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1851

Herman Melville's Moby-Dick is first published as The Whale by Richard Bentley of London.

Herman Melville's Moby-Dick is first published as The Whale by Richard Bentley of London.

1648

Boston shoemakers form the first American labor organization.

Boston shoemakers form the first American labor organization.

1982

Bess Truman, American wife of Harry S. Truman, 40th First Lady of the United States (born 1885)

Bess Truman, American wife of Harry S. Truman, 40th First Lady of the United States (born 1885)

1993

Nihilism, the first professional runway show from the British designer Alexander McQueen, was staged in London.

Nihilism, the first professional runway show from the British designer Alexander McQueen, was staged in London.

1967

The Soviet space probe Venera 4 became the first spacecraft to perform direct in situ analysis of the environment of…

The Soviet space probe Venera 4 became the first spacecraft to perform direct in situ analysis of the environment of another planet (Venus).

1963

The first cat in space, later known as Félicette, launched aboard a French Véronique rocket.

The first cat in space, later known as Félicette, launched aboard a French Véronique rocket.

1906

The Robert Burns Memorial Statue, the first public statue erected in New Brunswick, was dedicated in Fredericton.

The Robert Burns Memorial Statue, the first public statue erected in New Brunswick, was dedicated in Fredericton.

1565

The first recorded naval battle between Europeans and the Japanese occurred when a flotilla of samurai attacked two…

The first recorded naval battle between Europeans and the Japanese occurred when a flotilla of samurai attacked two Portuguese trade vessels at the Battle of Fukuda Bay in Nagasaki.

1955

The General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union approves the staging of the first Eurovision Song Contest.

The General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union approves the staging of the first Eurovision Song Contest.

1950

Iran becomes the first country to accept technical assistance from the United States under the Point Four Program.

Iran becomes the first country to accept technical assistance from the United States under the Point Four Program.

1943

Streptomycin, the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis, is isolated by researchers at Rutgers University.

Streptomycin, the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis, is isolated by researchers at Rutgers University.

1789

John Jay is sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the United States.

John Jay is sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the United States.

1386

The Universität Heidelberg holds its first lecture, making it the oldest German university.

The Universität Heidelberg holds its first lecture, making it the oldest German university.

2017

Canadian astronomer Robert Weryk discovered ʻOumuamua (depicted), the first known interstellar object detected passing…

Canadian astronomer Robert Weryk discovered ʻOumuamua (depicted), the first known interstellar object detected passing through the Solar System.

1955

At a meeting of its general assembly, the European Broadcasting Union approved the staging of the first Eurovision…

At a meeting of its general assembly, the European Broadcasting Union approved the staging of the first Eurovision Song Contest.

1961

The Soviet Navy performs the first armed test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, launching an R-13 from a…

The Soviet Navy performs the first armed test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, launching an R-13 from a Golf-class submarine.

1889

Luo Yixiu, first wife of Mao Zedong (died 1910)

Luo Yixiu, first wife of Mao Zedong (died 1910)

1939

Pope Pius XII (pictured) published his first encyclical, Summi Pontificatus, which critiqued ideologies such as…

Pope Pius XII (pictured) published his first encyclical, Summi Pontificatus, which critiqued ideologies such as racism, cultural superiority and totalitarianism.

1726

Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of Es erhub sich ein Streit, a cantata for Michaelmas.

Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of Es erhub sich ein Streit, a cantata for Michaelmas.

1726

J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 130, for the feast of Michael, the archangel.

J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 130, for the feast of Michael, the archangel.