Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Dec. 20: In 1699, Russian Czar Peter the Great ordered his people to celebrate the New Year on January 1, instead of Sept. 1. In 1790, the first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, R.I.

Today in History for Dec. 18: In 1707, English hymn writer Charles Wesley was born. He wrote more than 6,500 hymns, including "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." In 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Today in History for Dec. 17: In 1538, England's King Henry VIII was excommunicated by Pope Paul III. Married and divorced several times, Henry declared himself head of the Church of England. In 1777, France recognized American independence.

Today in History for Dec. 21: In 1266, the last stand of the first English parliamentarians ended when rebels surrendered Kenilworth Castle to the king after a six-month siege.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 6: Comedy performer David Ossman is 88. Actor Patrick Bauchau is 86. '60s pop singer Steve Alaimo is 85. Country singer Helen Cornelius is 83. Actor James Naughton is 79. Jazz bassist Miroslav Vitous is 77.

Today in Music History for Dec. 6: (Editors: Some reference books give Dec. 6th or 7th, 1877, as the date Thomas Edison made the first recording on his newly-invented phonograph. Others say the historic recording was made Aug.

Today in History for Dec. 6: In 1752, a government pamphlet in Halifax became the first book published in Canada. In 1780, Jean-Antoine Aide-Crequy, the first Canadian-born painter, died in Quebec City.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 5: Author Calvin Trillin is 89. Actor Jeroen Krabbe ("The Fugitive") is 80. Opera singer Jose Carreras is 78. Singer-songwriter Andy Kim (born Andrew Youakim, also known as Baron Longfellow) is 78.

Today in Music History for Dec. 5: In 1791, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died at age 35. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Vienna’s St. Marx Cemetery. Mozart’s final resting place has remained undiscovered to this day.

Today in History for Dec. 5: In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued his Witch Bull, ordering an inquisition to systematically discover, torture and execute witches throughout Europe.