Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

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.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 13: TV personality Nick Clooney is 91. Actor Charlie Brill is 87. Actor Billy Gray (``Father Knows Best'') is 87. John Lees, lead guitarist with Barclay James Harvest, is 78. Guitarist Trevor Rabin of Yes is 71.

Today in History for Jan. 13: In 1691, Englishman George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, died. In 1695, satirist Jonathan Swift, author of "Gulliver's Travels," was ordained an Anglican priest in Ireland.

Today in Music History for Jan. 13: In 1501, Christianity's first vernacular hymnal was printed in Prague, capital of the present-day Czech Republic. It contained 89 hymns in the Czech language.