On This Day VIII Trivia Quiz

Answer: France

The marriage was the end of the Royal scandal that rocked the British Empire, after Edward and Mrs. Simpson had met in 1931. His relationship with her caused a major rift in the Royal family and outraged the Church of England hierarchy.

Mrs. Simpson had divorced in October 1936 and in November Edward, realising that he might have to choose between his crown and the woman he loved, told Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin that if he could not marry her and remain king, he was 'prepared to go'.

A possible solution was suggested that would have been constitutionally acceptable, the couple could marry but Mrs. Simpson would not be given Royal status. Given time, the idea might have won popular support had the story not become headline news in the British press soon afterwards, forcing an instant decision. A week later Edward abdicated.

Answer: Michael Fagan

Fagin was found sitting on the end of the Queen's bed in the mid morning. The 30 year old intruder sat chatting amicably with the Queen, who in turn remained calm throughout the ordeal.

When Fagin asked for a cigarette, the Queen used the pretext of calling for some to summon help. She was left unharmed by the incident and was praised for her clear headed response to what potentially was an extremely dangerous situation. Fagin was charged with trespass and theft of the wine.

Answer: China

A British frigate outmaneuvered a fleet of Chinese junks and delivered two broadsides. The huge quantities of Opium shipped to China from British Bengal earned vital revenues for Britain and ruined China's economy.

Earlier in 1839, the Emperor's commissioner, Lin Ze-Su, blocked the British and American merchants' warehouses in Canton, forcing them under siege to surrender 20,000 chests of the drug, which he then destroyed in quick lime pits, to great public acclaim.

Answer: 30

Britain's suffragettes won their battle to give all women over the age of 21 the vote. The House of Commons voted in favour of the Equal Franchise Bill, amending earlier legislation that had enfranchised only women over 30.

Answer: Iranian

As millions watched live on TV, commandos of the Special Air Services (SAS) stormed the Iranian Embassy in London's fashionable Knightsbridge, breaking a six day siege. The gang was demanding the release of political prisoners in Iran.

The commandos attacked without hesitation after the terrorists started to shoot hostages. The commandos killed four of the five gunmen and freed 19 surviving hostages. The Embassy building was gutted.

Answer: Pony Express

Fifty riders were required to relay the system which involved each horseman riding between 10 to 15 miles on each of his three mounts. There were more than 150 staging posts along the route from St Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento.

The maiden run took a total of 10 days to complete, half the time taken by the Overland Mail Company by stage coach. It was possible to cross from east to west even faster; President Lincoln's inaugural address was taken across America in 7 days and 17 hours.

The operators of the service, Russell, Majors and Waddell, were hoping on the financial success of the business, with a lucrative government contract to follow.

Answer: David Lloyd George

Ireland's 26 southern states were granted independence from Britain, becoming the Irish Free State. Six of the eight counties of Ulster in the north remained part of the UK, splitting the country in two. The agreement was signed in Downing Street following negotiations between David Lloyd George's team and the rebel Irish nationalist leaders.

A special council was set up to discuss the eventual reunification. Both sides preferred there to be a single Irish parliament in Dublin, but Ulster's Protestant leaders refused to bow to the Catholic south.

Answer: Tuberculosis

Chopin died in Paris, with tuberculosis ending the life of the virtuoso pianist.
The half-French, half-Polish Chopin was an infant prodigy, at seven writing a march that the Grand Duke Constantine had scored for his military band to play on parade, and a year later making his first public appearance as a soloist.

In 1831 he moved to Paris where he quickly established himself as a fashionable recitalist and teacher able to command high fees. The nervous strain of performing, however, did not help his already weak constitution. Chopin was calm at the end, and asked only that his unfinished manuscripts be destroyed and that Mozart's 'Requiem' be sung at his funeral, which was held a fortnight later.

Answer: Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc stood as the highest peak in Europe outside of the Caucasus.

In 1761 a scientist named Horace Benedict de Saussure offered prize money for the first ascent of this glory in the alpine chain. The prize was claimed by a local man, Doctor Michel Gabriel Paccard of Chamonix, who completed the climb with his porter, Jacques Balmat.

Answer: Sixth

As promised, Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, and hammered Sonny Liston into the canvas at Miami Beach, Florida, in one of the biggest ever boxing surprises.

NB

A few FT members have pointed out correctly that Liston refused to leave his corner at the START of the seventh round. The confusion here reads about my sources. Some sources say it was a sixth round stoppage as Liston did not leave his stool, some say seventh.
However, i shall stick to the sources i have used and remain with a sixth round stoppage as the clcok did not start to begin the seventh round.

After six rounds an injured and humbled Liston, the 7-1 favourite, refused to come out of his corner, and world champion 'loudmouth' Clay was now the heavyweight champion of the world.