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1954

The U.S. Navy submarine USS Nautilus is commissioned as the world's first nuclear-powered vessel.

The U.S. Navy submarine USS Nautilus is commissioned as the world's first nuclear-powered vessel.

1947

The 1947 World Series begins. It is the first to be televised, to include an African-American player, to exceed…

The 1947 World Series begins. It is the first to be televised, to include an African-American player, to exceed $2 million in receipts, to see a pinch-hit home run, and to have six umpires on the fiel�

1939

NBC broadcasts the first televised American football game.

NBC broadcasts the first televised American football game.

1882

Thomas Edison's first commercial hydroelectric power plant, the Vulcan Street Plant, begins operation.

Thomas Edison's first commercial hydroelectric power plant, the Vulcan Street Plant, begins operation.

1791

The first performance of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute takes place two months before his death.

The first performance of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute takes place two months before his death.

1979

The Sugarhill Gang released their first single, Rapper's Delight.

The Sugarhill Gang released their first single, Rapper's Delight.

1895

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed

The Treaty of Shimonoseki between China and Japan is signed. This marks the end of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the defeated Qing Empire is forced to renounce its claims on Korea and to concede th�

1962

The Seattle World's Fair (Century 21 Exposition) opens

The Seattle World's Fair (Century 21 Exposition) opens. It is the first World's Fair in the United States since World War II.

1993

Riots in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, caused by the approval of the four Danish exceptions in the Maastricht Treaty referendum

Riots in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, caused by the approval of the four Danish exceptions in the Maastricht Treaty referendum. Police open fire against civilians for the first time since World War II and in�

1955

Operation Passage to Freedom, the evacuation of 310,000 Vietnamese civilians, soldiers and non-Vietnamese members of the

Operation Passage to Freedom, the evacuation of 310,000 Vietnamese civilians, soldiers and non-Vietnamese members of the French Army from communist North Vietnam to South Vietnam following the end of�

1839

In Humen, China, Lin Zexu destroys 1

In Humen, China, Lin Zexu destroys 1.2 million kilograms of opium confiscated from British merchants, providing Britain with a casus belli to open hostilities, resulting in the First Opium War.

1808

Battle of Vimeiro: British and Portuguese forces led by General Arthur Wellesley defeat French force under…

Battle of Vimeiro: British and Portuguese forces led by General Arthur Wellesley defeat French force under Major-General Jean-Andoche Junot near the village of Vimeiro, Portugal, the first Anglo-Portu�

1217

An English fleet defeats a French fleet in the battle of Sandwich, cutting of Prince Louis of France from supplies and…

An English fleet defeats a French fleet in the battle of Sandwich, cutting of Prince Louis of France from supplies and diminishing his hopes to gain the English throne during the First Barons' War.

1983

Soviet Air Force officer Stanislav Petrov identifies a report of an incoming nuclear missile as a computer error and…

Soviet Air Force officer Stanislav Petrov identifies a report of an incoming nuclear missile as a computer error and not an American first strike, thus preventing nuclear war.

1945

World War II: The Red Army begins the final assault on German forces around Berlin, with nearly one million troops fight

World War II: The Red Army begins the final assault on German forces around Berlin, with nearly one million troops fighting in the Battle of the Seelow Heights.

1945

The United States Army liberates Nazi Sonderlager (high security) prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C (better known as Coldi

The United States Army liberates Nazi Sonderlager (high security) prisoner-of-war camp Oflag IV-C (better known as Colditz).

1944

World War II: Allied forces start bombing Belgrade, killing about 1,100 people

World War II: Allied forces start bombing Belgrade, killing about 1,100 people. This bombing fell on the Orthodox Christian Easter.

1941

World War II: The Italian-German Tarigo convoy is attacked and destroyed by British ships

World War II: The Italian-German Tarigo convoy is attacked and destroyed by British ships.

1941

World War II: The Nazi-affiliated Ustaše is put in charge of the Independent State of Croatia by the Axis powers after O

World War II: The Nazi-affiliated Ustaše is put in charge of the Independent State of Croatia by the Axis powers after Operation 25 is effected.

1919

Polish–Lithuanian War: The Polish Army launches the Vilna offensive to capture Vilnius in modern Lithuania

Polish–Lithuanian War: The Polish Army launches the Vilna offensive to capture Vilnius in modern Lithuania.