6 February in history.

1959

A patent for the microchip. Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments filed the first patent for an integrated circuit, putting many electronic parts on one small piece of material. Almost every device today relies on the idea.

Wikipedia: Jack Kilby

Photo: James R. Biard / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

More from 6 February

1. 

   1840

   The Treaty of Waitangi is signed

   Representatives of the British Crown and many Māori chiefs signed an agreement at Waitangi. New Zealand marks the day each year as its national day.

   Wikipedia: Treaty of WaitangiWikipedia: Waitangi Day

   Photo: William Hobson, James Freeman, and James Busby (English version); Henry Williams and Ed… / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

2. 

   1918

   British women win the vote

   A new law let women over 30 who met certain property rules vote in British elections. Ten years later the vote was given to all women over 21.

   Wikipedia: Representation of the People Act 1918Wikipedia: Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom

   Photo: Sodacan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

3. 

   1987

   A first for Australia's highest court

   Mary Gaudron was sworn in as a justice of the High Court of Australia. No woman had sat on the country's top court until then.

   Wikipedia: Mary GaudronWikipedia: High Court of Australia

   Photo: Sodacan / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

4. 

   2018

   Falcon Heavy flies for the first time

   SpaceX launched its huge Falcon Heavy rocket on a test flight, with a red sports car on board as a playful load. Two of its boosters then landed side by side.

   Wikipedia: Falcon HeavyWikipedia: SpaceX

   Photo: Philip Terry Graham / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.