1847 ..... the FIRST child to be born alive with the aid of anaesthesia was Wilhelmina Carstairs, daughter of Dr William Carstairs of the Indian Medical Service 

1908 ..... U.K ..... the FIRST woman mayor in Britain, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, was elected Mayor of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, following the death of her husband 

1961 ..... U.S.A ..... Major Robert White was the FIRST to achieve a speed of over 4000 mph in the air when he flew at a speed of 4070 mph in an X-15 over Edwards Air Base, California 

1992 ..... Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Michael Stroud set out to attempt the FIRST unassisted crossing of the Antarctic continent. For 97 days they fought pain, starvation and snow blindness until they were eventually airlifted out after completing the longest unsupported journey in Polar history

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