Today in History

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 7: Evangelist Billy Graham is 99. Former federal NDP leader Audrey McLaughlin is 81. Actor Barry Newman is 79. Singer Johnny Rivers is 75. Former supermodel Jean Shrimpton is 75. Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is 74.

Today in History for Nov. 7: In 1659, the Pyrenees were designated as the boundary between France and Spain, thus ending a 24-year war between the two countries. In 1665, the "London Gazette" was published for the first time.

Today in History for Nov. 6: In 1689, blacks arrived by ship to Quebec -- probably the first recorded use of black slaves in Canada.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 6: Actress June Squibb is 88. Country singer Stonewall Jackson is 85. Singer Eugene Pitt of the Jive Five is 80. Singer P.J. Proby is 79. Singer Bill Henderson (Chilliwack) is 73. Actress Sally Field is 71.

Today in Music History for Nov. 6: In 1814, Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was born in Belgium. In 1854, John Philip Sousa, the king of American march music, was born in Washington, D.C.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 5: Actor Chris Robinson ("General Hospital") is 79. Actress Elke Summer is 77. Singer Art Garfunkel is 76. Singer Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits is 70. Basketball Hall of Fame centre Bill Walton is 65.

Today in Music History for Nov. 5: In 1946, singer, songwriter and guitarist Gram Parsons was born in Winter Haven, Fla.

Today in History for Nov. 5: In 1605, Guy Fawkes was found in the basement of Britain's Parliament Buildings, along with 36 barrels of gunpowder.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 4: Former NHL player/analyst Howie Meeker is 94. Songwriter Paul Vance is 88. Actress Loretta Swit ("MASH") is 80. Singer Harry Elston of Friends of Distinction is 79. Singer Delbert McClinton is 77.

Today in History for Nov. 4: In 1809, the steamer "Accomodation," the first on the St. Lawrence, arrived at Quebec from Montreal. The trip took 66 hours at a speed of five knots but 30 hours were spent at anchor. The fare was $8.