Firsts

Firsts

Flamboyance (See ELEGANCE.)

Adam

in the Bible, the first man. [O.T.: Genesis 1:26–5:5]

Alalcomeneus

the first man. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 14]

Aldine Classics

first standardized, comprehensive editions of the classics (16th century). [Ital. Hist.: Plumb, 267]

Armstrong, Neil

(1930–) first person to set foot on the moon (July 20, 1969). [Am. Hist.: NCE, 172]

Bannister, Roger

(1929–) first runner to break the four-minute mile. [Sports: EB, I: 795]

Bay Psalm Book, The

first book published in U.S. (1640). [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 784]

Cabrini, St. Frances

(1850–1917) first U.S. saint; tirelessly helped new Italian Americans. [Christian Hagiog.: Attwater, 135–136]

Caedmon

(b. 671) earliest English Christian poet. [Br. Hist.: Grun]

Cincinnati Red Stockings

first all-professional baseball team (1869). [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 260]

Dafue

first true opera (Florence, 1597). [Ital. Opera: Wester-man, 17]

Dare, Virginia

(b. 1587) first English child born in New World. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 131]

Delaware

first colony to ratify the Constitution; thus, “the first state.” [Am. Hist.: NCE, 738]

Eve

in the Bible, the first woman. [O.T.: Genesis 1–5]

Gagarin, Yury

(1934–1968) first man in space (1961). [Russ. Hist.: Wallechinsky, 116]

Genesis

first book of the Old Testament. [O.T.: Genesis]

Gertie the Dinosaur

first substantial animated cartoon (1909). [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 362]

Great Exhibition, the

the first industrial exhibition, promoted by Prince Albert and held in Hyde Park in Crystal Palace. [Br. Hist.: Payton, 285]

Great Train Robbery, The

considered the first “real” movie. [Am. Cinema: Griffith, 10]

Gutenberg, Johannes

(1397–1468) German printer, supposedly the first European to print with movable type (c. 1436). [Ger. Hist.: NCE, 1166]

Harvard

the first American college (1636). [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1200]

Jazz Singer, The

first talking film (1927) featured Al Jolson. [Am. Cinema: Halliwell, 213]

La Navidad

first European settlement in New World (1492). [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 2]

Lindbergh, Charles

(1902–1974) U.S. aviator; made the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight (1927). [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1586]

Macy’s

prototype of the department store. [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 217–218]

Montgolfier brothers

(Joseph, 1740–1810) (Jaques, 1745–1799) first to make practical, manned balloon flight (1783). [Fr. Hist.: NCE, 1821]

Oberlin College

first college to admit Negroes and to give women degrees. [Am. Hist.: Hart, 612]

Robinson, Jackie

(1919–1972) professional American baseball player; first Negro to play in the major leagues. [Am. Sports: NCE, 2335]

“Steamboat Willie”

first animated cartoon with sound (Disney). [Am. Cinema: Van Doren, 431]

Tom Thumb

first American steam locomotive. [Am. Hist.: Van Doren, 141]

Virginia

first of the Thirteen Colonies. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 289]

Washington, George

(1732–1799) first United States president. [Am. Hist.: Hart, 897]

Wright Brothers

(Wilbur, 1867–1912) (Orville, 1871–1948) made the first controlled, sustained flight in a power-driven airplane (1903). [Am. Hist.: NCE, 3012]

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.