Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Aug. 21: On this date: In 1245, English scholastic theologian Alexander of Hales died. He is regarded as the founder of the Franciscan school of theology.

Today in Music History for Aug. 21: In 1866, Civilla D. Martin, teacher and songwriter, was born in Nova Scotia. A pastor’s wife, she penned in 1904 the hymn, "Be Not Dismayed, Whate’er Betide" (a.k.a. "God Will Take Care of You"). She died in 1948.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 20: Boxing promoter Don King is 94. Jazz drummer Terry Clarke is 81. News anchor Connie Chung is 79. Trombone player Jimmy Pankow of Chicago is 78. Actor Ray Wise ("Reaper," ''Twin Peaks") is 78.

Today in History for Aug. 20: On this date: In 1691, Henry Kelsey of the Hudson's Bay Co. was the first white man to see what is now Saskatchewan. Kelsey was an explorer whose exact route into the Prairies is not known.

Today in Music History for Aug. 20: In 1920, the first commercial radio station in the United States, 8-MK in Detroit, began daily broadcasting. The station later became WWJ.

Today in Music History for Aug. 19: In 1912, Jimmie Shields, one of the most popular Irish tenors in Canada during the 1930s, was born in St. Catharines, Ont. He rose to further fame in the U.S.

Today in History for Aug. 19: On this date: In 1099, the armies of the First Crusade defeated the Saracens at the "Battle of Ascalon," a historic Palestinian city on the Mediterranean coast, one month after they had captured Jerusalem.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 18: Movie director Roman Polanski is 92. Actor Robert Redford is 89. Actor Henry G. Sanders ("Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman") is 83. Rock musician Dennis Elliott is 75. Comedian Elayne Boosler is 73.

Today in Music History for Aug. 18: In 1893, Canadian conductor and composer Sir Ernest MacMillan was born in Mimico, Ont., now part of Toronto.

Today in History for Aug. 18: On this date: In 1227, Mongol emperor Genghis Khan died. He became one of the most significant and successful military leaders in history.