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The Life of Robert Walpole Trivia Quiz

Robert Walpole is regarded by historians as the first Prime Minister of Britain though the title was never used during his lifetime. Here are ten questions about his life.

A multiple-choice quiz by shyhelen. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
shyhelen

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
249,392

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
223

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When was Robert Walpole born? Hint

26 August 1666

26 August 1686

26 August 1676

26 August 1696

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Question 2 of 10

2. Where did Walpole go to school? Hint

Houghton Grammar

Harrow

Eton

Rugby

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Question 3 of 10

3. What occupation did Walpole originally plan to follow? Hint

Soldier

Clergyman

Lawyer

Scholar

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which political party was Walpole aligned to? Hint

Tory

Whig

Radical

Liberal

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1712, Walpole was imprisoned in the Tower of London. What was his offence? Hint

Accepting illegal payments when he was Secretary of War.

Sexual misconduct

Slandering the Monarch

Bribing electors

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the name of his first wife, who he married in 1700? Hint

Catherine Short

Maria Skerritt

Catherine Shorter

Margaret Roberts

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these was a nickname of Walpole? Hint

Old Beergut

The Greatest

Wailing Walpole

Sir Blustering

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Question 8 of 10

8. Robert Walpole never lived at 10 Downing Street.

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. After resigning in 1742, and being elevated to the House of Lords, what title did Walpole take? Hint

Earl of Oxford

Earl of Orford

Earl of Houghton

Earl of Eton

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Question 10 of 10

10. Lastly when did Robert Walpole die? Hint

18 March 1775

18 March 1755

18 March 1745

18 March 1765

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When was Robert Walpole born?

Answer: 26 August 1676

He was born at Houghton Hall, Norfolk, the third of seventeen children of Robert Walpole and Mary Walpole (nee Burwell).

2. Where did Walpole go to school?

Answer: Eton

The first of many Prime Ministers who attended that famous school.

3. What occupation did Walpole originally plan to follow?

Answer: Clergyman

After the death of his elder brother Edward, he became the heir to his father's estate and so gave up the idea of entering the Church.

4. Which political party was Walpole aligned to?

Answer: Whig

His father had also been a Whig politican.

5. In 1712, Walpole was imprisoned in the Tower of London. What was his offence?

Answer: Accepting illegal payments when he was Secretary of War.

This was mostly an attempt by the ruling Tories to ruin his career but it backfired as it was believed by many people that he had an unfair trial.

6. What was the name of his first wife, who he married in 1700?

Answer: Catherine Shorter

The marriage was later to prove unhappy but they did have five children, three sons and two daughters. Maria Skerritt was his second wife.

7. Which of these was a nickname of Walpole?

Answer: Sir Blustering

He may have had enjoyed brewing beer but he was not known as Old Beergut. Other interests were collecting paintings and hunting.

8. Robert Walpole never lived at 10 Downing Street.

Answer: False

It was a gift of George II and Walpole moved there in 1735.

9. After resigning in 1742, and being elevated to the House of Lords, what title did Walpole take?

Answer: Earl of Orford

The Earl of Oxford was the title of Robert Harley one of Walpole's bitterest enemies.
The Orford title became extinct in 1797 on the death of Robert Walpole's son Horace, the writer.

10. Lastly when did Robert Walpole die?

Answer: 18 March 1745

Robert Walpole died in London and was buried in Houghton, Norfolk.

Source: Author shyhelen

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