Danes: Famous & Historical Trivia

1. Do you know the physicist who received the Nobel Prize in 1922 for his work on the structure of atoms?

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Niels Bohr

Along with Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Niels Bohr (1885-1962) was one of the most notable physicists in the first decades of the 20th century. The two respected each other greatly. However, when it came to the field of quantum mechanics they had very different views. Einstein never accepted the uncertainty in quantum mechanics. A story tells that one day Einstein in a conversation with Bohr told him: "God doesn't play dice" to which Bohr replied: "Don't tell God what to do". Whether that's a true story is uncertain. :)

From Quiz Great Danes (NOT the canines)

Answer: Margarete I

Margarete I Valdemarsdatter (1389-1412) was the first woman to rule in her own right the kingdom of Denmark (oldest kingdom on earth), as well as Norway and Sweden, as the Kalmar Union. At the time a female regent was not generally acceptable in northern European countries, but she proved an excellent and prudent ruler, reacquired lost possessions and wealth and remained neutral while influencing political alliances through contracts and royal liaisons. Her adopted son (her grand-nephew), Eric of Pomerania ruled the three countries after her death. Margarete was from the House of Estridsen, and she is entombed at Roskilde Cathedral, where all Danish monarchs are laid to rest - after they die.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Peter Schmeichel

When Peter Schmeichel retired from professional football in 2003 he had won national championships in England, Portugal and Denmark. By the time he retired in 2003 he also held the record for most played international games for Denmark (129 games). Other honors include: UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year in 1992, 1993, 1997 and 1998. Lastly he was voted into the 'England League Team of the Century'.

From Quiz Great Danes (NOT the canines)

Answer: Isak Dinesen

Dinesen (1885-1962) wrote several books, one of which was made into the film "Out of Africa", which starred Meryl Streep, who captured perfectly a Danish accent, Ralph Fiennes and Robert Redford. The book and film chronicle her attempt to manage a large farm in Africa.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Sidse Babett Knudsen

Sidse Babett Knudsen is a very versatile actress. She has done work in film, TV and theatre. Notable films includes: "Let's get Lost" (1997), "Mona's World" (2001) and "After the Wedding" (2006).

From Quiz Great Danes (NOT the canines)

Answer: Soeren Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard (which means "churchyard") lived from 1813-1855. His philosophy encompassed theology, poetry, and critical essays on organized Christianity. He left many journals with his family, over 7,000 pages. Much of it may have been destroyed after his death, but enough remains to show the angst, despair and isolation he felt. His purpose seemed to be to *find* purpose. One of the last things he wrote was, "People understand me so little that they do not even understand when I complain of being misunderstood." What little I've read of his writing leaves me thinking of him as a lost soul who kept looking for answers and found none.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Ole Kirk Christiansen

At the beginning Lego made toys from wood. It was not until 1949 that the company began to make plastic bricks. The Lego name comes from the Danish words LEg GOdt which literally translated means 'play well'.

From Quiz Great Danes (NOT the canines)

Answer: Niels Bohr

Bohr (1885-1962) received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. He developed a model of the atom which remains valid today in many cases. Bohr was awarded many medals and honors, including the impressive Order of the Elephant in 1947. He also founded the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Copenhagen University and collaborated with many other scientists of his day. Bohr also predicted the existence of a new element, which was later found and named Hafnium (the Latin name of Copenhagen). In 1943 Bohr fled to freedom in (neutral, but helpful) Sweden to avoid arrest by the Nazis. The element Bohrium is also named for him. He made his way to Britain and then to the US. He and Albert Einstein discussed and collaborated on many theories.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield started Metallica back in 1981. The band has had numerous hits like: 'Master of Puppets', 'Nothing Else Matters', 'Enter Sandman', 'One', etc. The band consisted of: Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo. Former members of the band includes, Dave Mustaine(who went on to co-found the band Megadeath), Jason Newsted, Cliff Burton((killed in a traffic accident in Sweden) and Ron McGovney. Worldwide the band has sold more than 100 million albums.

From Quiz Great Danes (NOT the canines)

Answer: Vitus Bering

Known as Ivan Ivanovitch Bering (Johann, son of Johann) in the Russian Navy, Vitus lived from 1681-1741. He died on Bering Island at the age of 60. He is well known for his two major explorations of Asia and from there to the western coast of the Americas. By 18 he was already a sailor; he travelled for many years and was selected by Peter the Great to lead the first expedition to the Kamchatka peninsula. He also lead the second one. His exploration helped advance evidence that there had once been a land "bridge" between Siberia and North America. He and several men from his company reportedly died from scurvy, although this has been disputed. All the men in these explorations suffered from stormy weather and lack of provisions for much of their travels.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Victor Borge

Victor Borge's career lasted for more than 75 years. He started out as a concert pianist. Later he began to incorporate more and more comedy into his shows. One of his trademark acts was "Phonetic Punctuation". Borge used "Phonetic Punctuation" when reading a text out loud. He assigned a specific sound and gesture to each punctuation mark (colon, question mark, comma etc.) in the text.

