September 21
1792
The French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy.
1897
The New York Sun published its famous editorial, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”
1937
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein was first published.
1938
A hurricane struck New York and New England with extensive damage and more than 600 deaths.
1949
The People’s Republic of China was proclaimed.
1964
Malta gained its independence from Great Britain.
1981
Belize gained its independence from Great Britain.
1996
John F. Kennedy, Jr., married Carolyn Bessette.
Birthdays
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes
physicist (1853)
Henry Lewis Stimson
statesman (1867)
Larry Hagman
actor (1931)
Stephen King
author (1947)
Bill Murray
actor, screenwriter, comedian (1950)