Odd Facts About British Prime Ministers Quiz

Answer: Sir Alec Douglas-Home

As the then Lord Dunglass he played for Middlesex (1924-25), and toured South America with the MCC (1926-27). He became Prime Minister when Harold MacMillian retired.

Answer: William Gladstone

William Gladstone's character was that of reforming preacher, so the Queen much preferred the more subtle charms of his then rival Disraeli.

Answer: The Duke of Wellington

It can be seen among the exhibits at the Wellington Museum.

Answer: Arthur Balfour

As foreign secretary in 1917, he issued the Balfour declaration, which eventually led to the foundation of Israel in 1948.

Answer: Clement Attlee

Churchill's animosity towards Attlee was in part, though not wholly, due to Attlee's victory in the first post war election, which saw Churchill reduced to sitting on the opposition benches.

Answer: Lord Rosebery

Archibald Philip Primrose Rosebery was the full name of Lord Rosebery. He once said he had three wishes for his life, to marry a rich wife, to win the Derby, and to become Prime Minister. He married the wealthiest woman in England, won the Derby three times, and he became Prime Minister. Three out of three, you can't beat that.

Answer: he foresaw his murder

John Williams was a Cornishman who had a dream where he saw the Prime Minister's murder. This is on record for he told many other people, he wanted to contact Spencer Perceval, but was talked out of doing so, when news reached Cornwall of the event he was devastated.

Answer: Anthony Eden

There was wide spread protest over his actions, it soured relations between Britain and the US for some time, and it was also the direct cause of Anthony Eden's resignation.

Answer: Harold Macmillan

John Profumo was Minister of War when he had an affair with a working girl, who in turn was involved with a attaché from the Russian Embassy. All very messy at the time.

Answer: James Callaghan

The Winter of Discontent occured in 1979, it was a time when it seemed everyone was on strike, rubbish piling up in the streets, people unable to bury their dead, at the next election the Conservatives won with a landslide, and the era of Margaret Thatcher began.

Answer: Benjamin Disraeli

Benjamin Disraeli was one of the Queen's favourite politicians. When he died in 1880, she wrote to her private secretary saying that she was devastated and she couldn't stop crying.

Answer: William Pitt

William Pitt the elder was in office from 1757-56 and again from 1766 to 1768. William Pitt the younger was Prime Minister from 1783-1801 and again from 1804 to 1806.

Answer: calamity

Apparently, Disraeli said this when asked to define the difference between a misfortune and a calamity. These two adversaries were always crossing verbal swords. On one occasion, William Gladstone said, "Mr Disraeli, you will probably die by the hangman's noose or a vile disease," to which Benjamin Disraeli replied, "Sir, that depends whether I embrace you principles or your mistress." P.S: I have been told by Jeffa, another funtrivia player, that this quote is attributed to an exchange between the Earl of Sandwich and John Wilkes, but as it doesn't affect the score of anyone playing the quiz I've decided to leave it as it is, sometimes it's difficult to pin down a particular quote to the relevant person.

Answer: John Major

The attack was suspected to be the work of the IRA. No one was injured.

Answer: Edward Heath

There was no love lost between the two politicians and to be honest, it was an apt description.

Answer: The Welsh Wizard

He had the reputation as a wonderful orator, especially on Welsh matters.

Answer: Earl Grey

How odd that the only Prime Minister to have a tea named after him should lose the monopoly on tea. Earl Grey tea is flavoured with bergamot.

Answer: Henry Campbell-Bannerman

The future Prime Ministers were Herbert Asquith, David Lloyd-George, and Winston Churchill.

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

This happened when Margaret Thatcher began her campaign to privatise previously nationalised industries, such as water, gas, and electricity. Her critic was a previous conservative Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan.

Answer: Lord Palmerston

Lord Palmeston called an election in 1865. He won with a good majority, but died in October of the same year after catching a chill. He was given a state funeral in Westminster Abbey.