Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and British author Anthony Horowitz are celebrating their birthdays today.
Colin Powell, who served as Secretary of State during former President George W. Bush's first term, is celebrating his 77th birthday today.
Powell was the first African American to become Secretary of State, and he served in that position from 2001 to 2005. He also has an extensive military background.
He served as a soldier in the Army for 35 years and rose to the rank of General. His service included the Vietnam War, and he then served in various military leadership positions, including National Security Advisor.
Anthony Horowitz, who is known for writing the Alex Rider series, celebrates his 59th birthday today.
The Alex Rider is a series about a young British man who becomes a spy, and the series ended in 2013 with its tenth book.
Horowitz has also written other suspense and thriller books for children and teenagers. These works include the Power of Five series and the Diamond Brothers series.