Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Sept. 19: On this date: In 1648, Jacques Boisdon opened Canada's first tavern in Quebec City.

Today in History for Sept. 17: On this date: In 1665, the bubonic plague broke out in Europe and Britain, killing an estimated 70,000 people in its first year.

Today in History for Sept. 20: On this date: In 1378, the "Great Schism" in the Roman Catholic Church began. It was touched off when Pope Gregory XI died, shortly after returning the papal seat from Avignon, in France, to Rome.

Today in History for Sept. 15: On this date: In 1773, the ship, "Hector," arrived at Brown's Point, near Pictou, N.S.

Today in History for Sept. 16: On this date: In 1224, during an extended period of prayer and fasting, it is said St. Francis of Assisi received the stigmata (Crucifixion scars of Jesus Christ) on Mount Alvernia, in Italy.

Celebrity Birthdays for Sept. 6: Comedian JoAnne Worley is 89. Country singer David Allan Coe is 85. Singer-bassist Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) is 81. Actress Swoosie Kurtz is 80. Comedian-actress Jane Curtin is 77. Country singer Buddy Miller is 72.

Today in History for Sept. 6: In 1298, the Genoese captured Marco Polo in a sea battle. While imprisoned, the explorer and trader met writer Rustichello of Pisa and together they began a book on Marco's travels.

Today in Music History for Sept. 6: In 1932, Canadian avant-garde composer Gilles Tremblay was born in Arvida (Joncquiere), Que. Tremblay is a sound specialist who uses instruments at the limits of their sound possibilities.

Celebrity Birthdays for Sept. 5: Actress-singer Carol Lawrence is 92. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Bill Mazeroski is 88. Actor George Lazenby is 85. Actor William Devane is 85. Movie director Werner Herzog is 82.

Today in History for Sept. 5: In 1534, Jacques Cartier arrived in France after his first voyage to Canada. In 1638, Louis XIV of France was born. In 1698, Peter the Great of Russia imposed a tax on beards.