Today in History

Today in History for Dec. 4: On this date: In 1619, a group of settlers from Bristol, England, arrived at Berkeley Hundred in present-day Charles City County, Va., where they held a service thanking God for their safe arrival.

Celebrity Birthdays for Dec. 1: Actor-director Woody Allen is 82. Rock 'n' roll drummer Sandy Nelson is 79. Singer Dianne Lennon of the Lennon Sisters is 78. World Golf Hall-of-Famer Lee Trevino is 78. Bassist Casey Van Beek of The Tractors is 75.

Today in History for Dec. 5: On this date: In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued his Witch Bull, ordering an inquisition to systematically discover, torture and execute witches throughout Europe.

Today in History for Dec. 3: On this date: In 1170, Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, returned to England after six years of exile in France. He would be martyred on Dec. 29 -- killed by soldiers sent by his former friend, King Henry II.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 26: Singer Phil Humphrey (The Fendermen) is 80. Impressionist Rich Little is 79. Singer Tina Turner is 78. Singer Jean Terrell (replaced Diana Ross in the Supremes) is 73. Bassist John McVie of Fleetwood Mac is 72.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 27: Author Gail Sheehy is 80. Footwear designer Manolo Blahnik is 75. Rock and jazz saxophonist Randy Brecker is 72. Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow ("The Hurt Locker") is 66.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 24: Cellist Lorne Munroe is 93. Ray Perkins of the '50s vocal group The Crew Cuts is 85. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson is 79. Country singer Johnny Carver is 77. Author Eric Wilson is 77.

Today in Music History for Nov. 24: In 1868, Scott Joplin, the foremost composer of ragtime music, was born in Texarkana, Texas. Ragtime was the earliest form of jazz to become widely popular.

Today in History for Nov. 24: In 1639, astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks first observed the transit of Venus across the Sun. In 1642, Dutch mariner Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania, a triangular-shaped island lying to the southeast of Australia.

Celebrity Birthdays for Nov. 23: Actress Elmarie Wendel ("3rd Rock From The Sun," ''George Lopez") is 89. Movie producer-director Robert Towne is 83. Actor Franco Nero is 76. Actress Susan Anspach is 75.