Search Historical Events

1804

Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, American educator who founded the first U

Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, American educator who founded the first U.S. kindergarten (died 1894)

1975

Japanese climber Junko Tabei (pictured) became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest

Japanese climber Junko Tabei (pictured) became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

1960

American physicist Theodore Maiman operated the first working laser at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu

American physicist Theodore Maiman operated the first working laser at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu.

1959

The Tritons' Fountain in Valletta, one of Malta's most important Modernist landmarks, was turned on for the first time

The Tritons' Fountain in Valletta, one of Malta's most important Modernist landmarks, was turned on for the first time.

1929

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

1866

The United States Congress authorized the minting of the Shield nickel (example pictured), the country's first five-cent

The United States Congress authorized the minting of the Shield nickel (example pictured), the country's first five-cent piece to be made of a copper–nickel alloy.

1961

Venera program: Venera 1 becomes the first man-made object to fly by another planet by passing Venus (the probe had lost

Venera program: Venera 1 becomes the first man-made object to fly by another planet by passing Venus (the probe had lost contact with Earth a month earlier and did not send back any data).

1883

Buffalo Bill's first Buffalo Bill's Wild West opens in Omaha, Nebraska

Buffalo Bill's first Buffalo Bill's Wild West opens in Omaha, Nebraska.

1445

John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo

John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo.

1994

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, American journalist, 37th First Lady of the United States (born 1929)

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, American journalist, 37th First Lady of the United States (born 1929)

2011

Mamata Banerjee is sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the first woman to hold this post

Mamata Banerjee is sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the first woman to hold this post.

1990

The first post-Communist presidential and parliamentary elections are held in Romania

The first post-Communist presidential and parliamentary elections are held in Romania.

1983

First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS in the journal Science by a team of French scienti

First publications of the discovery of the HIV virus that causes AIDS in the journal Science by a team of French scientists including Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Jean-Claude Chermann, and Luc Montagnier�

1956

In Operation Redwing, the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean

In Operation Redwing, the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

1948

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek wins the 1948 Republic of China presidential election and is sworn in as the first Preside

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek wins the 1948 Republic of China presidential election and is sworn in as the first President of the Republic of China at Nanjing.

1940

The Holocaust: The first prisoners arrive at a new concentration camp at Auschwitz

The Holocaust: The first prisoners arrive at a new concentration camp at Auschwitz.

1891

History of cinema: The first public display of Thomas Edison's prototype kinetoscope

History of cinema: The first public display of Thomas Edison's prototype kinetoscope.

1714

Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata for Pentecost, Erschallet, ihr Lieder, BWV 172, at the

Johann Sebastian Bach leads the first performance of his cantata for Pentecost, Erschallet, ihr Lieder, BWV 172, at the chapel of Schloss Weimar.

1609

Shakespeare's sonnets are first published in London, perhaps illicitly, by the publisher Thomas Thorpe

Shakespeare's sonnets are first published in London, perhaps illicitly, by the publisher Thomas Thorpe.

1570

Cartographer Abraham Ortelius issues Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern atlas

Cartographer Abraham Ortelius issues Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern atlas.