First in Tamil Nadu

Mahabalipuram (First UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu)/Image Credit: Vikas Rana

History

1. First British Agent to Madras: Andrew Cogan (1640-43)
2. First President of Madras Presidency (Acting): Elihu Yale (1684-85)
3. First President of Madras Presidency: William Gyfford (1685-87)
4. First French Governor of Madras (acting): Mahé de La Bourdonnais
5. First French Governor of Madras: Jean-Jacques Duval d'Eprémesnil
6. First Governor of Madras Presidency (British India): George MaCartney

Polity

1. First Governor of Madras Presidency (Independent India): Sir Archibald Edward Nye
2. First Indian Governor of Madras Presidency: Maharaja Sir Krishna Kumarsinhji Bhavsinhji
3. First Governor of Tamil Nadu: Sardar Ujjal Singh
4. First Lady Governor of Tamil Nadu: M Fathima Beevi
5. First Chief Minister of Madras Presidency (British India): A Subbarayalu Reddiar
6. First Chief Minister of Madras Presidency (Independent India): OP Ramaswamy Reddiyar
7. First Chief Minister of Madras State: PS Kumaraswamy Raja
8. First Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (after Renaming in 1969): CN Annadurai
9. First President's Rule in Tamil Nadu: 5 January 1971 to 14 March 1971
10. First Woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: VN Janaki Ramachandran
11. First Elected Woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: J Jayalalitha
12. First Tamil Nadu/Indian Chief Minister to recieve Bharat Ratna: C Rajagopalchari
13. First Actor-turned Politician Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: MG Ramachandran
14. First Actoress-turned Politician Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: VN Janaki Ramachandran
15. First Woman Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Vidhan Sabha: J Jayalalitha
16. First Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to Die in Office: CN Annadurai
17. First Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: MK Stalin

Elections

1. First Madras Presidency Legislative Council election: 1920
2. First Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly election (Pre-Independence): 1937
3. First Madras State Legislative Assembly election (Post-Independence): 1952
4. First Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: 1971
5. First Lok Sabha (General) Election in Tamil Nadu: 1951

Education

1. First Technical School in Tamil Nadu/India: School of Survey (1794; It was upgraded to an Engineering College in 1858)
2. First Arts College in Tamil Nadu: Presidency College, Chennai (1840)
3. First University in Tamil Nadu/India: University of Madras (1857)
4. First Technical University in Tamil Nadu: Anna University (1978)
5. First Agricultural University in Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (1971)
6. First Sports University in Tamil Nadu/India: Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (2005)

Awardees

1. First People from Tamil Nadu to Win Bharat Ratna Award: Dr. S Radhakrishnan, C Rajagopalachari and Dr CV Raman (1954)
2. First Woman from Tamil Nadu to Win Bharat Ratna Award: MS Subbulakshmi (1998)
3. First Person from Tamil Nadu to Win Padma Vibhushan Award: NR Pillai (1960)
4. First Women from Tamil Nadu to Win Padma Vibhushan Award: MS Subbulakshmi and MC Jadhav (1975)
5. First People from Tamil Nadu to Win Padma Bhushan Award: Dr. Arcot Lakshamanaswami Mudaliar, Dr. KS Krishnan and MS Subbulakshmi (1954)
6. First Woman from Tamil Nadu to Win Padma Bhushan Award: MS Subbulakshmi (1954)
7. First Person/Woman from Tamil Nadu to Win Padma Shri Award: MC Jadhav (1955)
8. First from Tamil Nadu/India/Asia to Win Nobel in Science: Dr. CV Raman
9. First Person from Tamil Nadu to recieve Ramon Magsaysay Award: MS Swaminathan
10. First Musician to be recieve Ramon Magsaysay Award: MS Subbulakshmi
11. First Musician to be recieve Bharat Ratna Award: MS Subbulakshmi
12. First Person to recieve Jnanpith Award: Akilan (1975)
13. First Tamil Actor Recieve Dada Saheb Phalke Award: Sivaji Ganesan (1975)
14. First Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil Winner: RP Sethu Pillai (1955)
15. First Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winner from Tamil Nadu: Vyjayanthimala (1982)

Sports

1. First Tamil/Indian Chess Grandmaster: Vishwanathan Anand
2. First Woman Tamil/Indian Chess Grandmaster: S Vijaylakshmi
3. First Tami/Indian Formula 1 Driver: Narain Karthikeyan
4. First Rajiv Gandhi Khel Award Winner from Tamil Nadu/All Over India: Vishwanathan Anand
5. First Arjuna Award Winners from Tamil Nadu: Ramanathan Krishnan and A Palaniswamy (1961)

Misc

1. First UNESCO World Heritage Site from Tamil Nadu: Mahabalipuram Temples
2. First Church in Tamil Nadu: St. Mary's Church, Thiruvithamcode