Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for Sept. 22: In 1692, Giles Cory, one of nine witches executed at Salem, Mass., was the last to be "pressed" to death. The others were hanged.

Today in History for Sept. 25: On this date: In 1493, Christopher Columbus set sail from Cadiz, Spain, with a flotilla of 17 ships on his second voyage to the Western Hemisphere.

Today in History for Sept. 24: On this date: In 787, the Second Nicene Council opened under Pope Hadrian I.

Today in History for Sept. 28: On this date: In 1066, William the Conqueror and his Norman troops landed in England. In 1791, Jews in France were given full citizenship.

Today in History for Sept. 23: In 63 B.C., Roman emperor Augustus Caesar was born. In 1122, the "Concordat of Worms" was reached in Germany between Pope Callistus II and Holy Roman Emperor Henry V.

Today in History for Sept. 26: On this date: In 1751, some 1,000 immigrants from Wurtemberg, Germany, arrived in Halifax, N.S. In 1774, American pioneer environmentalist Jonathan Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was born.

Celebrity Birthdays for Sept. 13: Actress Barbara Bain (TV's "Mission: Impossible") is 93. Actress Eileen Fulton ("As The World Turns") is 91. Animator Don Bluth is 87. Etiquette expert Judith Martin ("Miss Manners") is 86.

Today in Music History for Sept. 13: In 1925, singer-songwriter Mel Torme, nicknamed "The Velvet Fog," was born in Chicago. He was known as one of the great male jazz singers of his generation. He also composed the music for "The Christmas Song.

Today in History for Sept. 13: On this date: In 1503, artist Michelangelo began work on his "David," which would become one of the most famous sculptures in the world. In 1775, Laura Secord, heroine of the War of 1812, was born. In 1788, the U.S.

Celebrity Birthdays for Sept. 12: Canadian boxing champion George Chuvalo is 87. Actress Linda Gray ("Dallas") is 84. Soprano Joan Patenaude is 83. Singer Maria Muldaur is 82. Author Michael Ondaatje is 81.