Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Dec. 12: On this date: In 1783, New Brunswick's first newspaper, the "Royal Saint John Gazette and Nova Scotian Intelligencer," was published. In 1787, Pennsylvania became the second U.S. state. In 1870, Joseph H.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 4: Hockey Hall of Fame centre Alex Delvecchio is 92. Game show host Wink Martindale is 90. Singer Freddy (Boom Boom) Cannon is 87. Actor-producer-director Max Baer Jr. ("The Beverly Hillbillies") is 86.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 5: Author Calvin Trillin is 88. Actor Jeroen Krabbe ("The Fugitive") is 79. Opera singer Jose Carreras is 77. Singer-songwriter Andy Kim (born Andrew Youakim, also known as Baron Longfellow) is 77.

Today in History for Dec. 10: On this date: In 1520, in Wittenberg, northeast of Leipzig in present-day eastern Germany, religious reformer Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant or face excommunication.

Today in History for Dec. 11: On this date: In 1792, France's King Louis XVI went before the Convention to face charges of treason. (Louis was convicted, and executed the following month.) In 1813, Newark, Ont.

Today in History for Dec. 15: On this date: In 1791, the U.S. Bill of Rights went into effect, following ratification by Virginia. In 1890, Chief Sitting Bull, whose Sioux forces had wiped out Gen.

Today in Music History for Dec. 12: In 1792, 22-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven paid the equivalent of 19 cents for his first lesson in music composition from Franz Joseph Haydn in Vienna.

Today in History for Dec. 13: On this date: In 304, St. Lucy is said to have cut out her eyes and sent them to a persistent but unwelcome suitor who said he was haunted by them.

Today in Music History for Dec. 13: In 1835, Phillips Brooks, American Episcopal clergyman and hymn writer, was born.

Today in History for Dec. 16: On this date: In 1653, Oliver Cromwell became lord protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.