U.K. People: Famous & Historical Trivia

1. This fellow had his chance to paddle the River Cam, but ended up thousands of miles away. Which graduate of Emmanuel College gave his name to a university in another Cambridge altogether?

From Quiz Paddling the River Cam

Answer: John Harvard

John Harvard studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, between 1627 and 1635. He emigrated to New England in 1637, ministering to a congregation in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but died the following year, aged 30. Childless and having inherited money from a family severely reduced in size by the bubonic plague, he left half his fortune and his considerable library to a college proposed for Newtowne, Massachusetts. The town was renamed Cambridge, after the alma mater of many local ministers, and the college named Harvard after its major benefactor. He is represented in a stained glass window in the chapel of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

From Quiz Odd Fellows

Answer: Pink

Bentick is a great person to start an eccentricity quiz with, as some of his behaviour was quite bizarre. Not only did he only occupy just five rooms in this palatial house, he had all the fixtures and furnishings stripped from all rooms, apart from a commode in one corner of a room. Must have some comforts in life eh? He was also responsible for building an elaborate maze of underground tunnels and rooms below the abbey, including a 910 metre (1,000 yard) tunnel wide enough for several people to walk side by side which connected the main house and the riding house and a two kilometre (1.2 mile) long tunnel which connected with the coach house and was wide enough for two coaches to pass. Rooms underground included a library, a billiard room and a ballroom complete with a hydraulic lift big enough for 20 guests, but no balls were ever held in the ballroom. All of these underground rooms were of course painted pink also. The riding house, which at 121 metres (396 feet) long, 33 metres (108 feet) wide and 15 metres (50 feet) high was the second largest in the world, behind only one in Moscow, was never used for riding his horses and although Bentick employed many local people on his building projects, he refused to acknowledge or be acknowledged by them. All staff were instructed to ignore him at all times and there is an account of one employee, who out of respect raised his hat to the duke, only to be dismissed on the spot. There are many more tales about this wonderfully eccentric man, who really is worth checking out.

From Quiz On the Money - Figures on English Banknotes 2

Answer: Prison reform

Elizabeth Fry first visited Newgate Prison in 1813, finding the conditions for inmates deplorable. Although financial issues in her family prevented her from personally undertaking any work until 1816, she subsequently founded and funded a prison school at Newgate for children imprisoned with their mothers, as well as forming the Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners of Newgate, which intended to provide materials and teach skills to women prisoners that they could use to earn a living once released. In 1818, she gave evidence to a House of Commons committee on prison conditions, becoming the first woman to give evidence to Parliament. The five-pound note issued in 2002 was the first to feature a woman as the historical figure since the ten-pound note of 1975 featuring Florence Nightingale. It remained in circulation for nearly 15 years, finally being withdrawn in 2017.

From Quiz On the Money - Figures on English Banknotes 1

Answer: Mathematics

The Lucasian Professorship was founded in 1663 by Henry Lucas, the former MP for Cambridge University, who left his collection of 4,000 books and a bequest of £100 a year to found a professorship of mathematics. Subsequent holders of the position following Newton include Charles Babbage and Stephen Hawking. The one-pound note issued in 1978 featuring Newton was the last one-pound note issued by the Bank of England. It was replaced by a one-pound coin in 1983, and removed from circulation in 1988.

From Quiz The Bells are Ringing

Answer: Erasure

Vince Clarke, a keyboard expert, had already established a successful music career with the band Depeche Mode and in Yazoo, with Alison Moyet as his partner. By 1985, he needed a new singer and chose Andy Bell from those who responded to his advertisement. Under the name of Erasure, the pair had their first UK hit in 1986 with their fourth single - 'Sometimes'. They followed this up with several other top ten entries, including 'A Little Respect' in 1988 and 'Blue Savannah' in 1990. The duo are still working together in the twenty-first century, with their most recent album at the time of writing this quiz being 'The Violet Flame' released in 2014.

From Quiz Zed People

Answer: Rowing

Zachary Jake Nicholas Purchase, to give him his full name, has had much success as a rower, specifically in sculling. This means that a single rower controls oars on both sides of the boat. In partnership with Mark Hunter, Purchase won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 but the pair had to settle for silver four years later, when the Danish pair of Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Quist Hansen just beat them.

From Quiz Executions in Britain

Answer: Ruth Ellis

This occurred on July 13 1955. Because Ruth was mother of young children and had been physically assaulted by her victim David Blakeley - and perhaps because she was also stunningly beautiful - public opinion was sympathetic towards her. Moreover, when she was first questioned by the police she did not have a lawyer present. It is often said that her execution contributed to the campaign for the abolition of capital punishment in the United Kingdom.

