Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for May 30: On this date: In 339, Eusebius, the father of early church history, died at age 74.

Today in History for May 31: On this date: In 1578, Italian archeologist Antonio Bosio became the first man in modern times to rediscover the Christian catacombs in Rome. Researchers who followed him dubbed Bosio "the Columbus of the Catacombs.

Today in History for May 26: On this date: In 735, Bede the Venerable, known as the father of English church history, Benedictine monk, priest, writer, hymn writer, died at about age 62.

Today in History for May 29: On this date: In 526, Antioch, in present-day Turkey, was struck by an earthquake, killing about 250,000 people. In 1453, the Turks captured Constantinople, bringing the Eastern Roman Empire to an end.

Today in Music History for May 29: In 1837, Charles W. Fry, the English musician who, along with his three sons, formed the first Salvation Army brass band, was born. Fry also authored the hymn, "Lily of the Valley.

Today in Music History for May 30: In 1903, songwriter Alex Kramer was born in Montreal. With his wife, Joan Whitney, Kramer was among the first songwriters to join BMI when the ban on broadcasting the music of ASCAP composers began in 1941.

Today in Music History for June 1: In 1915, country singer Johnny Bond was born in Enville, Okla.

Today in Music History for May 27: In 1799, George Washington Doane, American Episcopal clergyman, was born.

Today in Music History for May 28: In 1878, Canadian soprano Louise Edvina was born in Montreal. She spent much of her career in London, and became one of the city's favourite artists in the early 1900s.

Today in Music History for May 31: In 1809, composer Franz Josef Haydn died in Vienna, Austria, at age 77. In 1913, Edward Fisher, founder of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, died at age 65.