In the year 1842, an American medical student becomes the first person to administer an inhaled anesthetic to facilitate a surgical procedure (Jan), Mexican troops invade Texas, but soon head back - the first such invasion since the Texas Revolution (Mar 5), the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs its first concert (Mar 28), a primary school system is established in Sweden (Jun 18), the Treaty of Nanking ends the First Opium War, and establishes Hong Kong as a British colony until 1997 (Aug 29), the New York Philharmonic performs its first concert (Dec 7) - and all these fine people were born: Continue reading