Bannister, Roger. 1929-. English. Ran first 4 minute mile at Oxford, 1954.

Barnard, Christian. 1922-2001. South African surgeon-first human heart transplant 1967.

Bauer, Sebastian. 1822-75. Invented submarine, 1850. First underwater photography.

Ben Gurion, David. 1886-1973. Polish/Israeli Labour pol. First Prime Minister of Israel, 1948~63. “Architect of Israel”.

Bhascara. 1114-85. Hindu mathematician/astrologer. First user of decimal system.

Bienvenüe, Fulgence. 1852-1936. “Père du Metro”. Engineered first Paris métro line 1898.

Bismarck, Otto von. 1815-98. Prince. Prussian Prime Minister 1862-90. Founded German Empire; First Chancellor 1871-90. Provoked Franco-Prussian War. Ems Dispatch. Schleswig.

Bjørnsson, Sveinn. 1881-1952. First President of Iceland Republic, 1944-.

Blanchard, Jean. 1753-1809. French balloonist. First aerial Channel crossing 1785. Velocipede 1779.

Blenheim, Battle. 1704. Bavaria. Marlborough’s victory in War of Spanish Succession. First French defeat in 50 years, saves Vienna.

Blériot, Louis. 1872-1936. French aviator. First plane to cross Channel, 1909.

Blow, John. 1649-1708. Westminster organist. First English opera, Venus and Adonis 1685.

Bodel, Jean. 1167-1210. Wrote first French miracle play. Play of St. Nicholas 1200.

Borromeo, St. Charles. 1538-84. Milan Cardinal. First Sunday school, 1580.

Botha, Louis. 1862-1919. First Prime Minister 1910- of South Africa.

Bougainville, Louis. 1729-1811. First French circumnavigation 1766-9. Voyage autour du monde 1771.

Braithwaite. 1829. First steam fire engine.

Bransfield, Edward. 1795-1852. English. First to sight Antarctica, 1820.

Braque, Georges. 1882-1963. French painter. Developed Cubism with Picasso. First living artist in Louvre. Man with Guitar 1911.

Breslau, Treaty. 1742. Ends first Silesian War.

Breuer, Josef. 1842-1925. Austrian doctor. First psychoanalysis by hypnotism.

Brezhnev, Leonid. 1906-82. Soviet First Secretary 1964-. Detente. Brezhnev Doctrine.

Bridgewater Canal. 1761. Brindley. First British canal. Brought coal to Manchester stimulating industrialization.

Bronze Age. 3500-500BC. First uses of metal for arms and tools. Began in Near East. Society more structured. Specialization begins. Iron Age.

Brown, Arthur. 1886-1948. First non-stop transatlantic flight, 1919, with Alcock.

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