Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Jan. 17: 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.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 16: Author William Kennedy is 97. Author-editor Norman Podhoretz is 95. Opera singer Marilyn Horne is 91. Hall of Fame auto racer A.J. Foyt is 90. Singer Barbara Lynn is 83. Country singer Ronnie Milsap is 82.

Today in History for Jan. 16: 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.

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.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 15: Actress Margaret O'Brien ("Meet Me In St. Louis") is 88. TV and radio personality Dini Petty is 80. Retired ballerina Veronica Tennant is 79. Actress Andrea Martin is 78.

Today in History for Jan. 15: In AD 345, Paul of Thebes, traditionally considered the first Christian hermit and an inspiration for Antony of Egypt and later Christian monasticism, died.

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.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 14: Olympic alpine skier Lucille Wheeler is 90. Blues singer Clarence Carter is 89. Actress Faye Dunaway is 84. Actress Holland Taylor (``Two and a Half Men,'' ''The Practice``) is 82.

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