TODAY IN HISTORY

1799

French soldiers in Egypt discovered the Rosetta Stone, which proved instrumental in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

1834

The Spanish Inquisition was abolished more than 3 1⁄2 centuries after its creation.

1870

Georgia became the last Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union. Manitoba entered confederation as the fifth Canadian province.

1913

Augustus Bacon, D-Ga., became the first person elected to the U.S. Senate under the terms of the recently ratified 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, providing for popular election of senators.

1918

The Second Battle of the Marne, resulting in an Allied victory, began during World War I.