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1805

First Barbary War: U

First Barbary War: U.S. Marines engaged forces of the Barbary Coast at the Battle of Derna in Tripoli, marking the first recorded land battle by the United States on foreign soil.

1947

American financier and presidential adviser Bernard Baruch first described the post–World War II tensions between the So

American financier and presidential adviser Bernard Baruch first described the post–World War II tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States as a "cold war".

1950

Korean War: Five North Korean aircraft attacked an American air convoy above Suwon Air Base in the first air engagement

Korean War: Five North Korean aircraft attacked an American air convoy above Suwon Air Base in the first air engagement of the Korean War.

1921

The Mortimer War Memorial (pictured), designed by Herbert Maryon in memory of local servicemen who died in the First…

The Mortimer War Memorial (pictured), designed by Herbert Maryon in memory of local servicemen who died in the First World War, was dedicated.

1965

Vietnam War protests: At an anti-war rally in New York City, David J. Miller burned his draft card (example pictured),…

Vietnam War protests: At an anti-war rally in New York City, David J. Miller burned his draft card (example pictured), the first such act to result in arrest under a new amendment to the Selective Ser�

2010

Gordon Brown resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party after failing to strike a c

Gordon Brown resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party after failing to strike a coalition agreement with the Liberal Democrats.

1704

John Campbell released the first issue of The Boston News-Letter, the first continuously published newspaper in British

John Campbell released the first issue of The Boston News-Letter, the first continuously published newspaper in British North America.

2025

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV (pictured), making him the first pope born in the United Sta

�rancis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV (pictured), making him the first pope born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenship, the first from the Order of Saint Aug�

1951

Trains ran on the Talyllyn Railway in Wales for the first time since its preservation, making it the first railway in th

Trains ran on the Talyllyn Railway in Wales for the first time since its preservation, making it the first railway in the world to be operated by volunteers.

1974

India conducted its first nuclear test explosion at Pokhran, the first confirmed nuclear test by a nation outside the fi

India conducted its first nuclear test explosion at Pokhran, the first confirmed nuclear test by a nation outside the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

325

The First Council of Nicaea (depicted), the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church, was formally opened by Con

The First Council of Nicaea (depicted), the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church, was formally opened by Constantine the Great.

325

The First Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church, was formally opened by Constantine th

The First Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church, was formally opened by Constantine the Great.

1874

Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem was first performed in the San Marco church in Milan to commemorate the first anniversary of Al

Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem was first performed in the San Marco church in Milan to commemorate the first anniversary of Alessandro Manzoni's death.

1948

The Manchester Baby (replica pictured), the world's first stored-program computer, ran its first program

The Manchester Baby (replica pictured), the world's first stored-program computer, ran its first program.

1726

On the First Sunday after Trinity, J. S. Bach led the first performance of Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39 (page…

On the First Sunday after Trinity, J. S. Bach led the first performance of Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39 (page pictured), one of a few new cantatas written that year.

1894

Jules-Albert de Dion finished first in the world's first motor race, but did not win as his steam-powered car was…

Jules-Albert de Dion finished first in the world's first motor race, but did not win as his steam-powered car was against the rules.

1876

A performance of Wagner's Das Rheingold (scene pictured) opened the first Ring cycle at the first Bayreuth Festival,…

A performance of Wagner's Das Rheingold (scene pictured) opened the first Ring cycle at the first Bayreuth Festival, attended by emperors and composers.

2010

Teresa Lewis became the first woman to be executed by the U.S. state of Virginia since 1912, and the first woman in…

Teresa Lewis became the first woman to be executed by the U.S. state of Virginia since 1912, and the first woman in the state to be executed via lethal injection.

1968

Apollo 7, the first manned mission of NASA's Apollo program, and the first three-man American space mission, launched…

Apollo 7, the first manned mission of NASA's Apollo program, and the first three-man American space mission, launched from Complex 34 in Cape Kennedy, Florida.

1905

The Saint Petersburg Soviet held its first meeting, becoming the first elected body in Russia to represent workers.

The Saint Petersburg Soviet held its first meeting, becoming the first elected body in Russia to represent workers.