Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Dec. 12: In 1783, New Brunswick's first newspaper, the "Royal Saint John Gazette and Nova Scotian Intelligencer," was published. In 1787, Pennsylvania became the second U.S. state. In 1870, Joseph H.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 11: Actress Rita Moreno is 93. Singer David Gates of Bread is 84. Actress Donna Mills ("Knots Landing") is 84. Singer Brenda Lee is 80. Actress Linda Day George (TV's "Mission: Impossible") is 80.

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 83. Actress-singer Gloria Loring is 78. Pop-funk musician Walter (Clyde) Orange (The Commodores) is 78. Country singer Johnny Rodriguez is 73. Actress Susan Dey is 72.

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.

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.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 9: Actress Dame Judi Dench is 90. Singer Sammy Strain (Little Anthony and the Imperials, The O'Jays) is 85. Actor Beau Bridges is 83. Actor Michael Nouri is 79. World Golf Hall-of-Famer Tom Kite is 75.

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.