Today in history

1642: Montreal was founded.

1652: In Rhode Island, a law was passed that made slavery illegal in North America. It was the first law of its kind.

1792: Russian troops invaded Poland.

1802: Great Britain declared war on Napoleon’s France.

1828: Battle of Las Piedras ended the conflict between Uruguay and Brazil.

1897: A public reading of Bram Stoker’s new novel, “Dracula, or, The Un-dead,” was performed in London.

1917: The U.S. Congress passed the Selective Service act, which called up soldiers to fight in the First World War.