Fire in Their Souls Trivia Quiz

Answer: Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in 1869, headed the push for Indian nationalism at a time when that country was still governed by the British. This goal was achieved in 1947 and Gandhi has gone down in history as the "Father" of that nation as a result. The methods he is believed to have used to achieve this goal included the use of non-violent civil disobedience, which in turn inspired similar movements right throughout the world. Great myths about the life of Gandhi have sprung up over time since his death.

These are not altogether true as deeper reading reveals. That he was a great and inspiring figure cannot be denied, but he was very far from perfect. Myths are a dangerous thing. They tend to lead to disillusionment. It is better, in the long run, to leave the warts just where they are. Gandhi was assassinated in 1948.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) was President of the United States of America from 1981 until 1989. Born in Illinois, he graduated from college with a degree in sociology and economics, but began his career, oddly enough, as a radio announcer and (not very good) actor instead. The silver screen's loss was America's political life's gain in that regard. Wildly popular as a President, and during his time as leader of the most powerful country in the world, he initiated many economic reforms, survived an attempt on his life, reduced taxes, took the unions and the drug lords on headlong, invaded Grenada, ended the Cold War with the USSR, ordered a retaliatory bombing on Libya, and supported anti-communist movements throughout the world. In other words, he was a yo-yo, thoroughly likeable and approachable as a man and leader, but capable of incredibly tough and hard-hitting decisions when the string was tightening and springing back into place.

It seemed so sad that this fine leader, who was loved by many, who headed such a powerful nation, yet looked like a "fat little Dutchman" as a child (even though he was of Irish, English and Scots descent), who openly confessed a love of jelly beans while President, and who somehow made the world seem a safer place at a time when it was anything but that, should face the tragic undignified death he suffered from Alzheimer's Disease. On announcing the news of his diagnosis to the world, Ronald Reagan stated that "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you". When he finally passed away on 5th June, 2004, his tombstone was engraved with the words from one of his own speeches whilst President of the USA: "I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph and that there is purpose and worth to each and every life." Such indeed was this fine man's own life.

Answer: His cat

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was one of the finest leaders Great Britain has ever known, and Prime Minister of that country from 1940 until 1945, and again from 1951 until 1955. During the darkest days of that terrible war, when England was up against the ropes, his was the inspirational voice that gave renewed hope and courage to his country's people.

On a more personal level, Churchill was known to be extremely fond of his cats. He was caught out on more than one occasion having solemn, one-sided conversations with the little moggies about the state of the nation as he pondered the many decisions facing him on a daily basis. On this particular occasion, Churchill was speaking on the telephone to the Lord Chancellor of the country, when his cat, Mickey, began a frisky game with the telephone cord. Completely distracted, it was to Mickey, and not the rather insulted Lord Chancellor on the other end of the line, that Churchill bellowed the above words.

Answer: His hat

After the various independent states of Australia combined to form the one nation of Australia in 1901, there was no accompanying federal police service set up for this purpose. Instead, the individual states were utilised for Commonwealth matters as required. Billy Hughes, known as "The Little Digger" was born in 1862 and died in 1952. He was Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 until 1923, and considered to be one of the feistiest little fellows to ever take up the leadership of this country. Towards the close of World War One (1914-1918), in which Australia suffered massive army casualties, Billy (who supported the British efforts during the war), at the urging of the army, was persuaded to bring in conscription to help maintain Australia's war contribution. This was one of the most divisive decisions to ever hit this country and long and bitter were the arguments for and against it.

On 29th November, 1917, Mr Hughes was addressing a public rally at the town of Warwick on this issue. As the debate hotted up, an egg was hurled at the Prime Minister and knocked his hat clean off his head. Enraged, Billy demanded the egg-thrower be arrested, but when the local police officer initially refused to do so, he left the lovely little town of Warwick, vowing revenge. By December that same year, he had set up the Commonwealth Police Force as a result. As I was born and bred in that beautiful little town, I sincerely hope that egg-thrower wasn't my equally feisty Irish great-grandfather. It would have been a waste of a perfectly good egg.

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher. What a character. Britain's first female Prime Minister was born in 1925 and died in 2013. Not only was she the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, she was also its longest serving one up until that time. Her life at the top was filled with the highest of peaks and the lowest of troughs.

She dealt with problems with clarity, a touch of ruthlessness, strong political acumen and an uncompromising attitude which saw her endowed with the nickname of "The Iron Lady". Far from being insulted by this, she saw it as a tribute to her leadership skills.

The above quote is indicative of her determination. People either loved or hated this strong woman. Margaret Thatcher served her country in the best way she thought fit, so it really depends on which side of the political divide one sits as to whether this remarkable woman will be ultimately remembered as a hero or a villain.

The issue of her gender should be incidental to her achievements or her failures as a leader of a mighty nation.

