First Crusade

Pope Urban II initiated the First Crusade. He called for a war against the Muslims so that Jerusalem was regained for the Christian faith. This appeal quickly turned into a wholesale migration and conquest. Both knights and peasants from many nations of Western Europe traveled over land and by sea towards Jerusalem and captured the city in July 1099.
More Famous Firsts

Daylight saving

The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin in 1784. The Standard Time Act of 1918 established daylight saving time, mainly as a World War I conservation strategy, and in response to Germany's practice of daylight savings. The act was repealed after the War, however daylight savings continued on in many localities.
More Famous Firsts

Wedding March

The "Wedding March" or "Here Comes the Bride" is a traditional choice of music played during a wedding processional. The song originated as the "Bridal Chorus" from German composer Richard Wagner's 1850 romantic opera, Lohengrin. The first use of the Wagner's song during a wedding was for the marriage of Princess Victoria and Frederick of Prussia in 1858.
More Famous Firsts

Federal highways

Construction for the first federal highway in the United States was authorized in March 1806. The National Road, also known as the Great National Pike and the Cumberland Road, stretched from Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois. The National Road was built in sections over four decades. The road forms part of the present day U.S. Route 40.
More Famous Firsts

The Boston Latin School

The Boston Latin School was founded in April 1635 and is considered America's first public school. Public funds were used to the support the school, with classes held in the home of the Head Master. Declaration of Independence signers John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Treat Paine, and William Hooper were pupils at this school.
More Famous Firsts

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron hit his record breaking 715th home run In April 1974. The Hall of Fame slugger from Mobile, Alabama made his Major League debut as an outfielder with the Milwaukee Braves on April 13, 1954, going 0-5. On April 23, 1954, Hank Aaron hit his first Major League home run off St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Vic Raschi.
More Famous Firsts

Earth Day

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. Earth Day is held each year to inspire awareness of world-wide environmental issues and to promote appreciation for our planet. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson created the concept of Earth Day during the late 1960s. Senator Nelson was awarded the Medal of Freedom in September 1995 for "his public service to care about the environment."
More Famous Firsts