From Quiz 10 UK Female Firsts

Answer: Nancy Astor

American-born Nancy (Lady) Astor was elected MP for Plymouth, Sutton in November 1919, taking over the seat from her husband, who became a member of the House of Lords on the death of his father. Constance (Countess) Markievicz had been elected as member for St Patrick's, Dublin in the 1918 General Election but, like other Sinn Fein MPs, did not take up the seat. Margaret Wintringham was the first British-born woman to sit in Parliament. She succeeded her late husband as Liberal MP for Louth, winning a by-election in September 1921. Margaret Bondfield became in 1923 one of the first three Labour women MPs. In 1929 she was appointed the first British woman Cabinet minister.

From Quiz Water, Water Everywhere

Answer: Waterman

Dennis Waterman played George Carter in 'The Sweeney', which appeared on British television from 1975 until 1978, with John Thaw playing Jack Regan. Terry McCann was his character in 'Minder', where he was responsible for the safety of the wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley, played by George Cole. Waterman also recorded the theme song for 'Minder', called 'I Could Be So Good for You', which reached the UK Singles Chart at number three. In 2003, he took on the role of Gerry Standing in 'New Tricks', alongside Alun Armstrong, James Bolam and Amanda Redman. By 2013, he was the only original member left, with his colleagues played by Denis Lawson, Nicholas Lyndhurst and Tamzin Outhwaite.

From Quiz A Knight to Remember

Answer: Richard Branson

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson started his first business venture aged just 16. From the humble beginnings of this small business he could not be held back and went on to become one of the richest people in the UK with the Virgin group brand. He now even owns an island called Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. Up to 28 guests can be accommodated there at any one time.

From Quiz That Snow Leopard!

Answer: Science

Pyke became a well known public figure following his appearances on television programmes such as 'Don't Ask Me' and 'Don't Just Sit There'. Although he appeared eccentric, and had an idiosyncratic presenting style involving much windmilling of his arms, Pyke did much to make science accessible to the general public. Pyke was featured on both the record and video for Thomas Dolby's 1992 hit 'She Blinded Me with Science', which can be found on various internet sites.

From Quiz Great British Eccentrics

Answer: A bull

Hirst was an interesting character who rose from a humble background to make a fortune speculating in farm produce. He had a legendary love of animals, teaching an otter to fish(!) and keeping a kennel of pigs that he had trained as foxhounds. He regularly attended the Doncaster races in a carriage pulled by four Andalusian mules, and disturbed local gentry by turning up to dinner with his pet bear, Nicholas. Awkward to a fault, he bowed to no man and when presented to King George III, stuck his hand out to be shook instead. The king was massively amused, fortunately, and fell to talking stock breeding with him.

From Quiz Famous Britons

Answer: Admiral Lord Nelson

Admiral Nelson uttered these words as he lay dying below decks of his flag ship HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, having defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. His victory is commemorated by Trafalgar Square in central London, at the centre of which stands 'Nelson's Column', a tall pillar topped by a statue of the admiral who lost both his right eye and right arm in action.

From Quiz Made in Britain

Answer: Catseyes

Shaw was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, in April 1890. The roads he drove on were mainly unlit and one foggy night in 1933, so the story goes, he was prevented from crashing by the lights of his car reflecting back from the eyes of a cat. He designed the catseye road stud using reflective glass lenses invented a few years earlier by Richard Hollins Murray. Shaw filed his patent in 1934 and the following year started Reflecting Roadstuds Ltd. to make and market the items. The original design used white reflectors but today several colours are used depending on their position in the road.

From Quiz Educated at Eton

Answer: Anthony Armstrong-Jones

Anthony Armstrong Jones coxed the winning Cambridge Boat in the 1950 Boat Race. He married the Queen's sister Princess Margaret in 1960 and was given the Earldom of Snowdon a year later. He divorced Princess Margaret in 1978.

From Quiz No Sex Please, We're British

Answer: Divine Brown

Grant was arrested on June 27, 1995 for lewd conduct, pleaded no contest, and was sentenced to two years probation. Since the incident with Grant, Brown has appeared on the "Howard Stern Show", and has posed for "Penthouse" magazine.

From Quiz Deride and Prejudice

Answer: Ann Widdecombe

Ann Widdecombe is renowned for her forthright views and willingness to speak her mind. The 'Doris Karloff' nickname seems to be an invention of the tabloid press, partly due to her less than glamorous appearance. Ann was MP for Maidstone (now Maidstone and the Weald) from 1987 until 2010. The other ladies are also politicians.

From Quiz Great British Eccentrics

Answer: Baron Berners

The fourteenth Baron Berners started eccentricity early in life. At the age of seven he decided that if you could teach a dog to swim then throwing one out of the window would teach it to fly. Fortunately his mother's dog, which was the subject of this experiment, was unhurt. In later life he had a giraffe as a pet, dyed the pigeons on his country estate pink and blue, and affixed notices to trees stating that anyone throwing stones at the notices would be prosecuted. He died in 1950 aged 67.

