Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in History for July 8: On this date: In 1629, Spain's King Philip III sent England's King Charles the First an elephant and five camels. Included were instructions that the elephant be given a gallon of wine each day.

Today in Music History for July 10: In 1941, Ian Whitcomb, singer, record producer and pop music historian, was born. In 1941, pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton, who claimed he invented jazz, died in Los Angeles at age 50.

Today in History for July 7: On this date: In 1438, the decrees of Basel were adopted by the Roman Catholic Church. They restricted the authority of the popes and imposed a degree of accountability on the cardinals and bishops of the church.

Today in History for July 12: On this date: In 1191, the armies of the Third Crusade (1189-92), led by England's King Richard I (The Lionhearted), captured the Syrian seaport of Acre, now located in northern Israel.

Today in History for July 11: On this date: In 1533, Pope Clement VII excommunicated England's King Henry VIII. In 1656, Ann Austin and Mary Fisher became the first Quakers to arrive in America and were promptly arrested.

Today in History for July 6: In 1415, Czech reformer Jan Hus was martyred. He was condemned for heresy and burned at the stake because of his outspoken appeals for church reform and for political and religious rights for the common people.

Today in History for July 6: In 1415, Czech reformer Jan Hus was martyred. He was condemned for heresy and burned at the stake because of his outspoken appeals for church reform and for political and religious rights for the common people.

Today in Music History for July 12: In 1943, Christine McVie, vocalist and keyboards player with "Fleetwood Mac," was born in Birmingham, England.

Today in History for July 10: On this date: In 1509, theologian John Calvin was born in Noyon, France. After Martin Luther, Calvin was seen as the guiding spirit of the Protestant Reformation.

Celebrity Birthdays for June 27: Businessman Charles Bronfman is 94. Singer Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys is 83. Composer-arranger-pianist Frank Mills is 83. Fashion designer Vera Wang is 76. Actress Julia Duffy ("Newhart") is 74.