Special Sub-Topic: Cambridge University Click Here To Play: Cambridge University

Cambridge University was set up by scholars in 1209 who fled the hostile townspeople of which English city?

Oxford. As far back as 1200, Cambridge was known to have a school of some description. By 1226 there was an organisation led by a Chancellor which undertook regular studies.

Which of the following subjects did these early scholars of Cambridge NOT study?

Geography. They studied a wide range of subjects in this 'foundation course' and went on to get a bachelor's degree.

Which is the oldest college of the university?

Peterhouse. It was founded in 1284 by the Bishop of Ely, Hugh Balsham. Pembroke was founded in 1347, King's in 1441 and Trinity in 1546.

Which famous poet began studies at Christ's college in 1625 under the tutor William Chappell?

John Milton. He entered Christ's in February 1625 and studied there until 1632. His friend at Cambridge, Edward King, was the subject of one of Milton's more famous works, 'Lycidas'. His brother Christopher Milton also studied at Christ's, starting in 1631.

He arrived at Cambridge in 1661 and became a fellow of Trinity College in 1667. He also held the position of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in 1669. Who was he?

Sir Isaac Newton. Newton, in my opinion, was a scientific genius. His work on gravity, the reflecting telescope and the Laws of Motion amongst others show his mathematical and experimental insight.

Who retired from the post of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics in 2009?

Stephen Hawking. Probably the world's most recognisable figure in maths and theoretical physics, Hawking joined Cambridge as a fellow of Gonville and Cauis college.

John Harvard entered Cambridge by studying at which college in 1627?

Emmanuel. John Harvard studied in Cambridge before emigrating to America. In 1638 he became the first benefactor of the oldest college in the USA and now takes his name; Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Richard Bentley (later to become the Regius professor of Divinity at Cambridge) in 1711 completed his famous edition of the works of which Latin poet?

Horace & horace. Richard Bently (1662-1742) was Chaplain to the Bishop of Worcester (1689-99), Keeper of the Royal Library, Master of Trinity College 1700-38 and a brilliant classicist.

Which of these poets studied at Trinity College?

Lord Byron. Lord Byron began his studies at Trinity College in 1805, Wordsworth attended St John's and S.T.Coleridge went to Jesus College.

In 1906, J.J. Thomson collected his Nobel prize for which subject?

Physics. J.J. Thomson discovered the electron in 1897, which led the way to modern electronics, and received the Nobel prize for Physics in 1906 for his studies into the conduction of electricity by gases.

Who won the first 'Oxford and Cambridge' boat race in 1829?

Oxford & oxford.

In Cambridge University there are currently three colleges that don't accept men. Out of the four colleges listed below, which college does accept men?

Girton. In fact, Girton was the first residential Cambridge college for women, but became mixed in 1977.

Cambridge University has a very diverse student body and so has many different societies to cater for their needs. Which of the following is NOT an official Cambridge University society?

Cambridge University Funk Society. There are some very strange societies out there!

Approximately how many volumes does the Cambridge University Library (including its four dependent libraries) house?

7 million. The University Library is one of six legal deposit libraries in the UK and Ireland and is therefore entitled to a free copy of every book, journal, printed map and sheet music published in the UK.

And finally, which of the following people has not been a member of Footlights, the Cambridge University Comedy Society?

Lee Evans. Many of the Footlights committee have made it big. These include Clive James, Bill Oddie, Douglas Adams, Gryf Rhys Jones, Rory McGrath, Sandi Toksvig, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and most of the cast of Monty Python, to name but a few!

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