Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for March 17: Singer-songwriter John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful is 81. Former Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston is 81. Percussionist Harold Ray Brown of War is 79. Rock singer Ian Gomm is 78. Actor Patrick Duffy is 76.

Celebrity Birthdays for March 22: Actor William Shatner is 94. Hockey Hall of Fame centre Dave Keon is 85. Singer Jeremy Clyde of Chad and Jeremy is 84. Singer-guitarist George Benson is 82.

Today in History for March 28: On this date: In 1380, gunpowder was first used in Europe in a battle between the Genoese and the Venetians. In 1515, Spanish mystic St. Teresa of Avila, founder of a reformed Carmelite order, was born.

Today in History for March 29: On this date: In 1139, Pope Innocent II made the Templars an independent unit within the Catholic Church. The order of knights had been created to protect pilgrims from bandits in the Holy Land.

Today in History for March 23: In 752, Pope Stephen II was elected to succeed Pope Zacharias. Stephen died just two days later.

Today in Music History for March 29: In 1871, the Royal Albert Hall in London was opened by Queen Victoria. In 1909, country singer and pianist Aubrey ``Moon'' Mullican was born in Polk County, Texas.

Today in History for March 27: On this date: In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sighted present-day Florida. In 1613, Newfoundland's first English child was born. In 1625, King James I died.

Today in History for March 24: On this date: In 1580, what are believed to have been the first bombs were tossed at the town of Guelderland, Germany. In 1603, the Elizabethan era ended in England with the death of Queen Elizabeth I.

Today in Music History for March 26: In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna at the age of 57. His works bridged the classical and romantic periods and brought a new depth and emotional intensity to music.

Today in History for March 26: On this date: In 1821, the Hudson's Bay Company and the Northwest Company amalgamated under the name Hudson's Bay Company. In 1830, Joseph Smith first published ``The Book of Mormon.