Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In 1863, an American invented the web rotary printing press which would, in the end, cause his death. This press was a large improvement over the current presses and would auto-feed the paper, print both sides, and cut the newspapers. While making adjustments to one in Philadelphia, his leg was caught in the machine and crushed. Gangrene developed and he died during an operation to amputate his leg. Who was the inventor?
2. Aviation history was shaped by a German engineer who published "Birdflight as the Basis of Aviation" in 1889. He created and tested many gliders proving that heavier-than-air flight was possible. However, during his last trial, the glider stalled and he fell about 17m (56ft) and broke his spine. He died the following day. Can you identify the inventor?
3. This creative gentleman was fascinated with gadgets, and built the "Essex House of Wonders". He was also a merchant, and when two of his ships ran aground on the rocks and sank, he built the first lighthouse on the Eddystone Rocks. He wished that he might be at the lighthouse "during the greatest storm there ever was", and in 1703, he was staying at the lighthouse when the "Great Storm" washed the lighthouse from the rocks. Who was this merchant?
4. A stuntman from Ontario, Canada, this gentleman successfully went through the Niagara Whirlpool Rapids in 1977. Then, in 1984, he went down the Horseshoe Falls in a specially designed barrel which had the slogan "It's not whether you fail or triumph, it's that you keep your word ...and at least try!" His success prompted another daredevil drop from 55m (180ft) at the Houston Astrodome, but it went awry, causing his death the following day. Which daredevil does this describe?
5. This Irish gentleman died on April 15, 1912, when the RMS Titanic went down. He worked at Harland and Wolff and was one of the architects responsible for the design for the ship. As a part of the job, the team sailed on the maiden voyage to identify any issues and improve the design for the next ship to be built. Which Harland and Wolff employee was this?
6. A Russian revolutionary, this gentleman experimented with blood transfusions, attempting to rejuvenate himself. He believed that they improved his eyesight and suspended his balding. However, the blood used for twelfth transfusion was infected with malaria and tuberculosis and caused his subsequent death. Who was this revolutionary?
7. The submarines he built for the Confederacy kept sinking. In 1863, the ship named in his honor sank and this inventor and crew were lost. However, it was recovered in 1864 from Charleston Harbor and became the first submarine to sink an enemy vessel when it sank the USS Housatonic. Which gentleman was responsible for building this historic submarine?
8. This Austrian-born French tailor was so sure of his parachute design that he notified all the newspapers and press of his trial experiment from the first deck of the Eiffel Tower. He had gained permission to test his device by telling authorities that he would be using a dummy, but alas, he did not. Can you identify this tailor?
9. This American chemist won several awards for his development of tetra-ethyl lead (TEL) additive to gasoline and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). He became ill from polio and lost most mobility. To aid his caretakers, he devised a pulley system to lift him from the bed. His demise occurred when he became entangled in the ropes and was strangled. Who was this chemist?
10. A chief engineer at Leyland Motors, and assistant Reid Railton, designed the Leyland Eight motorcar to compete with Rolls-Royce. He later gave up that career and started motor-racing full-time. Who died trying to set a land speed record in the specially designed "Babs"?
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Snowman before going online.
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