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 8

Answer: Guy Fawkes

The leader of the Gunpowder Plot was Robert Catesby. Guy Fawkes (1570-1606) was recruited for his experience with explosives. The conspirators intended to blow up the Houses of Parliament, along with King James I and most of the aristocracy. The conspirators were Catholic and sought a rather drastic end to Protestant persecution of Catholics, and to reinstate Britain as a Catholic country. However, the plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes was sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered. He managed to jump off the scaffold, thus breaking his neck and avoiding the most painful part of the process.

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 7

Answer: Henry VIII

"The Field of the Cloth of Gold" took place in June 1520 on the outskirts of Calais. It was a diplomatic meeting intending to show friendship between England and France. The two castles in the area were felt to be too rundown to house the courts, so each court had its own campsite, making it possibly the most expensive camping holiday in history. Tents and pavilions were covered with cloth of gold and jewels. Little was achieved politically.

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 6

Answer: Eighteenth

John Wesley (1703-1791) was an Anglican clergyman. He felt that ordinary people were excluded from the church, and he was often banned from airing his views from the pulpit. He began preaching in the open, bringing the church to the people. He strongly believed that people should be Christian in deed as well as in word. As well as preaching, he was a campaigner against social injustice and an opponent of the slave trade.

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 5

Answer: Edward Elgar

Elgar (1857-1934) was born in Worcestershire. He was surrounded by music from an early age, as his father was a music dealer and a church organist. Elgar taught himself musical theory. Words written by A C Benson were added to the "Pomp and Circumstance March" and the song is now commonly known as "Land of Hope and Glory". After the First World War, Elgar came to despise the piece, considering it too jingoistic.

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 4

Answer: Jane Austen

Jane Austen (1775-1817) achieved little fame during her lifetime, as her novels were published anonymously. Although they were well received by those who read them, they did not enjoy a wide audience. In 1869 her nephew James Austen-Leigh published a biography "A Memoir of Jane Austen", and it was after this that her popularity really took off.

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 3

Answer: First computer

Babbage's "difference engine" was an early type of calculator. He drew up plans for a second, more complex "difference engine" but this was not built until 2002. It comprised around 8,000 parts and weighed five tons, so it was a little difficult to have perched on one's desk! He also designed an "analytical engine", which could be programmed using punchcards.

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 2

Answer: Henry II

Henry II (1133-1189) was born in France. His claim to the throne came from his Grandfather, Henry I, via his mother, The Empress Matilda. The family in-fighting was largely caused by disagreements over who should inherit Henry's vast French properties, some of which were bought to him by his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. The disagreement with his one time friend Thomas a Becket was caused largely by the fact that Henry wanted to increase his control over the church and cut down on interference from Rome. Henry increased the use of Scutage, a tax paid by nobles to avoid military service. This enabled him to pay mercenaries to act as soldiers, thus strengthening his control of the armed forces. He also established the first Magistrate Courts and introduced various assizes, which were a forerunner of the trial by jury system.

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 1

Answer: First British family planning clinic

The first Family Planning Clinic was established in North London and offered a free service to married women. Whilst modern women have cause to be grateful to her, it should also be noted that she was an enthusiastic advocate of eugenics. She supported compulsory sterilisation for the poor and sick. She disinherited her own son, Harry, as he married a woman with a sight defect, and the bulk of her estate was willed to the Eugenics Society. However, her views were not uncommon for the times in which she lived. More shocking at the time were her views that men and women were equal partners in marriage, and that each child should be planned and wanted, with parents who were able to care for it.

From Quiz Dead and Buried in Sussex

Answer: St Margaret's, Ifield

Mark Lemon was an early commuter, living in the (then) village of Crawley and taking the train into London every day. Mark Lemon was also involved in the early days of the 'Illustrated London News' and 'The Field'. By 2000 'The Field' was the only one of these three magazines that survived. Mark Lemon's grave may be visited, but unless one knows where to look it may take a while to find. There is a pub immediately outside the churchyard as well should one need to recover from such strenuous activity.

From Quiz Some Quintessential Brits!

Answer: Horatio Nelson

English cricketers have an unlucky number - 111 - which is called "The Nelson", referring to the legend of Nelson's one missing eye, arm and leg (even though Nelson never lost a leg!) Born in 1758, Horatio Nelson died on the deck of his ship in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. His men put his body in a barrel of brandy to preserve it until they got back to port - then drank the brandy. Why waste good booze, eh?

From Quiz Famous Britons

Answer: AD 61

Boudicca was a Celtic tribal queen. When King Prasutagus died the Romans sought to ignore Boudicca's rightful role as his successor and to make her tribe, the Iceni, a subject population. When Boudicca rebelled against the Romans she was flogged and her daughters raped.

From Quiz Things Famous People Say

Answer: Princess Diana

Much has been written about Diana both during her lifetime and even more since her tragic death in Paris in 1997. She remains a beloved icon to the British public and will always be "The People's Princess".

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