Today in History

Today in History for Oct. 12: On this date: In 451, nearly 600 bishops of the Christian church began meeting at the Second Ecumenical Council.

Today in History for Oct. 8: On this date: In 1354, Italian revoluntionary Cola di Rienzi was murdered. In 1642, Jeanne Mance established the first hospital in Montreal, the Hotel-Dieu. In 1871, a huge fire destroyed the heart of Chicago.

Today in History for Oct. 9: On this date: In 1668, Canada's first institution of higher education, The Quebec Seminary, later called Laval University, was founded by Bishop Francois de Laval.

Today in History for Sept. 29: In 1547, Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish poet, playwright and novelist, the creator of "Don Quixote," was born. In 1560, King Gustav I of Sweden, founder of the Vasa dynasty which ruled until 1818, died.

Today in Music History for Sept. 29: In 1907, Gene Autry, the most famous singing cowboy of the movies, was born in Tioga, Texas. His career took off with his 1931 recording of "Silver Haired Daddy of Mine," which eventually sold five-million copies.

Celebrity Birthdays for Sept. 29: Conductor Richard Bonynge is 87. Writer-director Robert Benton is 85. Singer Jerry Lee Lewis is 82. Soul-blues-gospel singer Sherman Holmes is 78. Actor Ian McShane is 75. Jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty is 75.