Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Dec. 31: In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted the British East India Co. a monopoly on all trade to the East Indies. In 1687, the first shipload of emigrating Huguenots (French Protestants) left France for South Africa.

Today in History for Dec. 30: In 1384, the English religious reformer John Wycliffe died of a stroke. He was a bold critic of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church and believed the Church should return to the Scriptures.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 30: Actor Russ Tamblyn is 89. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax is 88. Singer Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary is 86. Director James Burrows ("Cheers," ''Taxi") is 83.

Today in Music History for Dec. 30: In 1672, the first public concert was held in London. The musicians performed behind a curtain while patrons ate cakes and drank ale.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 31: TV producer George Schlatter is 91. Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is 86. Actress Sarah Miles is 82. Guitarist Andy Summers of The Police is 81. Actor Sir Ben Kingsley is 80. Producer-director Taylor Hackford is 79.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan 2: Country singer Dick Feller (a.k.a. Deena Kaye Rose) is 81. Chick Churchill, organist with Ten Years After, is 78. TV host Jack Hanna ("Jack Hanna's Into the Wild") is 77. Actress Wendy Phillips is 72.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 3: Actor Dabney Coleman is 92. Singer-songwriter Van Dyke Parks is 81. Singer Stephen Stills is 79. Bassist John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin is 78. Actress Victoria Principal is 74. Actor-director Mel Gibson is 68.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 5: Actor Robert Duvall is 93. Singer-bassist Athol Guy of The Seekers is 84. Former talk show host Charlie Rose is 82. Actress Diane Keaton is 78. Actor Ted Lange ("The Love Boat") is 76.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 6: Saxophonist Nino Tempo (born Antonino LoTempio) is 89. Olympic equestrian show jumper Ian Millar is 77. Hall of fame accordionist Joey Miskulin ("Joey the CowPolka King") of Riders in the Sky is 75.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 1: Documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman is 94. Jazz guitarist Sonny Greenwich is 88. Actor Frank Langella is 86. Singer-guitarist Country Joe McDonald of Country Joe and the Fish is 82.