Today is the 257th day of 2014 and the 86th day of summer.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote "Defence of Fort McHenry," the poem that provided the lyrics for "The Star-Spangled Banner."
In 1901, President William McKinley died of wounds received on Sept. 6 from an assassin's bullet, and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as his successor.
In 1994, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced the cancellation of the remainder of the season after a 34-day player strike.
In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers of an E. coli outbreak originating in bagged spinach.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Clayton Moore (1914-1999), actor; Mario Benedetti (1920-2009), journalist/author; Zoe Caldwell (1933- ), actress; Walter Koenig (1936- ), actor/director/producer; Larry Brown (1940- ), basketball coach; Sam Neill (1947- ), actor; Melissa Leo (1960- ), actress; Faith Ford (1964- ), actress; Andrew Lincoln (1973- ), actor; Nas (1973- ), rapper; Katie Lee (1981- ), chef/TV personality; Amy Winehouse (1983-2011), singer.
TODAY'S FACT: Elizabeth Ann Seton became the first American-born Catholic saint when she was canonized by Pope Paul VI on this day in 1975.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1987, the Toronto Blue Jays hit a major-league record 10 home runs in a single game.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Five minutes are enough to dream a whole life, that is how relative time is." -- Mario Benedetti
TODAY'S NUMBER: 12 -- member states of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including six in the Middle East, four in Africa and two in South America. OPEC was founded on this day in 1960.
TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Sept. 8) and last quarter moon (Sept. 15).