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Famous New Yorkers Trivia Quiz

Many people contributed the greatness of New York and the world. In this quiz, you will be asked to identify some of the more famous Gothamites.

A multiple-choice quiz by rocco6557. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
rocco6557

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
250,940

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2133

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (10/10), Guest 65 (7/10), Guest 104 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Arguably the most important New Yorker of the 19th Century, this man was responsible for the development of the street grid plan of the city, as well as the creation of the Erie Canal. What is this famous New Yorker's name? Hint

Alexander Hamilton

Martin Van Buren

Aaron Burr

DeWitt Clinton

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Question 2 of 10

2. This future president of the United States watched Abraham Lincoln's funeral cortege pass beneath the window of his bedroom. Who was it? Hint

Theodore Roosevelt

Martin Van Buren

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Millard Fillmore

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Question 3 of 10

3. This man was at one time Fiorello LaGuardia's right-hand man. Later, he would become a thorn in LaGuardia's (and many others') sides. Who is this man? Hint

Al Smith

Franklin Roosevelt

Robert Moses

Walter Winchell

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Question 4 of 10

4. Although New Jersey born, this writer/wit made New York her home. Who is this famous author and member of the Algonquin Round Table who once said, "I don't care what is written about me so long as it isn't true."
Hint

Dorothy Parker

Edna Ferber

Edith Wharton

Pearl Buck

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Question 5 of 10

5. Not all New Yorkers were famous for doing good things. This person, for example, bilked the city's treasury of millions of dollars during the Civil War era, and became the emblem of corrupt politics. Who was this one time member of the New York Senate and boss of Tammany Hall? Hint

William M. Tweed

Jay Gould

A. Oakley Hall

Cornelius Vanderbilt

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Question 6 of 10

6. One of the most famous New Yorkers of the 20th century was Shirley Chisholm. What did she do to make her so famous? Hint

She was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus

She was the first African-American to make a bid for the Presidency

All of these

She was the first African-American woman elected to Congress

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Question 7 of 10

7. When one thinks of 19th century America, the Wild Wild West always comes to mind. But one icon of the Wild Wild West was born in New York. Which of these legends was born on Manhattan island? Hint

Jesse James

Billy the Kid

Wyatt Earp

Bat Masterson

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Question 8 of 10

8. Born Emanuel Goldenberg, this actor was raised on the lower East Side, and went on to play a lot of tough guys in Hollywood films. By what name is Emanuel Goldenberg better known? Hint

Edward G. Robinson

James Cagney

Humphrey Bogart

George Raft

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Question 9 of 10

9. Although born in Boston, this woman became a powerful figure in New York politics and then U.S. politics. In 1926, she was appointed chairperson of the New York State Industrial Commission. In 1933, FDR appointed her Secretary of Labor, making her the first female cabinet member. Who is she? Hint

Bella Abzug

Margaret Sanger

Eleanor Roosevelt

Frances Perkins

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Question 10 of 10

10. Our last great New Yorker was one of its greatest governors and a favorite of the working class. In 1928, he became the first Irish-Catholic to win a major-party presidential nomination. Although he lost the election, he became the president of Empire State, Inc., the corporation which built and operated the Empire State Building. Who is this man? Hint

Alfred "Al" Smith

Thomas Dewey

James Walker

Robert Wagner

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 15 2024 : Guest 136: 10/10
Dec 13 2024 : Guest 65: 7/10
Nov 24 2024 : Guest 104: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: DeWitt Clinton

Clinton's heroics didn't end there. He also pushed for free education for the poor.

2. This future president of the United States watched Abraham Lincoln's funeral cortege pass beneath the window of his bedroom. Who was it?

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt often recollected that sad day in his writings. In fact, there is a photo of Lincoln's procession passing by his birthplace. Children are perched at an upper floor window, and one of the children is, reputedly, Teddy!

3. This man was at one time Fiorello LaGuardia's right-hand man. Later, he would become a thorn in LaGuardia's (and many others') sides. Who is this man?

Answer: Robert Moses

Moses was a valuable asset to LaGuardia during the Depression, as he paved the way, literally, for the traffic and parks needs of the city. But as he accumulated more power to himself, Moses became--in his own mind--the real leader of the city. By LaGuardia's last years, the two had taken to cursing each other in public.

Answer: Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker, along with several other cultural critics and writers, formed The Algonquin Roundtable, at the Algonquin Hotel. One of her most famous comments was, "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think!"

Answer: William M. Tweed

The "Tweed" Courthouse is the most renowned example of his corruption: one plasterer was paid over $100,000 in kickbacks. However, Tweed was caught, and he died in a jail he once had built.

6. One of the most famous New Yorkers of the 20th century was Shirley Chisholm. What did she do to make her so famous?

Answer: All of these

Shirley Chisholm was an indefatigable fighter for the working and middle classes. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993.

7. When one thinks of 19th century America, the Wild Wild West always comes to mind. But one icon of the Wild Wild West was born in New York. Which of these legends was born on Manhattan island?

Answer: Billy the Kid

Billy the Kid's real name was Henry McCarty, and he was born in a tenement on Allen Street on the lower East Side.

8. Born Emanuel Goldenberg, this actor was raised on the lower East Side, and went on to play a lot of tough guys in Hollywood films. By what name is Emanuel Goldenberg better known?

Answer: Edward G. Robinson

Robinson was born in Romania, but his family moved to New York when he was a boy. The "G." in Edward G. Robinson stands for Goldenberg.

Answer: Frances Perkins

As a young woman, Frances Perkins was an eyewitness to the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. It's little wonder, then, that she would champion industrial safety laws, a minimum wage, and the New Deal.

Answer: Alfred "Al" Smith

There are many buildings, schools, and parks named after Al Smith, who was also famous for saying, "All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy."

Source: Author rocco6557

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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