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1944

Second World War: The British Army abandoned its attempt to capture the German-occupied city of Caen

Second World War: The British Army abandoned its attempt to capture the German-occupied city of Caen.

1940

Second World War: Four days after the French government fled Paris, German forces occupied the French capital, a major a

Second World War: Four days after the French government fled Paris, German forces occupied the French capital, a major accomplishment in the Fall Rot operation.

1940

Second World War: RMS Lancastria was sunk by German aircraft near Saint-Nazaire, France, causing thousands of fatalities

Second World War: RMS Lancastria was sunk by German aircraft near Saint-Nazaire, France, causing thousands of fatalities in Britain's worst maritime disaster.

1940

World War II: Charles de Gaulle gave his Appeal of 18 June speech, often considered to be the origin of the French Resis

World War II: Charles de Gaulle gave his Appeal of 18 June speech, often considered to be the origin of the French Resistance.

1943

World War II: The Royal Air Force began Operation Bellicose, a four-day shuttle-bombing mission that included raids on G

World War II: The Royal Air Force began Operation Bellicose, a four-day shuttle-bombing mission that included raids on Germany and Italy and a refuelling and rearming stop in Algeria.

1960

The U

The U.S. Navy submarine Triton completed the first submerged circumnavigation of the world.

1982

Falklands War: HMS Sheffield was struck by an Exocet missile, killing 20 sailors and leading to its sinking six days lat

Falklands War: HMS Sheffield was struck by an Exocet missile, killing 20 sailors and leading to its sinking six days later—the first Royal Navy ship sunk in action since World War II.

2010

David Cameron took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed the

David Cameron took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed the country's first coalition government since the Second World War.

1914

Around 2,000 members of European society attended a ball at Kenwood House, England, in one of the last major social even

Around 2,000 members of European society attended a ball at Kenwood House, England, in one of the last major social events before the outbreak of the First World War.

1912

American pilot Harriet Quimby (pictured) became the first woman to fly across the English Channel

American pilot Harriet Quimby (pictured) became the first woman to fly across the English Channel.

2014

NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-186f, the first exoplanet with a radius similar to Earth's discovered in the habi

NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-186f, the first exoplanet with a radius similar to Earth's discovered in the habitable zone of another star.

1951

The Peak District was designated the first national park in the United Kingdom

The Peak District was designated the first national park in the United Kingdom.

1980

Robert Mugabe became the first prime minister of Zimbabwe, beginning a 37-year period in power

Robert Mugabe became the first prime minister of Zimbabwe, beginning a 37-year period in power.

1938

Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster of DC Comics, made his debut in Action Comics #1, the first true super

Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster of DC Comics, made his debut in Action Comics #1, the first true superhero comic book.

1987

The fictional Simpson family made their first appearance in the short "Good Night", aired in a segment of the The Tracey

The fictional Simpson family made their first appearance in the short "Good Night", aired in a segment of the The Tracey Ullman Show.

1975

Aryabhata (pictured), India's first satellite, was launched from Kapustin Yar in the Soviet Union

Aryabhata (pictured), India's first satellite, was launched from Kapustin Yar in the Soviet Union.

1971

Salyut 1, the first space station, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome near Tyuratam in the Soviet Union

Salyut 1, the first space station, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome near Tyuratam in the Soviet Union.

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.

1773

The Polish Partition Sejm met to discuss the First Partition of Poland, carried out the previous year by Russia, Prussia

The Polish Partition Sejm met to discuss the First Partition of Poland, carried out the previous year by Russia, Prussia and Austria.

2023

SpaceX's Starship launched for the first time before exploding four minutes into flight

SpaceX's Starship launched for the first time before exploding four minutes into flight.