Search Historical Events

1901

New York becomes the first U

New York becomes the first U.S. state to require automobile license plates.

1134

The name Zagreb was mentioned for the first time in the Felician Charter relating to the establishment of the Zagreb Bis

The name Zagreb was mentioned for the first time in the Felician Charter relating to the establishment of the Zagreb Bishopric around 1094.

1990

Violeta Chamorro took office as President of Nicaragua, becoming the first female head of state in the Americas to have

Violeta Chamorro took office as President of Nicaragua, becoming the first female head of state in the Americas to have been elected in her own right.

1983

The first issue of The Jakarta Post was published in Indonesia

The first issue of The Jakarta Post was published in Indonesia.

1916

The first issue of Irish War News was published in Ireland

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

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.

1962

The British space programme launches its first satellite, the Ariel 1

The British space programme launches its first satellite, the Ariel 1.

1954

The first clinical trials of Jonas Salk's polio vaccine begin in Fairfax County, Virginia

The first clinical trials of Jonas Salk's polio vaccine begin in Fairfax County, Virginia.

1925

Paul von Hindenburg defeats Wilhelm Marx in the second round of the German presidential election to become the first dir

Paul von Hindenburg defeats Wilhelm Marx in the second round of the German presidential election to become the first directly elected head of state of the Weimar Republic.

1794

Battle of Beaumont during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition

Battle of Beaumont during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition.

1970

Melania Trump, Slovene-American model; 47th First Lady of the United States

Melania Trump, Slovene-American model; 47th First Lady of the United States

2017

The Shandong was launched for the People's Liberation Army Navy, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier

The Shandong was launched for the People's Liberation Army Navy, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier.

1964

Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania with Julius Nyerere as its first president

Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania with Julius Nyerere as its first president.

1958

Service ended on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Royal Blue Line, one of the first major electrified train lines in th

Service ended on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Royal Blue Line, one of the first major electrified train lines in the U.S. (steam train pictured).

1992

Betty Boothroyd becomes the first woman to be elected Speaker of the British House of Commons in its 700-year history

Betty Boothroyd becomes the first woman to be elected Speaker of the British House of Commons in its 700-year history.

1906

The State Duma of the Russian Empire meets for the first time

The State Duma of the Russian Empire meets for the first time.

1805

First Barbary War: United States Marines and Berbers attack the Tripolitan city of Derna (The "shores of Tripoli" in the

First Barbary War: United States Marines and Berbers attack the Tripolitan city of Derna (The "shores of Tripoli" in the Marines' Hymn).

1565

Cebu is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines

Cebu is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines.

1296

First War of Scottish Independence: John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by an English army commanded by John de War

First War of Scottish Independence: John Balliol's Scottish army is defeated by an English army commanded by John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey at the Battle of Dunbar.

1904

Chris Watson became the first prime minister of Australia from the Australian Labor Party

Chris Watson became the first prime minister of Australia from the Australian Labor Party.