Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Feb. 24: In 1446, the earliest known lottery was drawn in Bruges, Belgium.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 14: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is 83. Jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker is 82. Folk singer and songwriter Eric Andersen is 82. Journalist Carl Bernstein is 81.

Today in History for Feb. 14: In AD 270 (traditional), Valentine, a priest in Rome during the reign of Claudius II, was beheaded.

Today in Music History for Feb. 14: In 1879, ``La Marseillaise'' became the national anthem of France. In 1935, Canadian trombonist Rob McConnell was born in London, Ont.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 13: Actress Kim Novak is 92. Actor Bo Svenson (``Walking Tall'') is 84. Actress Stockard Channing is 81. U.S. College basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is 78. Singer Peter Gabriel is 75. Actor David Naughton is 74.

Today in History for Feb. 13: In 1542, the fifth wife of England's King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard, was executed for adultery. In 1633, Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before the Inquisition.

Today in Music History for Feb. 13: In 1867, Johann Strauss first conducted his ``Blue Danube Waltz,'' in Vienna. It is the most famous of the more than 400 waltzes that he composed.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 12: Movie director Costa-Gavras is 92. Actor Joe Don Baker is 89. Author Judy Blume is 87. Country singer Moe Bandy is 81. Actress Maud Adams (``Octopussy'') is 80. Actor Cliff DeYoung is 80. Actor Michael Ironside is 75.

Today in Music History for Feb. 12: In 1915, blind hymnwriter Fanny Crosby died at age 95 in New York City. She wrote more than 9,000 texts, including ``Safe in the Arms of Jesus'' and ``Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour.

Today in History for Feb. 12: In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, who had been queen of England for nine days, was beheaded after being charged with high treason. In 1793, Spain agreed to pay compensation for the seizure of British ships at Nootka, B.C.