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1995

The first version of the Java programming language is released

The first version of the Java programming language is released.

1907

The unicameral Parliament of Finland gathers for its first plenary session

The unicameral Parliament of Finland gathers for its first plenary session.

1956

The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland

The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland.

1940

Igor Sikorsky performs the first successful single-rotor helicopter flight

Igor Sikorsky performs the first successful single-rotor helicopter flight.

1935

The first night game in Major League Baseball history is played in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Cincinnati Reds beating th

The first night game in Major League Baseball history is played in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Cincinnati Reds beating the Philadelphia Phillies 2–1 at Crosley Field.

1930

Amy Johnson lands in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia (she lef

Amy Johnson lands in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia (she left on May 5 for the 11,000 mile flight).

1873

Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first black president of a predominantly white university in the United States

Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first black president of a predominantly white university in the United States.

1832

The First Kingdom of Greece is declared in the London Conference

The First Kingdom of Greece is declared in the London Conference.

1683

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum.

1607

Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America, is founded

Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America, is founded.

1595

Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library

Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library.

2012

The SpaceX Dragon 1 becomes the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous and berth with the International

The SpaceX Dragon 1 becomes the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station.

2001

Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, with Dr

Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, with Dr. Sherman Bull.

1979

John Spenkelink, a convicted murderer, is executed in Florida; he is the first person to be executed in the state after

John Spenkelink, a convicted murderer, is executed in Florida; he is the first person to be executed in the state after the reintroduction of capital punishment in 1976.

1978

The first of a series of bombings orchestrated by the Unabomber detonates at Northwestern University resulting in minor

The first of a series of bombings orchestrated by the Unabomber detonates at Northwestern University resulting in minor injuries.

1955

First ascent of Mount Kangchenjunga: On the British Kangchenjunga expedition led by Charles Evans, Joe Brown and George

First ascent of Mount Kangchenjunga: On the British Kangchenjunga expedition led by Charles Evans, Joe Brown and George Band reach the summit of the third-highest mountain in the world (8,586 meters);�

1953

Nuclear weapons testing: At the Nevada Test Site, the United States conducts its first and only nuclear artillery test

Nuclear weapons testing: At the Nevada Test Site, the United States conducts its first and only nuclear artillery test.

1953

The first public television station in the United States officially begins broadcasting as KUHT from the campus of the U

The first public television station in the United States officially begins broadcasting as KUHT from the campus of the University of Houston.

240 BC

First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.

1998

The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia

The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia. Reconciliation events are held nationally, and attended by over a million people.