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1853

The Great Indian Peninsula Railway opens the first passenger rail in India, from Bori Bunder to Thane

The Great Indian Peninsula Railway opens the first passenger rail in India, from Bori Bunder to Thane.

73

Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the First Jewish–Roman War

Masada, a Jewish fortress, falls to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the First Jewish–Roman War.

1457 BC

Battle of Megiddo – the first battle to have been recorded in what is accepted as relatively reliable detail

Battle of Megiddo – the first battle to have been recorded in what is accepted as relatively reliable detail.

2014

NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another sta

NASA's Kepler space telescope confirms the discovery of the first Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star.

2003

Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland

Anneli Jäätteenmäki takes office as the first female prime minister of Finland.

1951

The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park

The Peak District becomes the United Kingdom's first National Park.

1080

Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized

Harald III of Denmark dies and is succeeded by Canute IV, who would later be the first Dane to be canonized.

1980

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President. The Zimbabwean dollar replaces the Rhodesian dollar as the official currency.

1980

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history.

1783

Three-Fifths Compromise: The first instance of black slaves in the United States of America being counted as three-fifth

Three-Fifths Compromise: The first instance of black slaves in the United States of America being counted as three-fifths of persons (for the purpose of taxation), in a resolution of the Congress of t�

2021

The Ingenuity helicopter becomes the first aircraft to achieve flight on another planet

The Ingenuity helicopter becomes the first aircraft to achieve flight on another planet.

2011

Fidel Castro resigns as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba after holding the title since July 1961

Fidel Castro resigns as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba after holding the title since July 1961.

1975

India's first satellite Aryabhata launched in orbit from Kapustin Yar, Russia

India's first satellite Aryabhata launched in orbit from Kapustin Yar, Russia.

1971

Launch of Salyut 1, the first space station

Launch of Salyut 1, the first space station.

1943

Albert Hofmann deliberately doses himself with LSD for the first time, three days after having discovered its effects on

Albert Hofmann deliberately doses himself with LSD for the first time, three days after having discovered its effects on April 16, an event commonly known and celebrated as Bicycle Day.

2023

SpaceX's Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launches for the first time

SpaceX's Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launches for the first time. It explodes four minutes into flight.

2020

For the first time in history, oil prices drop below zero, an effect of the 2020 Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war

For the first time in history, oil prices drop below zero, an effect of the 2020 Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war.

2008

Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first female driver in history to win an Indy car race

Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first female driver in history to win an Indy car race.

1809

Two Austrian army corps in Bavaria are defeated by a First French Empire army led by Napoleon at the Battle of Abensberg

Two Austrian army corps in Bavaria are defeated by a First French Empire army led by Napoleon at the Battle of Abensberg on the second day of a four-day campaign that ended in a French victory.

1982

Baseball: Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers becomes the first pitcher to record 300 saves

Baseball: Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers becomes the first pitcher to record 300 saves.