Pleasingly Puzzling Posers for People Quiz

Answer: John Polidori

John William Polidori was born in London in 1795. At the age of 19, he graduated from the University of Edinburgh as a doctor of medicine, and in fact was the personal physician for Lord Byron. Taking an idea from a story written by Byron on a trip to Europe, Polidori turned it into a tale of a vampire who 'mixes' with the upper classes. The book, "Vampyre" was the first English tale of its sort; it was initially said to be written by Byron but Byron tried to correct the misconception. Polidori died in London in 1821, at the age of 26, possibly through suicide.

Mungo Park was born in 1771 in Scotland. He also studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He obtained the position of assistant surgeon on a ship to Sumatra, and when he arrived he took up exploring the African continent. His literary work was a description of his travels. He died in 1806, while attempting to travel the length of the Niger River, when his canoe caught in rocks and he could not escape hostile tribesmen.

Elliot Paul was an American author, born in 1891 in Massachusetts. He served in the Great War and his novels often reflected his military experiences. A journalist by trade, he moved to Paris and worked for the International Herald Tribune there while writing novels in his spare time. On return to the US, he took up screenwriting. He died in 1958 in Rhode Island.

Boleslaw Prus (real name Aleksander Glowacki) was a Polish journalist and author, born in 1847. At the age of 16 he was captured in battle with Russia and was held as a prisoner of war for about 3 years. He wrote as a sideline, mostly short stories but also one historical novel, "Pharaoh". He died in 1912.

Answer: Pipil

Pipil may make a comeback, as it is being taught in some schools now. It used to be found in Honduras, but is totally extinct there.

Palu is spoken by a bit under 5,000 people in Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is related to the Tibetan language.

Pam is a nearly-extinct language of the northern province of Cameroon. In 2003 it was reported that only 30 people, all of whom were older adults, still used the language.

Punu is spoken by about 132,000 in Gabon and the Congo, in areas along their shared border.

Answer: Nicola Pisano

Nicola Pisano was born sometime around 1220, probably in Apulia, Italy. Some of his works include the lions at Prato Castle, Tuscany, parts of the facade of the Cathedral of St Martin in Lucca, Italy, the pulpit in the baptistery of Pisa Cathedral, the pulpit in Siena Cathedral and the Fontana Maggiore at Perugia. He died around 1284.

William Payne was born in London in 1760. His specialised in engravings of the West Country for a great deal of his career. He was appointed as a fifth class draughtsman in 1778, trained in surveying and mapping, then moved into watercolour and in 1809 became an associate of the Society of Painters in Water-Colours. His later works were distinctive in that he used watercolour on his drawings, building up layers of washes and using a particular tint which became known as Payne's Grey. He died in London in 1830.

Jean Pesne (also known as Jean Paine) was born in France in 1623 and died in 1700. There is little biographical information readily available, but in 1649 Pesne engraved a portrait of Nicholas Poussin.

Joseph Paelinck was born in 1781 near Ghent in Belgium. He studied in Ghent, Paris and Italy. His early works were neoclassical, and one, "Judgement of Paris" won an award at the Ghent Salon in 1804. His work later reflected the Romantic Movement. Eventually he returned to Belgium and was appointed Professor at the Academy of Brussels. He died in 1839.

Answer: Paracel Islands

The Paracel Islands sit in the South China Sea between Vietnam and the Philippines. Both Vietnam and Taiwan claim them but since 1974 they have been occupied by China. The country is comprised of over 100 coral reefs, with no arable land. The Chinese have one military facility there.

Palau is a group of islands in the Pacific, the westernmost islands of the Caroline Island group. In 1978 the islands opted for independence. There are over 300 islands in six groups, with a total land area of 458 square kilometres and a population of just over 21,000. Life expectancy is good, at about 71 years, and some 92% of the population over the age of 15 is literate. The economy relies greatly on tourism, with agriculture (coconuts, copra, tapioca, and sweet potatoes) and fishing providing much of the remaining income. It also receives aid from the USA in exchange for providing military facilities.

