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1954

Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes

Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes.

1953

The mountaineers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay (both pictured) became the first people to reach the summit of Mount

The mountaineers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay (both pictured) became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

2018

For the first time since its transition to democracy, the Congress of Deputies in Spain passed a motion of no confidence

For the first time since its transition to democracy, the Congress of Deputies in Spain passed a motion of no confidence against the government.

1861

The first land battle of the American Civil War after Fort Sumter took place in the village of Fairfax, Virginia

The first land battle of the American Civil War after Fort Sumter took place in the village of Fairfax, Virginia.

1857

The Revolution of the Ganhadores, the first general strike in Brazil, began in Salvador, Bahia

The Revolution of the Ganhadores, the first general strike in Brazil, began in Salvador, Bahia.

1831

British explorer James Clark Ross led the first expedition to reach the north magnetic pole

British explorer James Clark Ross led the first expedition to reach the north magnetic pole.

1950

Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, members of the French Annapurna expedition, became the first climbers to reach the su

Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, members of the French Annapurna expedition, became the first climbers to reach the summit of a peak higher than 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) above sea level.

1658

Pope Alexander VII appointed François de Laval as the first apostolic vicar of New France

Pope Alexander VII appointed François de Laval as the first apostolic vicar of New France.

1975

Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, one of the first laws in the United States

Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act, one of the first laws in the United States guaranteeing collective bargaining rights to farmworkers.

1784

Élisabeth Thible became the first woman to fly in an untethered hot air balloon, covering a distance of 4 km (2

Élisabeth Thible became the first woman to fly in an untethered hot air balloon, covering a distance of 4 km (2.5 mi) and reaching an estimated altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft).

1953

The mountaineers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest

The mountaineers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

2024

Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records in a New York trial, becoming the first former U

Donald Trump was convicted of falsifying business records in a New York trial, becoming the first former U.S. president found guilty in a criminal case.

2020

Crew Dragon Demo-2 became the first commercial mission to the International Space Station

Crew Dragon Demo-2 became the first commercial mission to the International Space Station.

1981

The first clinical cases of AIDS were published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The first clinical cases of AIDS were published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1862

American Civil War: The Union Army's victory in the First Battle of Memphis virtually eradicated the Confederate naval p

American Civil War: The Union Army's victory in the First Battle of Memphis virtually eradicated the Confederate naval presence on the Mississippi River.

1810

Journalist Mariano Moreno published Argentina's first newspaper, the Gazeta de Buenos-Ayres

Journalist Mariano Moreno published Argentina's first newspaper, the Gazeta de Buenos-Ayres.

1929

Margaret Bondfield (pictured) became the first female member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom when she was named Min

Margaret Bondfield (pictured) became the first female member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom when she was named Minister of Labour by Ramsay MacDonald.

1928

Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew landed the Southern Cross in Brisbane, completing the first tran

Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew landed the Southern Cross in Brisbane, completing the first transpacific flight.

1856

The first company of Mormon handcart pioneers left Iowa City for Salt Lake City, Utah

The first company of Mormon handcart pioneers left Iowa City for Salt Lake City, Utah.

1549

The first Book of Common Prayer was legally mandated by Parliament, introducing a fully vernacular Protestant liturgy to

The first Book of Common Prayer was legally mandated by Parliament, introducing a fully vernacular Protestant liturgy to the Church of England.