History in 24th Mar

The Exxon Valdez oil tanker strikes the Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, dumping between 250,000 and 750,000 barrels of oil into Prince William Sound south of Alaska. One of the most devastating environmental disasters in history, the spill killed thousands of marine animals and disrupted local commerce. 

American businessman and statesman Andrew Mellon is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mellon took over for his father at T. Mellon & Sons, which eventually became Mellon National Bank, before turning to public service, where he was appointed to be the Secretary of the Treasury by President Harding and briefly served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom for President Hoover.

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