Palmyra Atoll is a protected wildlife refuge sitting southwest of the Hawaiian Islands, near the equator. It is a territory of the USA, partly owned by the Nature Conservancy and partly under the control of the US Department of the Interior. Other than a small handful of staff from the Nature Conservancy and the US Government, it is uninhabited.

The Pitcairn Islands have lots of people - well, 48, anyway. The occupants are descendants of the survivors from the HMS Bounty who married women from Tahiti. It is a British colony whose major source of outside income is from the sale of postage stamps as well as fruits and vegetables.

Answer: Praseodymium

Praseodymium is element number 59, with an atomic weight of 140.90765. Exposed to air, it forms a greenish oxidation. It is also used in lighter flints, in welders' goggles and gloves, and colours glass a yellow-green. In scientific experiments it is used to slow light and to remove heat.

Promethium is atomic number 61, atomic weight 145. It is radioactive, emitting x-rays and beta particles; its salts emit a bluish-green glow. It was used for a time in watches, until a safer compound, tritium, was substituted.

Polonium is atomic number 84, atomic weight 209. It is very radioactive, found with uranium. It is sometimes used as a heat source for spacecraft or generators, and is best known as the poison used to kill Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

Protactinium is atomic number 91, atomic weight 231.03588. It is also radioactive and highly toxic. It has no uses other than scientific experimentation.

Answer: Penafiel Castle

Penafiel Castle in the Castile section of Spain is of the Germanic Gothic style, with only one entrance. It sits on a hill overlooking both the Duraton and Botijas valleys. The keep is unusual in that it is almost as wide as the entire site; it has eight small towers at its top. It has been home to the Provincial Museum-Foundation of the Wines of Valladolid.

Peles Castle, in Romania, looks like a cross between a fairy-tale castle and a Tudor mansion on steroids. Built in 1875 by King Carol I, it is the first castle to be built with central heating and electric service. According to the journal of Queen Elisabeth of Romania, "Italians were masons, Romanians were building terraces, the Gypsies were coolies. Albanians and Greeks worked in stone, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. Turks were burning brick. Engineers were Polish and the stone carvers were Czech. The Frenchmen were drawing, the Englishmen were measuring, and so was then when you could see hundreds of national costumes and fourteen languages in which they spoke, sang, cursed and quarrelled on all dialects and tones, a joyful mix of men, horses, cart oxen and domestic buffaloes." It became a property of the state following the overthrow of the monarchy, but in 1996 the castle was returned to King Michael I of Romania, who restored it and opened it to the public.

Pembroke Castle, Wales, was started in 1093, initially built of wood but later rebuilt in stone. The keep has an unusual stone dome and an amazing view. The castle was built over a natural cave, and the gatehouse has three portcullises.

Palanok Castle, Ukraine, was built in the 14th century. In its time, it has been a residence, a prison for political prisoners, a college and a military barracks. It is partially restored and now houses a museum.

Answer: Jorgen Presten

Jorgen Presten's date of birth is unknown, but bearing in mind that graduates of that period were generally a lot younger than today's university graduates, one would place his date of birth somewhere around 1530. He was probably employed by the court of Christian III, and led the choir of his royal chapel. His works are largely lost, but the few that remain were presumably for chapel use. He died in 1553 of the plague.

Jacob Paix was born in 1556 in Augsburg, Germany. If I spoke German I would tell you more, but the only site with much information is the German-version of wikipedia, which provided such gems as "Jacob Piece itself is not for Hilpoltstien testified." What one can glean is that while he was an organist and composer, his lasting contribution to music was his habit of collecting music from all over Europe. He died somewhere between 1616 and 1631, with 1623 being the more accepted date.

Perotin (first name unknown) was born circa 1180, probably in France. He is one of the earliest composers associated with polyphony. It is believed that he taught at Notre Dame Cathedral, as there is a reference to him as Perotin Magister, the master, in another source. He died circa 1225, having left his influence on all music which followed him.

