Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for July 16: On this date: In 622, Prophet Mohammad fled from Mecca, where he was despised and persecuted, to the northern city of Medina, marking the day of beginning of Hegira, the Islamic calendar.

Today in Music History for July 15: In 1908, Canadian soprano Louise Edvina made her professional debut at Covent Garden in London, as "Marguerite" in the opera "Faust." The Montreal-born Edvina became one of the British capital's favourite artists.

Today in Music History for July 17: In 1674, Isaac Watts, innovative pioneer of modern English hymn writing, was born.

Today in Music History for July 16: In 1952, Stewart Copeland, drummer with the rock band "The Police," was born in Alexandria, Va.

Today in History for July 13: On this date: In 100 B.C., Julius Caesar, the most famous general in Roman history, was born. In 1762, Czar Peter III of Russia was dethroned in a coup.

Today in History for July 17: On this date: In 1505, future church reformer, Martin Luther entered the Augustinian monastic order at Erfurt in present day eastern Germany. He was 21. In 1674, the second census of Canada showed a population of 6,705.

Today in History for July 19: On this date: In 1553, 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey was deposed as Queen of England after only nine days. King Henry VIII's daughter Mary was proclaimed Queen and had Jane executed.

Celebrity Birthdays for July 4: Actress Eva Marie Saint is 101. Actor Ed Bernard ("Police Woman," ''White Shadow") is 86. Actress Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu in "It's A Wonderful Life") is 85. Singer Annette Beard of Martha and the Vandellas is 82.

Today in Music History for July 4: In 1900, jazz trumpeter and singer Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong was reputed to have been born in New Orleans. But in 1988, a music historian discovered a baptismal certificate that indicated Armstrong was born on Aug.

Today in History for July 4: In 1609, explorer Samuel de Champlain sailed into what was later named Lake Champlain in New York. In 1631, the world's first employment agency opened in Paris. In 1634, Trois-Rivieres, Que.