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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).

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.

1683

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, opens as the world's first university museum.

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.

1136

Hugues de Payens, first Grand Master of the Knights Templar (born c

Hugues de Payens, first Grand Master of the Knights Templar (born c. 1070)

1956

The first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland

The first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Lugano, Switzerland.

1930

English aviator Amy Johnson landed in Darwin, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia

English aviator Amy Johnson landed in Darwin, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.

1830

The nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was first published as a poem by Sarah Josepha Hale

The nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was first published as a poem by Sarah Josepha Hale.

1683

Oxford University's Ashmolean Museum, the world's first university museum, opened

Oxford University's Ashmolean Museum, the world's first university museum, opened.

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.