Christian Petzold was born in 1677 in Konigstein, Germany. He was an organist and his works are still found published for piano. It is suspected that he, not JS Bach, wrote two of the pieces in the Anna Magdalena Bach notebook. Petzold died in Dresden in 1733.

Answer: Plott Hound

The Plott Hound was bred from the dogs brought to the US by a pair of German brothers, the Plotts, who developed a great hunting breed. Their home was by Plott Creek, in the Appalachian/Great Smokey Mountains area of the US. Unusually, there is no foxhound in its lineage. The dog is medium in size, brindled short coat and very muscular.

Parson Russell Terrier is the proper name for the Jack Russell Terrier. A small dog, its energy level is extraordinary. It was developed by the Reverend Jack Russell in England, where it specialised in flushing game from their hiding places.

The Porcelaine is a French scenthound. Its name comes from its short, whitish, shiny coat - if it were sitting perfectly still one could easily believe it was a statue. The coat can have beige markings, and the skin has black mottled markings which are slightly visible through the coat. It's a medium sized dog, 22-23 inches in height and 55-62 pounds in weight. A hunting dog, it has lots of energy and intelligence and is also quite friendly.

The Prazsky Krysavik is a Czechoslovakian breed. It is reputedly the smallest breed in the world, with a height of 7-9 inches and weight of 2-6 pounds. It is black and tan with a narrow muzzle and large rounded ears. The name roughly translates to Prague Ratter, as its ancestors were excellent ratters.

Answer: P is for Peril

It's "P is for Peril". There seems to be no good reason why a prominent doctor is missing - but when he's found dead, it seems like everyone had a motive. The plot thickens like a good gravy, and soon Kinsey is the one in danger - as usual. Throw in an ex-stripper wife, an ex-wife, a new landlord for Kinsey and a few other assorted characters and one gets the usual ripping good tale... and a couple twists in the plot, just to keep one on one's toes.

Answer: Battle of Philippi

The Battle of Philippi was also known as the Battle of Philippi Races. Philippi is now in West Virginia but was then part of Virginia. General Thomas Morris (Union) was dispatched to win back land needed to make sure the railway line, a Union supply line, could run. He split his command into two forces, to attack from both sides. On 3 June 1861 both forces descended on the somewhat green Confederate troops at Phillipi - and the fracas started prematurely when a shot was fired by a bystander. The Rebel troops, mostly still in their bedclothes and in their tents, took off running for safety, which caused newspapers to refer to it as the "Philippi Races".

The Battle of Port Walthall Junction was fought on 6-7 May 1864 as part of the Virginia Bermuda Hundred Campaign. Union General Benjamin Butler wished to secure a railway depot; Confederate General Johnson Hagood had other ideas. Despite an early advantage, the Confederates lost the skirmish and the Union was able to secure the railway line.

Bermuda Hundred was, incidentally, the first incorporated town in the state of Virginia, prior to American independence.

The Battle of Proctor's Creek occurred a week later. General Butler was trying to get to Richmond. He'd lost the last couple of run-ins with the Confederates, due in part to the failure of gunboats to arrive in support of his troops. This time he came up against the troops of General P.G.T. Beauregard, but was pushed back to Bermuda Hundred.

On 9 April 1864 the Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, was fought between Union General Nathaniel Banks and Confederate General Richard Taylor. Part of the Red River Campaign, it was the largest battle west of the Mississippi River. Following the Union defeat at the Battle of Mansfield, Banks withdrew to Pleasant Hill. Initially Taylor pushed Banks' troops from Pleasant Hill, where the intent was that they would be chewed up by troops led by General Thomas Churchill, but Banks didn't fall for the trap. Instead, he circled around and hit Churchill's flank. While the Union troops won the skirmish, they lost their objective of taking Shreveport as they chose instead to withdraw from Louisiana.