What Happened on September 21?
September 21 is the International Day of Peace — a United Nations call for nonviolence — on the same date The Hobbit was published in 1937, Sandra Day O’Connor was confirmed in 1981, and Belize gained independence.
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1792 — France’s National Convention abolishes the monarchy
On September 21, 1792, France’s National Convention voted to end the monarchy, paving the way for the First French Republic. Read the full story →
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1937 — J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is published
On September 21, 1937, George Allen & Unwin published The Hobbit in London, introducing Bilbo Baggins and Middle-earth to readers. Read the full story →
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1942 — The B-29 Superfortress makes its first flight
On September 21, 1942, Boeing’s B-29 Superfortress bomber completed its first flight near Seattle, showcasing advanced wartime aviation technology. Read the full story →
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1981 — Sandra Day O’Connor is confirmed as the first woman on the Supreme Court
On September 21, 1981, the U.S. Senate confirmed Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman justice of the Supreme Court. Read the full story →
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1981 — Belize gains independence from the United Kingdom
On September 21, 1981, Belize became an independent nation after decades as the British colony of British Honduras. Read the full story →
Famous birthdays
Stephen King (1947) · H.G. Wells (1866–1946) · Bill Murray (1950) · Leonard Cohen (1934–2016)
Days & observances
International Day of Peace · World Alzheimer’s Day · World Gratitude Day · National Pecan Cookie Day