Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Jan. 20: On this date: In 1265, England's Parliament, representing English districts, cities and boroughs, met for the first time.

Today in Music History for Jan. 16: In 1849, Stephen Humbert, who in 1801 compiled the first English-language collection of vocal music, died in Saint John, N.B. at the age of 82.

Today in Music History for Jan. 15: In 1882, tenor Henry Burr (born Harry McClaskey), the most prolific recording artist of his era, was born in St. Stephen, N.B. He recorded an estimated 12,000 titles from 1902 to about 1930.

Today in Music History for Jan. 18: In 1908, composer Henry Herbert Godfrey, who wrote some of Canada's most popular patriotic songs at the turn of the century, died in Montreal at the age of 50.

Today in History for Jan. 17: On this date: In AD 356, Antony of Egypt, considered the founder of Christian monasticism, died at age 105.

Today in Music History for Jan. 17: In 1927, sultry nightclub singer Eartha Kitt was born in Columbia, S.C. Her real birth date wasn't known until 1997, when students at Benedict College in Columbia tracked down her birth certificate.

Today in History for Jan. 14: On this date: In 1529, Spanish diplomat and writer Juan de Valdes published his Dialogue on Christian Doctrine. It paved the way for Protestant ideas in Spain.

Today in Music History for Jan. 19: In 1853, ``Il Trovatore'' by Giuseppe Verdi, the foremost Italian composer of opera, premiered in Rome.

Today in Music History for Jan. 20: In 1889, Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly, was born in Morningsport, La. Leadbelly, popular during the 1930s and '40s, was probably the first country blues artist to become known to the white audience.

Today in History for Jan. 16: On this date: In 1543, the British Parliament prohibited any ``women or artificer's prentices, journeymen, servingmen of the degree of yeoman, or under, husbandmen or labourers to read the New Testament in English.