From Quiz Great Danes (NOT the canines)

Answer: H.C. Andersen

In Denmark, he is usually referred to as H.C. Andersen, which would very likely sound like Jose Andersen to a non-Dane. Andersen felt under-appreciated when sent off to school where he was discouraged from writing and abused 'to improve his character'. At first his publications of fairy tales was not well received, but after he composed a poem about being a Scandinavian (Danish, Swedish, Norwegian family), his later stories were read and enjoyed by both adults and children. By 1845 "The Little Mermaid" appeared in a periodical, and his stories were anticipated enthusiastically. He also published travelogues and continued his fairy tales. Andersen met and visited Charles Dickens in England and the two authors seemed to enjoy an understanding of the suffering of children during the industrial revolution. There seems little to tell of his love life, which never came to fruition. At some point he proposed to Jenny Lind, who politely turned him down. By the time of his death in 1875, H.C. was considered a 'national treasure'. He may have been 'the ugly duckling' of his tale in his own mind.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Anders Fogh Rasmussen was Secretary General from August 2009 to October 2014. Prior to this he was Prime Minister of Denmark (November 2001-April 2009). Anders Fogh Rasmussen was elected to the Danish parliament (Folketinget) in 1978 representing the political party Venstre. Venstre is a liberal party. In 2001 he was elected Prime Minister of Denmark after a landslide victory over Poul Nyrup Rasmussen from The Social Democrats.

From Quiz Great Danes (NOT the canines)

Answer: Peter Freuchen

Freuchen (1886-1957) was an Arctic explorer, journalist, anthropologist and author. When his (first) Inuit wife died of Spanish Flu, he wanted to bury her in Upernavik. The church refused because Navarana was not baptized, so Peter buried her himself. They had two children together. Freuchen was later harshly critical of the Christian church who sent missionaries to the native people without bothering to understand their traditions and culture. He and Knud Rasmussen established the Thule Trading Station in 1910 at Uummannaq, Greenland. It was the most northerly trade station in the world and the home base for many expeditions from 1912-1933. In 1912 Rasmussen and Freuchen journeyed 620 miles across the inland ice to test explorer Peary's theory that Pearyland was divided from Greenland by a channel. The arduous journey almost killed both of them. It was claimed at the time that this was 'the finest (journey) ever performed by dogs'. Freuchen went on to win the "$64,000 Question" on the topic of the Seven Seas (one of his many books), and he was employed as a consultant in the film industry for polar-related scripts. Freuchen married two more times. He died in Alaska and his ashes were scattered over Thule Mountain near the USAF Air Base.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Jørn Utzon

The Sydney Opera House opened in October 1973. Due to disputes regarding design and costs, Utzon had left the project in 1966. Other works by Utzon includes the Elineberg Housing in Helsingborg, Sweden, the National Assembly of Kuwait and Bagsværd Church in Denmark.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Lars von Trier

Lars von Trier also directed "The Idiots", "Breaking the Waves" and "Dogville". In 1995 Lars von Trier together with Thomas Vinterberg founded the "Dogme 95" movement. The movement listed a set of rules as to how a movie should be produced. Among the rules was that you always had to film on location and with a handheld camera.

From Quiz Notable Danes

Answer: Queen Margrethe II

After the death of her father King Frederik IX in 1972, Queen Margrethe was proclaimed Queen. In 1967 Queen Margrethe married Henri Monpezat(now Prince Henrik). They have two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.

From Quiz Great Danes (NOT the canines)

Answer: Margrethe II

Known to her close friends as 'Daisy', Margrethe Alexandrine Ingrid Thorhildur (her Icelandic name) is of the house of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg, and through marriage to Henrik, Prince Consort of Monpezat. Her mother was Ingrid of Sweden and father was King Frederick IX. When she was born in 1940, only males could ascend to the Danish throne. The emergence of women in the 20th century and the popularity of the royal family, had the constitution change its rules to allow women to ascend in the absence of male heirs. When King Frederick IX died in 1972, Margrethe ascended the throne. Her son, Frederick X, is now the heir presumptive. Margrethe is an accomplished painter, illustrator and speaks French, English, Danish, German and Swedish fluently. She aided in the illustration of Tolkien's Danish version of "Lord of the Rings". Queen Margrethe is a chain smoker, but in 2006, ceased smoking in public. The queen acts as a goodwill ambassador, and attends many public events as well as representing Denmark in other countries. She has no political power. As of early 2014, Margrethe is only the second queen regnant of Denmark.

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