Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Dec. 12: In 1792, 22-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven paid the equivalent of 19 cents for his first lesson in music composition from Franz Joseph Haydn in Vienna.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 11: Actress Rita Moreno is 92. Singer David Gates of Bread is 83. Actress Donna Mills ("Knots Landing") is 83. Singer Brenda Lee is 79. Actress Linda Day George (TV's "Mission: Impossible") is 79. Actress Teri Garr is 79.

Today in History for Dec. 11: In 1792, France's King Louis XVI went before the Convention to face charges of treason. (Louis was convicted, and executed the following month.) In 1813, Newark, Ont.

Today in Music History for Dec. 11: In 1882, Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta "Iolanthe" was performed at the Bijou Theater in Boston, the first U.S. playhouse to be lighted exclusively by electricity.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 10: Actress Fionnula Flanagan is 82. Actress-singer Gloria Loring is 77. Pop-funk musician Walter (Clyde) Orange (The Commodores) is 77. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 72. Actress Susan Dey is 71.

Today in History for Dec. 10: In 1520, in Wittenberg, northeast of Leipzig in present-day eastern Germany, religious reformer Martin Luther publicly burned the papal edict demanding that he recant or face excommunication.

Today in Music History for Dec. 10: In 1943, Chad Stuart of the 1960s duo "Chad and Jeremy," was born in England. Their popularity rivalled that of another British pairing of the period, "Peter and Gordon.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 9: Country singer-songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler is 91. Actress Dame Judi Dench is 89. Singer Sammy Strain (Little Anthony and the Imperials, The O'Jays) is 84. Actor Beau Bridges is 82. Actor Michael Nouri is 78.

Today in History for Dec. 9: In 1608, English poet John Milton was born in London. In 1755, the first post office in Canada opened in Halifax.

Today in Music History for Dec. 9: In 1934, bluesman Junior Wells was born in West Memphis, Ark. He replaced harmonica player Little Walter in Muddy Waters’ band in the early 1950s. His most famous recording is "Hoodoo Man.