Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Feb. 9: In 249, legends say the woman who later became St. Appolonia, the patron saint of dentistry, was tortured and killed for being a Christian.

Today in Music History for Feb. 14: In 1879, ``La Marseillaise'' became the national anthem of France. In 1935, Canadian trombonist Rob McConnell was born in London, Ont.

Today in History for Feb. 12: In 1554, Lady Jane Grey, who had been queen of England for nine days, was beheaded after being charged with high treason. In 1793, Spain agreed to pay compensation for the seizure of British ships at Nootka, B.C.

Today in History for Feb. 13: In 1542, the fifth wife of England's King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard, was executed for adultery. In 1633, Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before the Inquisition.

Today in History for Feb. 11: In 1765, London wig-makers, dismayed that fewer men were wearing wigs, asked King George III to buy their products to spur sales. He declined.

Today in Music History for Feb. 9: In 1891, the Canadian Pacific Railway opened its Vancouver Opera House with a performance by the Emma Juch English Opera company, a touring company from the U.S.

Today in Music History for Feb. 15: In 1918, country singer Hank Locklin was born in McLellan, Fla.

Today in Music History for Feb. 10: In 1939, singer Roberta Flack was born in Asheville, N.C. She had a half-dozen ballad hits in the 1970s, including three No.

Today in Music History for Feb. 12: In 1915, blind hymnwriter Fanny Crosby died at age 95 in New York City. She wrote more than 9,000 texts, including ``Safe in the Arms of Jesus'' and ``Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour.

Today in Music History for Feb. 13: In 1867, Johann Strauss first conducted his ``Blue Danube Waltz,'' in Vienna. It is the most famous of the more than 400 waltzes that he composed.