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1861

The first bloodshed of the American Civil War took place when Confederate sympathizers in Baltimore, Maryland, attacked

The first bloodshed of the American Civil War took place when Confederate sympathizers in Baltimore, Maryland, attacked members of the Massachusetts militia en route to Washington, D.C.

1962

The Century 21 Exposition, the first world's fair in the United States since World War II, opened in Seattle

The Century 21 Exposition, the first world's fair in the United States since World War II, opened in Seattle.

1918

First World War: The British Royal Navy launched unsuccessful raids on Ostend and Zeebrugge in German-occupied Belgium

First World War: The British Royal Navy launched unsuccessful raids on Ostend and Zeebrugge in German-occupied Belgium.

1891

Chilean Civil War: The armored frigate Blanco Encalada (pictured) was sunk at the Battle of Caldera Bay, the first ironc

Chilean Civil War: The armored frigate Blanco Encalada (pictured) was sunk at the Battle of Caldera Bay, the first ironclad warship lost to a self-propelled torpedo.

1916

The first issue of Irish War News was published in Ireland

The first issue of Irish War News was published in Ireland.

1915

First World War: The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Anzac Cove while British and French troops landed a

First World War: The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Anzac Cove while British and French troops landed at Cape Helles to begin the Allied invasion of the Gallipoli peninsula in the Ott�

1643

First English Civil War: Despite being vastly outnumbered, a Parliamentarian force under James Chudleigh defeated a Roya

First English Civil War: Despite being vastly outnumbered, a Parliamentarian force under James Chudleigh defeated a Royalist army near Okehampton, Devon, at the Battle of Sourton Down.

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.

1918

First World War: Germany repelled Britain's second attempt to blockade the Belgian port of Ostend

First World War: Germany repelled Britain's second attempt to blockade the Belgian port of Ostend.

1997

The First Congo War came to an end when Laurent-Désiré Kabila proclaimed himself president of Zaire, which was also rena

The First Congo War came to an end when Laurent-Désiré Kabila proclaimed himself president of Zaire, which was also renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

1952

First Indochina War: Viet Minh forces overran a French and Laotian garrison at Muong Khoua, leaving only four survivors

First Indochina War: Viet Minh forces overran a French and Laotian garrison at Muong Khoua, leaving only four survivors.

1915

First World War: Australian and New Zealand troops repelled the third attack on Anzac Cove, inflicting heavy casualties

First World War: Australian and New Zealand troops repelled the third attack on Anzac Cove, inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Ottoman forces.

1217

First Barons' War: English forces under William Marshal defeated French troops at the Battle of Lincoln

First Barons' War: English forces under William Marshal defeated French troops at the Battle of Lincoln.

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.

1917

A socialist convention in Leeds, United Kingdom, called for an end to the First World War and the establishment of Worke

A socialist convention in Leeds, United Kingdom, called for an end to the First World War and the establishment of Workers' and Soldiers' Delegates across the country.

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.

1917

First World War: The British Army detonated 19 ammonal mines under German lines, killing perhaps 10,000 in the deadliest

First World War: The British Army detonated 19 ammonal mines under German lines, killing perhaps 10,000 in the deadliest non-nuclear man-made explosion in history during the Battle of Messines.

1775

The Battle of Machias, the first naval engagement of the American Revolutionary War, commenced in and around the port of

The Battle of Machias, the first naval engagement of the American Revolutionary War, commenced in and around the port of Machias in what is now eastern Maine.

1644

First English Civil War: Prince Maurice abandoned his siege of Lyme Regis in Dorset after learning of the approach of a

First English Civil War: Prince Maurice abandoned his siege of Lyme Regis in Dorset after learning of the approach of a Parliamentarian relief force.

1944

World War II: The United States Army Air Forces began the first air raid of its strategic bombing campaign against the J

World War II: The United States Army Air Forces began the first air raid of its strategic bombing campaign against the Japanese archipelago, although little damage was caused.