On this day, March 28

1797 Nathaniel Briggs, of New Hampshire, received a patent for a washing machine.

1898 The U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, ruled 6-2 that Wong, who was born in the U.S. to Chinese immigrants, was an American citizen.

1932 The “Snodgrass-Herron” plan for a $5.5 million Downtown subway to relieve traffic congestion was presented to Pittsburgh City Council.

1978 The Schenley High School Spartans won the Pennsylvania class 3A basketball championship, defeating Lebanon High, 5150, at Hershey, Pa.

1979 America’s worst commercial nuclear accident occurred with a partial meltdown inside the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near Middletown, Dauphin County.

2004 WQED, the nation’s first educational television channel, marked its 50th anniversary in broadcasting.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Author Mario Vargas Llosa, 85. Country musician Charlie McCoy, 80. Movie director Mike Newell, 79. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, 76. Country singer Reba McEntire, 66. Olympic gold medal gymnast Bart Conner, 63. Actor Alexandra Billings, 59. Rapper Salt (Salt-N-Pepa), 55. Actor Tracey Needham, 54. Actor Max Perlich, 53. Movie director Brett Ratner, 52. Country singer Rodney Atkins, 52. Actor Vince Vaughn, 51. Rapper Mr. Cheeks (Lost Boyz), 50. Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson, 48. Rock musician Dave Keuning (The Killers), 45. Actor Annie Wersching, 44. Actor Julia Stiles, 40. Singer Lady Gaga, 35. Electronic musician Clayton Knight (Odesza), 33.

Thought for today: “A man can do his best only by confidently seeking (and perpetually missing) an unattainable perfection.”

— Ralph Barton Perry, American author and educator (1876-1957)