Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for May 18: Actress Priscilla Pointer ("Dallas," ''Carrie," ''Blue Velvet") is 100. Actress Candice Azzara ("In Her Shoes," ''Caroline in the City," ''Rhoda") is 83. Bluegrass singer-guitarist Rodney Dillard of The Dillards is 82.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 14: Photo-realist artist Richard Estes is 92. Actress Dame Sian Phillips is 91. Movie director-producer George Lucas is 80. Singer-actress Catherine McKinnon is 80.

Celebrity Birthdays for May 17: Actor Peter Gerety is 84. Singer Taj Mahal is 82. Drummer Bill Bruford of Yes and King Crimson is 75. Singer-guitarist George Johnson of The Brothers Johnson is 71. TV personality Kathleen Sullivan is 71.

Today in History for May 25: On this date: In 585 B.C., the first known prediction of a solar eclipse occurred. In 1085, Alfonso VI of Castile captured Toledo, Spain, and brought the Moorish centre of science into Christian hands.

Today in History for May 24: On this date: In 1543, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus died in Frombork, Poland. He proposed the heliocentric, or sun-centred, system whereby the planets orbit around the sun. He was born Feb. 19, 1473, in Torum, Poland.

Today in History for May 23: On this date: In 1275, King Edward I of England ordered the cessation of the persecution of French Jews. In 1430, Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians, who sold her to the English.

Today in History for May 22: On this date: In 337, Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, died at the age of 47. In 1216, Louis VIII of France invaded England, the last military invasion of the British Isles.

Today in History for May 21: On this date: In 427 B.C., philosopher Plato was born. In 1471, King Henry VI of England was executed during the "Wars of the Roses.

Today in History for May 20: On this date: In 325, the first Christian ecumenical council opened at Nicea in Asia Minor. The doctrine of Jesus Christ's divinity was formally affirmed for the first time by the council.

Today in Music History for May 20: In 1927, the Canadian Folk Song and Handicraft Festival opened in Quebec City.