Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 23: Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff is 82. Author John Sandford is 81. Former Liberal Cabinet Minister and astronaut Marc Garneau is 76.

Today in Music History for Feb. 23: In 1685, George Frideric Handel, one of the greatest masters of baroque music, was born in Halle, Germany. He is best known for his majestic oratorio, ``The Messiah,'' which was first performed in Dublin in 1742.

Today in History for Feb. 23: In A.D. 155, Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna (present-day Izmir, Turkey) and an early Church Father who was a disciple of the Apostle John, was martyred.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 22: Actor Paul Dooley is 97. Actor James Hong is 96. Actress Julie Walters (``Harry Potter'' films, ``Mamma Mia!'') is 75. Actress Miou-Miou is 75. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Julius ``Dr. J'' Erving is 75.

Today in Music History for Feb. 22: In 1952, bass singer Don Gerrard, a native of Vancouver, made his debut with the Canadian Opera Company as the Speaker in ``The Magic Flute.

Today in History for Feb. 22: In 1630, colonists in America got their first taste of popcorn. In 1732, George Washington, the first president of the United States, was born. He died in 1799. In 1819, Spain ceded Florida to the United States.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 24: Actor Dominic Chianese (``Boardwalk Empire,'' ''The Sopranos``) is 94. Businessman Phil Knight (Nike) is 87. Singer Joanie Sommers is 84. Actress Jenny O'Hara (``Transparent,'' ''The Mindy Project``) is 83.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 25: Actress Ann McCrea (``The Donna Reed Show'') is 94. Actor Tom Courtenay (``Dr. Zhivago'') is 88. CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is 88. Actress Diane Baker is 87.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 23: Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff is 82. Author John Sandford is 81. Former Liberal Cabinet Minister and astronaut Marc Garneau is 76.

Celebrity Birthdays for Feb. 26: Actor-director Bill Duke is 82. Actress Marta Kristen ("Lost in Space") is 80. Singer Mitch Ryder is 80. British pop vocalist Sandie Shaw is 78. Keyboardist Jonathan Cain of Journey is 75. Singer Michael Bolton is 72.