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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).

1873

Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first black president of a predominantly white university in the United States

Patrick Francis Healy becomes the first black president of a predominantly white university in the United States.

1832

The First Kingdom of Greece is declared in the London Conference

The First Kingdom of Greece is declared in the London Conference.

1607

Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America, is founded

Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in North America, is founded.

1595

Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library

Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library.

2012

The SpaceX Dragon 1 becomes the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous and berth with the International

The SpaceX Dragon 1 becomes the first commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous and berth with the International Space Station.

2001

Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, with Dr

Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, with Dr. Sherman Bull.

1979

John Spenkelink, a convicted murderer, is executed in Florida; he is the first person to be executed in the state after

John Spenkelink, a convicted murderer, is executed in Florida; he is the first person to be executed in the state after the reintroduction of capital punishment in 1976.

1978

The first of a series of bombings orchestrated by the Unabomber detonates at Northwestern University resulting in minor

The first of a series of bombings orchestrated by the Unabomber detonates at Northwestern University resulting in minor injuries.

1953

Nuclear weapons testing: At the Nevada Test Site, the United States conducts its first and only nuclear artillery test

Nuclear weapons testing: At the Nevada Test Site, the United States conducts its first and only nuclear artillery test.

1953

The first public television station in the United States officially begins broadcasting as KUHT from the campus of the U

The first public television station in the United States officially begins broadcasting as KUHT from the campus of the University of Houston.

240 BC

First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.

1998

The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia

The first "National Sorry Day" is held in Australia. Reconciliation events are held nationally, and attended by over a million people.

1991

Zviad Gamsakhurdia becomes the first elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era

Zviad Gamsakhurdia becomes the first elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era.

1970

The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2

The Soviet Tupolev Tu-144 becomes the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2.

1938

In the United States, the House Un-American Activities Committee begins its first session

In the United States, the House Un-American Activities Committee begins its first session.

1908

The first major commercial oil strike in the Middle East is made at Masjed Soleyman in southwest Persia

The first major commercial oil strike in the Middle East is made at Masjed Soleyman in southwest Persia. The rights to the resource were quickly acquired by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.

1896

Charles Dow publishes the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average

Charles Dow publishes the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.