MNN - Mother Nature Network

March 15, 1801: George Perkins Marsh is born in Woodstock, Vermont. Marsh serves as a U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Italy, and in 1864, publishes Man and Nature. The book prompts historians to call Marsh "the first environmentalist." He examines how the decline of ancient civilizations is linked to abuse of natural resources, and how deforestation can impact local climate.

 

March 15, 1910: After hitting multiple "dry holes," an oil crew strikes the "Lakeview Gusher," (at right) a highly-pressurized oilfield near Bakersfield, California. With virtually no blowout-prevention technology in the early 20th Century, the Lakeview Gusher blew unchecked for eighteen months, releasing an estimated 375,000 gallons to the California Desert.

 

March 15, 1941: At least 71 lives were lost as a spring blizzard hits the upper U.S. Midwest.