Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Oct. 22: In 1692, a 14-year-old girl repelled an Iroquois attack on Vercheres near Montreal. Marie-Madeleine de Vercheres took charge and rallied people inside the fort.

Today in History for Oct. 25: In 1147, the armies of the Second Crusade were destroyed by the Saracens at Dorylaeum in modern Turkey. The Crusaders went on with fruitless campaigns against Damascus, Syria.

Today in History for Oct. 20: In 1632, Sir Christopher Wren, British astronomer and architect, was born. He designed 53 London churches, including St.

Today in History for Oct. 21: In 1555, Queen Mary of England launched a persecution campaign against Protestants that resulted in the deaths of more than 200 people.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 11: Indian actor, director, producer Amitabh Bachchan is 82. Country singer Gene Watson is 81. Singer Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates is 78. Country singer Paulette Carlson (Highway 101) is 72. Actor David Morse ("St.

Today in Music History for Oct. 11: In 1882, composer and music educator Nathaniel Dett was born in Drummondville, now Niagara Falls, Ont. Dett, who spent most of his life in the U.S., was dedicated to the cause of black music in America.

Today in History for Oct. 11: On this date: In 1521, Pope Leo X gave Henry VIII of England the title "Fidei Defensor," or Defender of the Faith. Thirteen years later, Henry severed all ties with Rome to establish the Church of England.

Celebrity Birthdays for Oct. 10: Actor Peter Coyote is 83. Actor Charles Dance ("Game of Thrones") is 78. Actor-dancer Ben Vereen is 78. Singer Cyril Neville of The Neville Brothers is 76. Author Nora Roberts (aka "J.D. Robb") is 74.

Today in Music History for Oct. 10: In 1813, Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi was born in Le Roncole. Among Verdi's major successes were "Rigoletto," produced in 1851, and "Il Trovatore" and "La Traviata," both staged in 1853. Verdi died in 1901.

Today in History for Oct. 10: On this date: In 1582, the Spanish Carmelite nun Teresa of Avila died in Alba de Tormes.