Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for May 1: On this date: In 1688, the first stone was laid for Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in Place Royal, Que. It is Canada's oldest surviving church. In 1707, Scotland and England were united under the name Great Britain.

Today in History for May 2: On this date: In 1497, Italian-born John Cabot set sail from Bristol, England, to follow Columbus' route to what he thought was Asia.

Today in History for April 28: On this date: In 1220, Bishop Poore laid the first five stones of the famed Salisbury Cathedral in England, one each for himself, Archbishop Stephen Langton, Pope Honorius III, Earl William and Countess Ela of Salisbury

Today in History for April 29: On this date: In 1429, Joan of Arc entered Orleans, France to score her great victory in driving out the English.

Today in History for April 30: On this date: In 311, Roman Emperor Galerius issued the first edict of toleration for Christianity, ending three centuries of persecution.

Today in History for April 19: In 1529, eight years after the Diet of Worms was convened by the Holy Roman Emperor, a protestation was published against it by several cities including Strasbourg, Nuremberg and Ulm, and from that evolved the term Prot

Celebrity Birthdays for April 19: Actress Elinor Donahue ("Father Knows Best") is 87. Keyboardist Alan Price of The Animals is 82. Singer Eve Graham of the New Seekers is 81. Actor Tim Curry is 78. Singer Mark "Flo" Volman of The Turtles is 77.

Today in Music History for April 19: In 1928, British bluesman Alexis Korner was born in Paris.

Today in History for April 18: In 1506, the foundation stone was laid during a celebration overseen by Pope Julius II to begin construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Celebrity Birthdays for April 18: Actor Clive Revill is 94. Actor Robert Hooks is 87. Mike Vickers, saxophone player and guitarist of Manfred Mann, is 84. Music critic Robert Christgau is 82.