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1993

Wizards of the Coast released Magic: The Gathering, the first trading card game.

Wizards of the Coast released Magic: The Gathering, the first trading card game.

1888

Bertha Benz made the first long-distance automobile trip, driving 106 km (66 mi) from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany,…

Bertha Benz made the first long-distance automobile trip, driving 106 km (66 mi) from Mannheim to Pforzheim, Germany, in a Benz Patent-Motorwagen.

1772

Russia, Prussia and Habsburg Austria began the First Partition of Poland, with the primary motive to restore the…

Russia, Prussia and Habsburg Austria began the First Partition of Poland, with the primary motive to restore the regional balance of power in Eastern Europe.

1987

Lynne Cox became the first person to swim between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, crossing from Little Diomede to Big…

Lynne Cox became the first person to swim between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, crossing from Little Diomede to Big Diomede in the Bering Strait in 2 hours and 5 minutes.

1955

Hurricane Diane, the first Atlantic hurricane to cause more than $1 billion in damages, formed between the Lesser…

Hurricane Diane, the first Atlantic hurricane to cause more than $1 billion in damages, formed between the Lesser Antilles and Cape Verde.

1944

IBM presented the first program-controlled calculator to Harvard University, after which it became known as the Mark I…

IBM presented the first program-controlled calculator to Harvard University, after which it became known as the Mark I (pictured).

1850

The first section of the Great Northern Railway, now the southern section of the East Coast Main Line, opened between…

The first section of the Great Northern Railway, now the southern section of the East Coast Main Line, opened between London and Peterborough.

1974

On the verge of an impeachment and removal from office amid the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first…

On the verge of an impeachment and removal from office amid the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first president of the United States to resign.

1897

The first meeting of the International Congress of Mathematicians was held in Zürich, Switzerland.

The first meeting of the International Congress of Mathematicians was held in Zürich, Switzerland.

1755

The first wave of the Expulsion of the Acadians from the present-day Canadian Maritime provinces by the British began…

The first wave of the Expulsion of the Acadians from the present-day Canadian Maritime provinces by the British began with the Bay of Fundy campaign at Chignecto.

1929

The first Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic, the oldest and largest African-American parade in the United States, was…

The first Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic, the oldest and largest African-American parade in the United States, was held in Chicago.

1786

Francis Light founded George Town (city hall pictured), the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and the…

Francis Light founded George Town (city hall pictured), the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and the present-day capital of the Malaysian state of Penang.

1492

The first conclave to be held in the Sistine Chapel elected Roderic Borja as Pope Alexander VI to succeed Innocent VIII.

The first conclave to be held in the Sistine Chapel elected Roderic Borja as Pope Alexander VI to succeed Innocent VIII.

2016

The state-owned Taedonggang Brewing Company inaugurated the first beer festival in North Korea.

The state-owned Taedonggang Brewing Company inaugurated the first beer festival in North Korea.

1918

Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.

Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.

1724

Bach led the Thomanerchor in Leipzig in the first performance of the chorale cantata, Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer…

Bach led the Thomanerchor in Leipzig in the first performance of the chorale cantata, Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BWV 101.

1975

The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in London, the first in its record-breaking run in cinemas, which continues in…

The Rocky Horror Picture Show premiered in London, the first in its record-breaking run in cinemas, which continues in limited release.

1888

One of the first recordings of music, of Arthur Sullivan's "The Lost Chord", was played at a press conference in…

One of the first recordings of music, of Arthur Sullivan's "The Lost Chord", was played at a press conference in London to introduce Thomas Edison's phonograph.

1948

The Republic of Korea was established with Syngman Rhee (pictured) as its first president.

The Republic of Korea was established with Syngman Rhee (pictured) as its first president.

1947

Jawaharlal Nehru (pictured) took office as the first prime minister of India, a post he held for 16 years.

Jawaharlal Nehru (pictured) took office as the first prime minister of India, a post he held for 16 years.