TODAY IN HISTORY: American Idol debuted 20 years ago

In 1638, the first earthquake recorded in Canada was felt in Quebec.

In 1770, Capt. James Cook discovered Australia's Great Barrier Reef by accidentally grounding his ship on it.

In 1917, the Conscription Act was introduced in the House of Commons. The election that followed passage of the bill was one of the most divisive in Canadian history. Quebec looked on conscription as an attempt to anglicize French-Canadians and throw them into an English war. Sir Robert Borden's coalition government was returned and given the mandate to put conscription into effect. But the measure was a military failure, producing very few men for the front lines.

In 1966, Dave Bailey of Toronto became the first Canadian to break the four-minute mile.

In 1985, Karen Ann Quinlan died in a New Jersey nursing home at age 31. Ten years earlier, she slipped into a coma and remained in a persistent vegetative state. Her parents requested that doctors take her off life support systems, prompting a legal battle over the right to die.

In 1986, The Police reunited at an Amnesty International show in Atlanta for a five-song set.

In 1987, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher won a historic victory in a general election. It was the first time in 161 years that a British leader had won a third consecutive term.

In 1996, country megastar Garth Brooks signed autographs for 23 straight hours in Nashville. Some fans waited in line for up to 15 hours.

In 2001, Timothy McVeigh was executed by injection in Indiana for the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City which killed 168 people.

In 2002, the very first episode of American Idol aired on Fox TV with hosts Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman and judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. (Kelly Clarkson was later crowned the winner.)

In 2003, former leader of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations David Ahenakew was charged with promoting hatred of Jews. He was convicted, but in 2006, the ruling was overturned and a second trial was ordered. He was acquitted in February 2009.

In 2009, the World Health Organization declared the swine flu outbreak a pandemic, the first since the Hong Kong flu of 1968.

In 2012, the Los Angeles Kings, an original 196768 NHL expansion team, captured their first Stanley Cup, beating the New Jersey Devils 6-1 in Game 6. It was the first time that an 8th seeded team won.

In 2020, Bell said its new 5G wireless network launched in five cities. The new high-speed service is available to customers in Montreal, the Greater Toronto Area, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Rival Rogers Communications launched its 5G network earlier this year in downtown Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

In 2021, Canada was the latest — and the last of the G7 countries — to pledge COVID vaccine doses for lower-income nations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sat down with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who promised that the United Kingdom would offer at least 100 million vaccine doses to other countries within the next year. Ralph Goodale, Canada's high commissioner to the U.K., said Canada would also offer about 100 million doses.