1989: The Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker, was navigating outside of shipping lanes to avoid icebergs when it ran aground north of Goose Island near Alaska at 12:04 a.m. local time. It had departed the Trans Alaska Pipeline terminal the night before. For reasons unknown, after averting icebergs, the ship stayed outside of shipping lanes. It eventually leaked 11 million of its 53 million gallons of oil.

1776:  One week after British troops under General William Howe evacuated Boston, General George Washington wrote a letter to the Continental Congress. He expressed his "surprize and disappointment" that the British were still in the harbor. (Source: Library of Congress)