Today is the 265th day of 2016 and the 94th 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 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" was published.

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

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: H.G. Wells (1866-1946), historian/author; Chuck Jones (1912-2002), animator; Larry Hagman (1931-2012), actor; Leonard Cohen (1934- ) singer-songwriter; Henry Gibson (1935-2009), comedian/actor; Jerry Bruckheimer (1945- ), 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- ), singer-songwriter.

TODAY'S FACT: Best-selling author Stephen King wrote under two names (Stephen King and Richard Bachman) in his early career because publishers told him audiences wouldn't buy more than one book per year from the same writer.

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: "Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe ... Yet, clumsily or smoothly, the world, it seems, progresses and will progress." -- H.G. Wells, "The Outline of History"

TODAY'S NUMBER: 6 -- days of filming for Bill Murray on the set of the 1980 comedy "Caddyshack." Murray improvised all of his lines for his performance as groundskeeper Carl Spackler.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Sept. 16) and last quarter moon (Sept. 23).

Today is the 264th day of 2016 and the 93rd day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1873, the New York Stock Exchange closed because of a banking panic.

In 1881, Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as president, one day after the death of James Garfield.

In 1977, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was admitted to the United Nations.

In 1984, a suicide bombing killed 20 Americans at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

In 2001, President George W. Bush declared a "war on terror" before a joint session of Congress.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Upton Sinclair (1878-1968), author/social reformer; Leo Strauss (1899-1973), philosopher; Jacob "Red" Auerbach (1917-2006), basketball coach; Anne Meara (1929-2015), actress/comedian; Sophia Loren (1934- ), actress; George R.R. Martin (1948- ), author; Guy Lafleur (1951- ), hockey player; Gary Cole (1956- ), actor; Moon Bloodgood (1975- ), actress; Brian Joubert (1984- ), figure skater.

TODAY'S FACT: The first Cannes Film Festival, set in the resort city of Cannes on the French Riviera, began on this day in 1946. The festival was originally intended to debut in September 1939, but was canceled after the outbreak of World War II.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2013, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees hit the 24th grand slam of his career, breaking the major league record held by Lou Gehrig since 1938.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "All art is propaganda. It is universally and inescapably propaganda; sometimes unconsciously, but often deliberately, propaganda." -- Upton Sinclair

TODAY'S NUMBER: 9 -- NBA championship titles Red Auerbach won as head coach of the Boston Celtics, eight of which were consecutive (1959-1966).

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Sept. 16) and last quarter moon (Sept. 23).

Today is the 263rd day of 2016 and the 92nd day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1881, President James Garfield died from gunshot wounds sustained during an assassination attempt on July 2.

In 1957, the United States conducted its first entirely underground nuclear test, in a mountain tunnel in Nevada.

In 1995, The Washington Post published the Unabomber's manifesto, in partnership with The New York Times.

In 2002, President George W. Bush requested that Congress authorize him to "use all means" to disarm and depose Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: William Golding (1911-1993), author; Roger Angell (1920- ), author/journalist; James Lipton (1926- ), actor/TV host; Adam West (1928- ), actor; Cass Elliot (1941-1974), singer; Jeremy Irons (1948- ), actor; Twiggy (1949- ), model/actress; Trisha Yearwood (1964- ), singer-songwriter; Jimmy Fallon (1974- ), comedian/TV personality; Alison Sweeney (1976- ), actress/TV host; Tegan and Sara Quin (1980- ), singer-songwriters.

TODAY'S FACT: The Threshold Test Ban Treaty, signed in 1974, prohibited nuclear weapons testing in the atmosphere, in outer space and underwater, but permitted underground testing.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2011, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera recorded his 602nd career save, breaking the major league record. He retired in 2013 with 652 career saves.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The writer probably knows what he meant when he wrote a book, but he should immediately forget what he meant when he's written it." -- William Golding

TODAY'S NUMBER: 3 -- U.S. presidents in office in 1881. Rutherford B. Hayes relinquished the office to James Garfield in January, and Chester Arthur became president when Garfield died in September.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Sept. 16) and last quarter moon (Sept. 23).