Answer: Cricket

Mr Howard of course was referring to the Ashes international cricket match between the nations of Australia and Great Britain, an ongoing battle between the two countries that has been running for well over one hundred years. The origin of the term began in 1882 after a defeat of the English team by the victorious Australians. An obituary appeared shortly after in a leading sporting newspaper that announced the death of English cricket, and that the "body would be cremated and taken to Australia". The contents of the bitterly contested urn fought over ever since contain the ashes of a wooden cricket bail. It's all good fun of course.

John Howard (born 1939) and a keen cricket fan from way back, was Liberal Party Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 until 2007. During his leadership of this country, Australia experienced strong growth and economic prosperity. Since his retirement from politics, this great leader has received so many awards and honours, for his work on the international stage towards world peace and democracy, that they cannot be listed here.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who was born in 1809, was assassinated in 1865. Highlights of his presidency included maintaining the Union through during the tragic American Civil War (1861-65), the abolition of slavery, and setting the US on the path to a strong and improved economy. Always and ever, he put the interests of the Union above all else.

His sense of responsibility towards this mighty nation even took precedence over the terrible issue of slavery. This dreadful struggle between his sense of responsibility as President, and his personal beliefs, is revealed in his following remarks about that war: "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union ...I have here stated my purpose according to *my view of official duty*; and I intend no modification of *my oft-expressed personal wish* that all men everywhere could be free".

Answer: Tony Abbott

Mr Abbott became Australia's 28th Prime Minister in September that same year. In the lead up to this election however, while leading the opposition Liberal Party, and with the then leader, Julia Gillard, at the helm of the Labor Party currently in power, both parties used every tactic under the sun to discredit the other. Tony Abbott (born 1957) came under attack from Labor as being a chronic chauvinist, a sexist anti-feminist who would immediately toss all women out of parliament, and many similar accusations all along the same line, none of which had any relationship to the problems besetting the country at the time.

They were basically political red herrings designed to distract voters from the real issues on hand. The bemused Abbott, who had a female deputy, three sisters, was happily married to an articulate, well-spoken woman, and had three adult daughters, answered all these accusations with the comical response that "I wouldn't be game to even think of those things".

Answer: President Cleveland

God decided that women shouldn't be allowed to vote? And this from a Democrat at that. However these were different times with different values, so, beyond giving us a political chuckle or two, it would be foolish to judge that comment based on the values of today. Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) was President of the United States on two separate occasions, from 1885 until 1889 and again from 1893 until 1897.

His terms, unusually so, were non-consecutive, and he is thus known as the 22nd and the 24th President of the States.

He was a man known far and wide for his honesty, forthright manner of speaking and integrity. In this regard he relentlessly fought corruption whenever he encountered it. Early in his career, while sheriff of Erie county, and though personally against hanging as a punishment, he grimly carried out the task of executing two murderers himself.

The idea of asking another human being to carry out this grisly task was abhorrent to him. The life of this complex, upright and contradictory president makes fascinating reading.

Answer: Robert Walpole

Robert Walpole (1676-1745) was Prime Minister under the reigns of George I and George II, in the 18th century. He was first elected to Parliament in 1701, and is generally looked upon as the first Prime Minister of that nation. That term wasn't known at the time and it would be some time before it came into official use. Until then Walpole was looked upon as the sole leader of the cabinet. The son of wealthy parents, he was well educated at Eton and Cambridge, and planned initially to become a clergyman. Thankfully, for the reputation of the church, his career took him along a different path, because Mr Walpole was a bit of a naughty man altogether. He was excessively fond of dirty jokes, for example, and kept a mistress as well as a wife, eventually marrying the former when the latter died. Incidentally, the illegitimate daughter of that illicit romance eventually married the illegitimate son of General Churchill and became housekeeper at Windsor Castle.

Walpole was involved in several shady deals during his career, one of which saw him spending six months in prison. He was accused of "notorious corruption" oh more than one occasion as well. However he managed to get himself re-elected to parliament, working his way up through the ranks to the highest political position in the land. This of course was not the sedate parliament we would recognise today. It was a cut and thrust affair with hearty head kicking along the way. Still, it was a start to a long line of more or less illustrious leaders.

Because of his friendship with the Hanoverian rulers, and the honours that were bestowed on him accordingly, Walpole was nicknamed, among his many nicknames, as "Sir Bluestring". And on it went. Considered an ideal leader by many, Walpole's personal reputation continued to leave much to be desired. One leading socialite of the time, Lady Montagu, was wont to describe this momentous historical figure as wishing to remove the "not" from the Ten Commandments, and another leading figure of the times would describe Walpole as being coarse, inelegant, morally loose, and a man who "laughed and ridiculed all notions of public virtue". Yet this was a man who also collected exquisite objects of art and paintings and had one of the most lovely gardens in England. How absolutely fascinating a character! History is so completely interesting when the light and shade is left in, don't you agree?