Today in history

Today is Friday, Sept. 21, the 264th day of 2018 and the 93rd day of summer.

Today's History: In 1792, the French National Convention declared France a republic and voted to abolish the monarchy.

In 1897, the New York Sun published an editorial by Francis Pharcellus Church that included the now-famous phrase, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

In 1981, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved Sandra Day O'Connor as the first female Supreme Court justice.

In 2013, Islamic militants attacked the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 67 people.

Today's Fact: There are no female characters in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," published on this day in 1937. Only one female, Belladonna Took, is mentioned by name.

Today's Sports: In 1970, "Monday Night Football" made its ABC broadcast debut with a game between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns.

Today's Quote: "We all have our time machines, don't we. Those that take us back are memories ... And those that carry us forward, are dreams." — H.G. Wells

Today's Number: 7 — novels published by Stephen King under the pen name Richard Bachman, which King used in his early career because publishers told him audiences wouldn't buy more than one book per year from the same writer.

Today's Moon: Between first quarter moon (Sept. 16) and full moon (Sept. 24). H.G. Wells (1866-1946), historian/ author; Chuck Jones (1912-2002), animator; Leonard Cohen (19342016), singer-songwriter; Henry Gibson (1935-2009), comedian/ actor; Jerry Bruckheimer (1943), film/TV producer; Stephen King (1947- ), author; Bill Murray (1950), actor; Ethan Coen (1957- ), filmmaker; Rob Morrow (1962- ), actor; Cheryl Hines (1965- ), actress; Faith Hill (1967- ), singer-songwriter; Luke Wilson (1971- ), actor; Lindsey Stirling (1986- ), violinist/composer; Jason Derulo (1989- ), singersongwriter.