Search Historical Events

1956

The IBM 305 RAMAC is introduced, the first commercial computer to use disk storage.

The IBM 305 RAMAC is introduced, the first commercial computer to use disk storage.

1948

Margaret Chase Smith is elected United States senator, and becomes the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of…

Margaret Chase Smith is elected United States senator, and becomes the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

1933

Elizabeth McCombs becomes the first woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament.

Elizabeth McCombs becomes the first woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament.

1906

The Santos-Dumont 14-bis makes a short hop, the first flight of a fixed-wing aircraft in Europe.

The Santos-Dumont 14-bis makes a short hop, the first flight of a fixed-wing aircraft in Europe.

1899

Mackinder, Ollier and Brocherel make the first ascent of Batian (5,199 m – 17,058 ft), the highest peak of Mount Kenya.

Mackinder, Ollier and Brocherel make the first ascent of Batian (5,199 m – 17,058 ft), the highest peak of Mount Kenya.

1788

The Congress of the Confederation sets the date for the first presidential election in the United States, and New York…

The Congress of the Confederation sets the date for the first presidential election in the United States, and New York City becomes the country's temporary capital.

2015

The first observation of gravitational waves is made, announced by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations on 11 February…

The first observation of gravitational waves is made, announced by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations on 11 February 2016.

2007

Prelude to the 2008 financial crisis: Northern Rock bank experiences the first bank run in the United Kingdom in 150…

Prelude to the 2008 financial crisis: Northern Rock bank experiences the first bank run in the United Kingdom in 150 years.

1984

Joe Kittinger becomes the first person to fly a gas balloon alone across the Atlantic Ocean.

Joe Kittinger becomes the first person to fly a gas balloon alone across the Atlantic Ocean.

1975

The first American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, is canonized by Pope Paul VI.

The first American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, is canonized by Pope Paul VI.

1914

HMAS AE1, the Royal Australian Navy's first submarine, is lost at sea with all hands near East New Britain, Papua New…

HMAS AE1, the Royal Australian Navy's first submarine, is lost at sea with all hands near East New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

1723

Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena lays down the first stone of Fort Manoel in Malta.

Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena lays down the first stone of Fort Manoel in Malta.

1226

The first recorded instance of the Catholic practice of perpetual Eucharistic adoration formally begins in Avignon,…

The first recorded instance of the Catholic practice of perpetual Eucharistic adoration formally begins in Avignon, France.

1981

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice of the…

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

1978

At the Superdome in New Orleans, Muhammad Ali outpoints Leon Spinks in a rematch to become the first boxer to win the…

At the Superdome in New Orleans, Muhammad Ali outpoints Leon Spinks in a rematch to become the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title three times.

1971

The first Greenpeace ship departs from Vancouver to protest against the upcoming Cannikin nuclear weapon test in Alaska.

The first Greenpeace ship departs from Vancouver to protest against the upcoming Cannikin nuclear weapon test in Alaska.

1968

The Soviet Zond 5 spaceship is launched, becoming the first spacecraft to fly around the Moon and re-enter the Earth's…

The Soviet Zond 5 spaceship is launched, becoming the first spacecraft to fly around the Moon and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.

1959

Nikita Khrushchev becomes the first Soviet leader to visit the United States.

Nikita Khrushchev becomes the first Soviet leader to visit the United States.

1830

The Liverpool to Manchester railway line opens; British MP William Huskisson becomes the first widely reported railway…

The Liverpool to Manchester railway line opens; British MP William Huskisson becomes the first widely reported railway passenger fatality when he is struck and killed by the locomotive Rocket.

1794

French Revolutionary Wars: Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) sees his first combat at the Battle of Boxtel…

French Revolutionary Wars: Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) sees his first combat at the Battle of Boxtel during the Flanders Campaign.