Search: The first African FIFA World Cup kicks off inâ€¦ — Historical Events

1826

HMS Beagle departs on its first voyage

HMS Beagle departs on its first voyage.

1819

SS Savannah leaves port at Savannah, Georgia, United States, on a voyage to become the first steamship to cross the Atla

SS Savannah leaves port at Savannah, Georgia, United States, on a voyage to become the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

1809

On the second and last day of the Battle of Aspern-Essling (near Vienna, Austria), Napoleon I is defeated in a major bat

On the second and last day of the Battle of Aspern-Essling (near Vienna, Austria), Napoleon I is defeated in a major battle for the first time in his career, and repelled by an enemy army for the firs�

1455

Start of the Wars of the Roses: At the First Battle of St Albans, Richard, Duke of York, defeats and captures King Henry

Start of the Wars of the Roses: At the First Battle of St Albans, Richard, Duke of York, defeats and captures King Henry VI of England.

1897

The first Blackwall Tunnel under the River Thames was opened to improve commerce and trade in the East End of London

The first Blackwall Tunnel under the River Thames was opened to improve commerce and trade in the East End of London.

1995

The first version of the Java programming language is released

The first version of the Java programming language is released.

1907

The unicameral Parliament of Finland gathers for its first plenary session

The unicameral Parliament of Finland gathers for its first plenary session.

1793

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

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

1950

Martin McGuinness, Irish republican and Sinn Féin politician, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (died 2017)

1524

Ismail I, First Emperor of Safavid Empire (born 1487)

1974

The Airbus A300, the first twin-engined wide-body airliner, went into service with Air France

The Airbus A300, the first twin-engined wide-body airliner, went into service with Air France.

1533

Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, annulled Henry VIII's marriage to his first wife Catherine of Aragon (pictured

Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, annulled Henry VIII's marriage to his first wife Catherine of Aragon (pictured), beginning events that would culminate in the English Reformation.

1956

The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland

The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland.

1940

Igor Sikorsky performs the first successful single-rotor helicopter flight

Igor Sikorsky performs the first successful single-rotor helicopter flight.

1935

The first night game in Major League Baseball history is played in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Cincinnati Reds beating th

The first night game in Major League Baseball history is played in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the Cincinnati Reds beating the Philadelphia Phillies 2–1 at Crosley Field.

1930

Amy Johnson lands in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia (she lef

Amy Johnson lands in Darwin, Northern Territory, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia (she left on May 5 for the 11,000 mile flight).