On this day

30 March in history.

5 moments from 1699 to 2017: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Crawford W. Long in 1877, about a year before his death

1842

Surgery without pain. Doctor Crawford Long used ether to put a patient to sleep before removing a growth from his neck, the first known surgery with ether anaesthesia.

Wikipedia: Crawford Long

Photo: Joseph Jacobs / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 30 March

  1. Guru Gobind Singh

    1699

    The Khalsa is founded

    Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, a community of committed Sikhs, at Anandpur Sahib. Sikhs mark it each year at Vaisakhi.

    Wikipedia: KhalsaWikipedia: Guru Gobind Singh

    Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. Alaska Purchase

    1867

    The United States buys Alaska

    Secretary of State William Seward agreed to buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Critics called it "Seward's Folly", but it proved a bargain.

    Wikipedia: Alaska PurchaseWikipedia: William H. Seward

    Photo: Edouard de Stoeckl and William H. Seward / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Entertainer and business magnate Merv Griffin

    1964

    Jeopardy! begins

    The quiz show where contestants give answers in the form of questions, created by Merv Griffin, first aired on NBC.

    Wikipedia: Jeopardy!

    Photo: Linda_Bisset / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

  4. Falcon 9

    2017

    A rocket flies twice

    SpaceX launched and landed a Falcon 9 booster that had already flown once, the first reflight of an orbital rocket. Reusing rockets makes space cheaper.

    Wikipedia: Falcon 9Wikipedia: Reusable launch vehicle

    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.