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1739

The War of Jenkins' Ear begins with the first attack on La Guaira.

The War of Jenkins' Ear begins with the first attack on La Guaira.

1912

First Balkan War: The Battle of Kumanovo between the Serbian and Ottoman armies begins.

First Balkan War: The Battle of Kumanovo between the Serbian and Ottoman armies begins.

1911

The Italo-Turkish War sees the first use of an airplane in combat when an Italian pilot makes a reconnaissance flight.

The Italo-Turkish War sees the first use of an airplane in combat when an Italian pilot makes a reconnaissance flight.

1642

The Battle of Edgehill is the first major battle of the English Civil War.

The Battle of Edgehill is the first major battle of the English Civil War.

1912

First Balkan War: The Battle of Kirk Kilisse concludes with a Bulgarian victory against the Ottoman Empire.

First Balkan War: The Battle of Kirk Kilisse concludes with a Bulgarian victory against the Ottoman Empire.

1912

First Balkan War: The Battle of Kumanovo concludes with the Serbian victory against the Ottoman Empire.

First Balkan War: The Battle of Kumanovo concludes with the Serbian victory against the Ottoman Empire.

1894

First Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Jiuliancheng: Under the command of General Yamagata Aritomo, the Imperial Japanese…

First Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Jiuliancheng: Under the command of General Yamagata Aritomo, the Imperial Japanese Army covertly crosses the Yalu River into Qing territory and launches an assault o�

1360

The Treaty of Brétigny is ratified, marking the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War.

The Treaty of Brétigny is ratified, marking the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War.

1822

Greek War of Independence: The First Siege of Missolonghi begins.

Greek War of Independence: The First Siege of Missolonghi begins.

1912

First Balkan War: The Ottomans lose the cities of Thessaloniki and Skopje.

First Balkan War: The Ottomans lose the cities of Thessaloniki and Skopje.

1918

World War I: Czech politicians peacefully take over the city of Prague, thus establishing the First Czechoslovak…

World War I: Czech politicians peacefully take over the city of Prague, thus establishing the First Czechoslovak Republic.

1861

American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia, with Colonel Elmer E

American Civil War: Union troops occupy Alexandria, Virginia, with Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth becoming the first Union officer to be killed during the war.

1940

World War II: Norwegian, French, Polish and British forces recapture Narvik in Norway

World War II: Norwegian, French, Polish and British forces recapture Narvik in Norway. This is the first Allied infantry victory of the War.

1894

The Empire of Japan and Qing China declare war on each other after a week of fighting over Korea, formally…

The Empire of Japan and Qing China declare war on each other after a week of fighting over Korea, formally inaugurating the First Sino-Japanese War.

1965

Vietnam War: Operation Starlite begins: United States Marines destroy a Viet Cong stronghold on the Van Tuong…

Vietnam War: Operation Starlite begins: United States Marines destroy a Viet Cong stronghold on the Van Tuong peninsula in the first major American ground battle of the war.

1945

Ten days after World War II ends with Japan announcing its surrender, armed supporters of the Chinese Communist Party…

Ten days after World War II ends with Japan announcing its surrender, armed supporters of the Chinese Communist Party kill U.S. intelligence officer John Birch, regarded by some of the American right�

1914

World War I: The German colony of Togoland surrenders to French and British forces after a 20-day campaign. Togoland…

World War I: The German colony of Togoland surrenders to French and British forces after a 20-day campaign. Togoland is the first German colony to fall to Allied hands in World War I.

1939

World War II: The submarine HMS Oxley is mistakenly sunk by the submarine HMS Triton near Norway and becomes the Royal…

World War II: The submarine HMS Oxley is mistakenly sunk by the submarine HMS Triton near Norway and becomes the Royal Navy's first loss of a submarine in the war.

1856

Second Opium War: Dissatisfied with imperial commissioner Ye Mingchen's reparations for the alleged slighting of a…

Second Opium War: Dissatisfied with imperial commissioner Ye Mingchen's reparations for the alleged slighting of a British-owned vessel and at Consul Harry Parkes's urging, British Rear-Admiral Michae�

1799

The Rosetta Stone is found in the Egyptian village of Rosetta by French Captain Pierre-François Bouchard during…

The Rosetta Stone is found in the Egyptian village of Rosetta by French Captain Pierre-François Bouchard during Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign.