Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Aug. 2: On this date: In 1100, King William II of England was killed in a hunting accident. In 1610, English explorer Henry Hudson discovered Hudson Bay.

Today in Music History for Aug. 2: In 1921, Enrico Caruso, the world's greatest operatic tenor, died in Naples, Italy at the age of 48.

Celebrity Birthdays for Aug. 1: Singer Ramblin' Jack Elliott is 93. Baritone opera singer Bruno Laplante is 86. Actor Giancarlo Giannini is 82. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams is 74. Blues musician Robert Cray is 71.

Today in History for Aug. 1: On this date: In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier sighted the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Today in Music History for Aug. 1: In 1927, one of country music's most influential groups, "The Carter Family," made their first recordings for Victor Records at a makeshift studio in Bristol, Tenn.

Celebrity Birthdays for July 31: Jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell is 93. Songwriter and producer Barry DeVorzon ("Nadia's Theme) is 90. Actress Susan Flannery ("Bold and the Beautiful") is 85. Actress France Nuyen ("South Pacific") is 85.

Today in History for July 31: On this date: In 1498, Christopher Columbus landed at Trinidad. In 1556, St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus -- the Jesuit order of Catholic priests and brothers -- died in Rome.

Today in Music History for July 31: In 1886, Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt died of pneumonia at 74. In 1877, Thomas Edison patented the first sound-recording device.

Celebrity Birthdays for July 30: Baseball Hall-of-Famer and former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is 90. Blues guitarist Buddy Guy is 88. Singer Paul Anka is 83. Actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is 77.

Today in History for July 30: On this date: In 1609, at Ticonderoga, French explorer Samuel de Champlain became the first European to use firearms against natives.