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1991

The Finnish operator Radiolinja is launched as the world's first GSM network.

The Finnish operator Radiolinja is launched as the world's first GSM network.

1987

The American radio station WFAN in New York City is launched as the world's first all-sports radio station.

The American radio station WFAN in New York City is launched as the world's first all-sports radio station.

1972

The first Gay pride march in England takes place.

The first Gay pride march in England takes place.

1966

The first color television transmission in Canada takes place from Toronto.

The first color television transmission in Canada takes place from Toronto.

1960

Ghana becomes a republic and Kwame Nkrumah becomes its first President as Queen Elizabeth II ceases to be its head of…

Ghana becomes a republic and Kwame Nkrumah becomes its first President as Queen Elizabeth II ceases to be its head of state.

1946

Crossroads Able is the first postwar nuclear weapon test.

Crossroads Able is the first postwar nuclear weapon test.

1931

Wiley Post and Harold Gatty become the first people to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engined monoplane aircraft.

Wiley Post and Harold Gatty become the first people to circumnavigate the globe in a single-engined monoplane aircraft.

1915

Leutnant Kurt Wintgens of the then-named German Deutsches Heer's Fliegertruppe army air service achieves the first…

Leutnant Kurt Wintgens of the then-named German Deutsches Heer's Fliegertruppe army air service achieves the first known aerial victory with a synchronized machine-gun armed fighter plane, the Fokker�

1903

Start of first Tour de France bicycle race.

Start of first Tour de France bicycle race.

1881

The world's first international telephone call is made between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, and Calais, Maine,…

The world's first international telephone call is made between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, and Calais, Maine, United States.

1879

Charles Taze Russell publishes the first edition of the religious magazine The Watchtower.

Charles Taze Russell publishes the first edition of the religious magazine The Watchtower.

1874

The Sholes and Glidden typewriter, the first commercially successful typewriter, goes on sale.

The Sholes and Glidden typewriter, the first commercially successful typewriter, goes on sale.

1819

Johann Georg Tralles discovers the Great Comet of 1819, (C/1819 N1). It is the first comet analyzed using polarimetry,…

Johann Georg Tralles discovers the Great Comet of 1819, (C/1819 N1). It is the first comet analyzed using polarimetry, by François Arago.

1643

First meeting of the Westminster Assembly, a council of theologians ("divines") and members of the Parliament of…

First meeting of the Westminster Assembly, a council of theologians ("divines") and members of the Parliament of England appointed to restructure the Church of England, at Westminster Abbey in London.

1523

Jan van Essen and Hendrik Vos become the first Lutheran martyrs, burned at the stake by Roman Catholic authorities in…

Jan van Essen and Hendrik Vos become the first Lutheran martyrs, burned at the stake by Roman Catholic authorities in Brussels.

2000

Vicente Fox Quesada is elected the first President of México from an opposition party, the Partido Acción Nacional,…

Vicente Fox Quesada is elected the first President of México from an opposition party, the Partido Acción Nacional, after more than 70 years of continuous rule by the Partido Revolucionario Institucio�

1966

France conducts its first nuclear weapon test in the Pacific, on Moruroa Atoll.

France conducts its first nuclear weapon test in the Pacific, on Moruroa Atoll.

1979

U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul.

1886

Karl Benz officially unveils the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first purpose-built automobile.

Karl Benz officially unveils the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first purpose-built automobile.

1886

The New-York Tribune becomes the first newspaper to use a linotype machine, eliminating typesetting by hand.

The New-York Tribune becomes the first newspaper to use a linotype machine, eliminating typesetting by hand.