios in New York City went on strike in the animation industry's first major labor strike.

1976

Great American Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California

Great American Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California.

1998

India began the Pokhran-II nuclear-weapons test, its first since the Smiling Buddha test 24 years earlier

India began the Pokhran-II nuclear-weapons test, its first since the Smiling Buddha test 24 years earlier.

1801

First Barbary War: The Barbary corsairs of Tripoli declared war on the United States by cutting down the flagstaff in fr

First Barbary War: The Barbary corsairs of Tripoli declared war on the United States by cutting down the flagstaff in front of the U.S. consulate.