1877 ….. U.S.A ..... Rutherford Birchard Hayes was declared the 19th US President by an electoral commission, following a dispute over the 1876 ballots. He was the FIRST and only US President to be elected by this process 

1900 ..... U.K ..... the FIRST English newspaper to reach daily sales of one million was the Daily Mail

1912 ….. U.K ..... the FIRST Blackpool illuminations were switched on by Princess Louise as part of a special parade and were so well received that they were revived in late summer 

1944 ..... U.S.A ..... winners of the Best Supporting Actor and Actress Oscars were rewarded with a full-sized statuette instead of a plaque. The FIRST beneficiaries were Charles Coburn and the Greek actress Katina Paxinou starring on her first American film For Whom The Bell Tolls. It was the 16th Oscar ceremony and was held at Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. For the FIRST time the ceremony was opened to members of the public in the shape of the armed forces when free passes were given to 200 service personnel. It was also the FIRST Academy Award show to be broadcast in its entirety on the ABC radio network

1949 ….. U.S.A ..... a US airforce plane made the FIRST non-stop flight around the globe. Capt James Gallagher and his 13 man crew took 94 hours to make the trip and the place 'Lucky Lady' was refuelled 4 times in flight 

1958 ….. ANTARCTICA ..... the FIRST overland crossing of the Antarctic was completed by Sir Vivian Fuchs and his 12 man team. It took them 99 days to cross the 2158 frozen miles . On arrival at Scott Base they were greeted by a 16 piece band and orange and red signal flares 

1969 ….. FRANCE ..... Concorde 001 flew for the FIRST time from Toulouse. It was piloted by Andre Tourcat and stayed in flight for 27 minutes 

1988 ….. U.K ..... Sian Edwards made musical history when she was signed up as the FIRST woman ever to conduct at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

1994 ….. U.K ..... Durham School, England, appointed a head girl for the FIRST time in its history. Female pupils were FIRST accepted there in 1985

1996 ….. U.K ..... Marion Mingins became the FIRST woman Church of England Chaplain to the Queen when she joined the Ecclesiastical Household of 34 chaplains, including a woman Church of Scotland chaplain, to share in their duties at the Chapels Royal

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