Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Aug. 13: In 1820, engineer and musicologist Sir George Grove, compiler of "Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians," was born in London.

Today in History for Aug. 13: On this date: In 1521, Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captured present-day Mexico City from the Aztec Indians. In 1792, French revolutionaries imprisoned the royal family.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 12: Billionaire investor George Soros is 95. Actor George Hamilton is 86. Former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow is 86. Actress Jennifer Warren is 84. Actress Dana Ivey is 84.

Today in Music History for Aug. 12: In 1838, Joseph Barnby, English organist and choirmaster, was born. He composed nearly 250 hymn tunes during his life. Of these the most enduring include "Now the Day is Over" and "We Give Thee But Thine Own.

Today in History for Aug. 12: On this date: In 1615, the first mass in Ontario was celebrated by Father Le Caron in a Huron village near Thunder Bay.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 11: Mike Hugg, drummer with British group Manfred Mann, is 83. Songwriter Kenny Gamble of Gamble and Huff is 82. Bassist Jim Kale of the Guess Who is 82. Country singer John Conlee is 79.

Today in Music History for Aug. 11: In 1943, Jim Kale, the original bass guitarist with "The Guess Who," was born. He was also a member of "The Guess Who's" forerunner, "Chad Allan and the Expressions," a group formed in Winnipeg in the early 1960s.

Today in History for Aug. 11: On this date: In 1711, the first running at Britain's famous Ascot horse track was held.

Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 10: Hockey writer/former commentator Brian McFarlane is 94. Country singer Jonie Mosby is 85. Quebec singer-songwriter Louise Forestier is 82. Actor James Reynolds ("Days of Our Lives") is 79.

Today in History for Aug. 10: On this date: In 258, St. Lawrence was martyred in Rome. Traditional accounts say that he was slowly roasted on a gridiron. (Modern historians have disputed the account's likelihood.