Today is the 265th day of 2014 and the first day of autumn.
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TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1776, the British hanged 21-year-old teacher/soldier Nathan Hale as a spy.
In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation, making all slaves in seceding states free as of Jan. 1, 1863.
In 1980, Iraq invaded disputed territory in the Persian Gulf, officially beginning an eight-year war with Iran.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Michael Faraday (1791-1867), scientist; Charles Brenton Huggins (1901-1997), physician; Tommy Lasorda (1927- ), baseball player/manager; Eugene Roche (1928-2004), actor; David Stern (1942- ), NBA commissioner; Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. (1951- ), publisher; Andrea Bocelli (1958- ), singer-songwriter; Joan Jett (1958- ), singer-songwriter; Scott Baio (1960- ), actor; Bonnie Hunt (1961- ), actress; Tom Felton (1987- ), actor.
TODAY'S FACT: Dr. Charles Brenton Huggins was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1966 for his discovery of the relationship between hormones and cancer, which led to advancements in chemotherapy.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1969, San Francisco Giants center fielder Willie Mays hit his 600th career home run in a 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Nature can refuse to speak, but she cannot give a wrong answer." -- Charles Brenton Huggins
TODAY'S NUMBER: $990,446 -- purse (then the largest in the history of boxing) that Gene Tunney won for defending his heavyweight title against Jack Dempsey in the infamous "Long Count" bout held on this date in 1927.
TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Sept. 15) and new moon (Sept. 23).