Historical Figures Beginning With 'B' Quiz

Answer: Mechanical engineer

Known for being the creator of the early programmable computer, Charles Babbage lived his life in London throughout most of the nineteenth century. Creator of the difference engine, his machine was able to complete basic math problems, but it wasn't fully able to do so until after his death in 1871.

More than a century later, scientists recreated the machine based on his plans and found that his calculations were correct; he'd made an early computer.

Answer: Televangelist

Born in Minnesota, Tammy Faye Bakker had a tumultuous life on and off the airwaves. For fifteen years she and her husband, Jim, hosted "The PTL Club", an evangelist Christian TV show, before it came to an abrupt end, mainly because Jim was convicted of fraud. Tammy Faye also created a theme park at this time, Heritage USA, which remained a Christian-themed attraction in South Carolina until its closure in 1989.

In her later years she was a gay rights advocate. She would pass away of cancer in 2007.

Answer: Athlete

Born in England, Roger Bannister is perhaps best-known for being the first athlete to run a mile in under four minutes, doing so with proper officials recording his attempt, in 1954. Bannister's feats wouldn't end there; because of his running prowess he would be selected to compete in the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.

It's there that he ran the famous 'Miracle Mile'. Bannister had previously run for Britain at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki (though he failed to place).

Answer: Archbishop

Canonized as a saint by Pope Alexander III in the twelfth century, Saint Thomas of Canterbury presided as the Archbishop of Canterbury for a mere eight years before he was killed by the men of King Henry II. After King Henry II attempted to issue the Constitutions of Clarendon and restrict the powers of the church in favour of the monarchy, Thomas pushed back.

He was exiled and subsequently assassinated shortly thereafter.

Answer: President of FIFA

Involved in sports administration for most of his life, Swiss-born Sepp Blatter worked in the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation and for the Olympic Games in the 1970s before working exclusively for FIFA, taking presidency there in 1998 and continuing on until 2015. During this time, Blatter engaged in criminal activities involving money laundering and bribery.

He would be indicted and barred from continuing in his position shortly thereafter.

Answer: Royal consort

The Queen of England for just under three years, Anne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII (who had six). The maid of honour to Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, it was she who started King Henry's dismantling of church power in sixteenth century England-- he wished to annul his first marriage, but the church wouldn't have it.

After Anne couldn't provide Henry an heir, he set his sights instead on Jane Seymour. Anne was subsequently sent to the Tower of London under suspicion of high treason and it was there that she was beheaded.

Answer: Liberator

The Liberator of America, Simón Bolívar was one of the most influential figures of South America, wresting several nations from the Spanish Empire and seeing them through to independence in the nineteenth century. In addition to becoming the first President of Colombia in 1819, he held positions as the President of Peru and Bolivia at the same time.

His influence was also felt in Panama, Ecuador, and Venezuela. He died in 1930 in Northern Colombia, near the Caribbean coast.

Answer: Author

The eldest of the Bronte sisters (with Emily and Anne to follow), Charlotte Bronte was the nineteenth century author of "Jane Eyre", considered a classic of Gothic prose in its day. Charlotte lived her entire life in Yorkshire, England, passing away at the age of 38 and outliving both of her sisters, both of whom became well-respected authors in their own rights.

Answer: Businessman

An American businessman living through most of the nineteenth century, Milton Bradley is likely a name known by players of board games from the century to follow as it was featured on boxes of The Game of Life, Battleship, Candy Land, and Operation until the 2000s. Though Bradley passed away in 1911, his name and legacy continued on in the toys and games industry.

His company was later merged with Parker Brothers (the makers of Monopoly, Clue, and Trivial Pursuit, amongst others) to form Hasbro and the Milton Bradley name was dissolved a decade later.

Answer: Filmmaker

One of the early surrealist filmmakers, Buńuel is perhaps best-known for making "Un Chien Andalou", a graphic 1929 film he co-created with Salvador Dalí. Buńuel lived through most of the twentieth century, working in film in his native Spain, the United States, Mexico, and France.

He won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1971 (for "Viridiana") and an Oscar for "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" the following year. He passed away in 1983.