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Australia: In 1894, what did Australia do for the first time regarding their political elections?

Gave women the right to vote. In 1894, women in the colony of South Australia were not only given the right to vote, but to stand for State Parliaments. Western Australia soon followed, giving women voting rights in 1899. Within the next decade, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, and Victoria did the same, giving all women in Australia the right to vote. In 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to give women the right to vote.

Great Britain: What was the winner of Best British Film at the first British Film Awards in 1947?

Odd Man Out. "Odd Man Out" is about the leader of a clandestine Irish organization that hides in the house of a young woman and her mother. While hiding, he plans a hold up that will provide his group with money to continue its activities. During the hold up, the leader is wounded and disappears into the back alleys of Belfast as a large scale man-hunt is launched. "Odd Man Out" starred James Mason, Robert Newton, and Kathleen Ryan.

Ireland: In what year was Ireland's first professional sanctioned women's boxing match?

2000. On October 20, 2000, Dierdre Nelson of Ireland defeated Tzanka Karova of Bulgaria with a four-round unanimous decision at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Ireland. Nelson would go on to a successful career as a kickboxer, winning the WKA European Full Contact Championship.

Scotland: At what Olympic Games did Scotland win their first gold medal?

1908 London Games. Scotland would perform well at the 1908 Olympic Games held in London, England, taking home 5 gold medals from 9 events. Arthur Robertson, who also won a silver medal, officially won the first gold for Scotland in the team steeplechase. Scotland would have another successful Olympics at the 1912 games in Stockholm, winning 7 gold medals, along with a silver and a bronze.

China: What was the first fast-food restaurant chain to open in China?

Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky Fried Chicken, which changed its name to KFC in 1991, opened its first restaurant in China in 1987. By the beginning of the 21st Century, KFC had 700 outlets in China. KFC was also the first to offer a drive up window in China, opening the first in Beijing in September of 2002.

Japan: Who was the first player in Japanese baseball to hit 600 career home runs?

Sadaharu Oh. The legendary Sadaharu Oh played for the Yomiuri Giants from 1959-1980. Originally signed as a pitcher, Oh moved to first base and took up samurai swordsmanship to improve his swing. On May 30, 1974, Oh hit his 600th career home run, joining Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays as the only players in any league of any country to pass that mark at that time. Upon his retirement in 1980, Sadaharu's career total of 868 home runs was the most by any professional baseball player from any country. Statistics for the U.S. based Negro Leagues were not well archived, but some say league star Josh Gibson hit over 900 homeruns in a seventeen year career. Most believe Gibson's total was closer to 800.

Canada: Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada?

Sir John A. Macdonald. Born on January 11, 1815 in Glasgow, Scotland, Sir John A. Macdonald was only four years old when his family came to Canada in 1819. Macdonald was one of Canada's "Fathers of Confederation" and drafted roughly two-thirds of the provisions of the British North American Act. At the Confederation of Canada, Macdonald became their first Prime Minister in 1867. Macdonald held the office until 1873 when he was forced to resign over the Pacific Railway Scandal, in which large donations to his campaign from the company hired to build the railway were brought into question. Despite this scandal, he reclaimed the office of Prime Minister in 1878 where he remained until his death on June 6, 1891.

United States: Who was the first United States President to appear on television?

Franklin D. Roosevelt. FDR appeared on television for the first time on April 30, 1939 at the opening ceremonies for the World's Fair in New York. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president on color television when he appeared at his 40th class reunion at West Point in 1955.

Mexico: Who was the first female professional bullfighter in Mexico?

Conchita Cintron. Conchita, who was born in Chile in 1922, began fighting bulls in Mexico at the age of 15 in 1937. By the time she retired in 1951, Cintron slew 800 bulls in her bullfighting career.

New Zealand: What was the first University in New Zealand?

University of Otago. Founded in 1869, the University of Otago opened in July of 1871 with a staff of three Professors, a fourth joining the staff the next year. By the end of the 20th Century, the University of Otago had as many as 18,000 students enrolled, and had broadened it's range of courses to include Surveying, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy.

Germany: What was the first German Pilsner beer?

Radeberger. In the last half of the 19th Century, a new specialty beer from Pilsen in Bohemia was becoming increasingly popular in Germany. A few ambitious entrepreneurs in Radeberg decided to develop a German equivalent to the Bohemian beer, and by 1866 had formed a small private brewery. By 1910, sales of Radeberg Pilsner had reached 2 million cases, including a large number of exports to Canada and the United States.

France: What first is Frenchman Jean Pierre Blanchard known for?

the first successful demonstration of a parachute. Blanchard was born July 4, 1753 in Petit Andelys, France, and began inventing a variety of interesting devices as a young boy. One of the pioneers of balloon flight, Blanchard gave the first successful demonstration of the use of a parachute in 1785 by dropping a basket containing a small dog from a balloon. Along with the worlds first successful skydive, Blanchard also made the first balloon flights in Germany, Belgium, Poland, and the Netherlands.

India: Who was the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize for Literature?

Rabindranath Tagore. Born in Calcutta in 1861, Tagore began writing poems at the age of eight and was a published author by the age of 17. Tagore's early major prose included "Chocher Ball" and "Nashtanir", helping him earn the name "The Bengali Shelley". It was after the publication of "Gitanjali: Song Offerings" in 1912 that Tagore established his reputation as a writer in the United States and England. This book of poetry earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

Russia: Who was the first Russian cosmonaut in outer space?

Yuri Gagarin. On April 12, 1961, Major Yuri Gagarin boarded the spacecraft Vostok and not only became the first man to orbit the Earth including his descent, but was the first human in outer space. Though total control over the spacecraft was handled from the ground, Gagarin's reactions were carefully monitored and recorded to assist on future missions. Gagarin died in March of 1968 when the MiG-15 trainer plane he was piloting crashed during a routine mission.

Italy: In what city were the first Italian Music Awards held?

Milan. Held in February of 2001, the Italian Music Awards featured artists like Eiffel 65 and Eros Ramazzotti. Carmen Consoli took home two awards, including best female artist, and rock and roll stalwart Ligabue won for best live performance. Nominated in six categories, the band Lunapop went home as the biggest winners of the night, taking home four awards including best new artist, best album, and best group.