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U.K. People: Famous & Historical Trivia

U.K. People: Famous & Historical Trivia Quizzes

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137 quizzes and 1,918 trivia questions.
Sub-Categories:
England England (60 quizzes)
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland (1)
Scotland Scotland (17)
Wales Wales (8)
1.
  Match The Clues To The Person   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
From the clues given, just match the person to whom it relates.
Easier, 10 Qns, Lord_Digby, Nov 27 23
Easier
Lord_Digby gold member
Nov 27 23
483 plays
2.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 10   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the tenth and final part of my series of quizzes based on a public survey undertaken by the BBC in 2002 to find the 100 greatest Britons of all time. Unsurprisingly, the quiz covers places 10-1, working in reverse order.
Easier, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Jan 21 09
Easier
Supersal1
6846 plays
3.
  Paddling the River Cam   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The River Cam flows through Cambridge, England. These people are associated with the city, whether they paddled there or not.
Easier, 10 Qns, dellastreet, Apr 16 23
Easier
dellastreet gold member
Apr 16 23
195 plays
4.
The British Invasion in History
  The British Invasion in History   popular trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
Many people from Britain have become famous or infamous throughout history. Here, ten of them are presented. Enjoy!
Easier, 10 Qns, DeepHistory, Jul 14 15
Easier
DeepHistory gold member
1502 plays
5.
  Match the UK People   top quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
I'll give you some brief details about the accomplishments of various British people. All you need to do is match the achievements to the name.
Easier, 10 Qns, rossian, Jan 13 19
Easier
rossian editor
Jan 13 19
2111 plays
6.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 2   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the second in my series of quizzes inspired by the BBC public vote to find the 100 greatest Britons of all time. This quiz covers 90-81, in reverse order.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Dec 28 08
Average
Supersal1
3599 plays
7.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 9   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the ninth of a series of quizzes based on the results of a public vote undertaken by the BBC in 2002. Working in reverse order, this quiz will cover numbers 20-11.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Jan 09 09
Average
Supersal1
3949 plays
8.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 4   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here is the fourth in my series of quizzes inspired by the BBC public vote to find the 100 greatest Britons of all time. This quiz covers 70-61, in reverse order.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Aug 09 17
Average
Supersal1
Aug 09 17
3853 plays
9.
  Some Quintessential Brits!   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Some quintessential Brits for you to recognize - with some little hints to point you in the right direction!
Easier, 10 Qns, huw27, Sep 01 12
Easier
huw27
3044 plays
10.
  Oh My Lords   top quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
I'll give you a clue to a Lord of the Realm. All you need to do is match the Lord to the description. The people are, naturally, all British but should be reasonably well known.
Easier, 10 Qns, rossian, Dec 07 17
Easier
rossian editor
Dec 07 17
654 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What was the name of the Boleyn brother?

From Quiz "The Boleyns of Tudor England"




11.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 3   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here is the third in my series of quizzes inspired by the BBC public vote to find the 100 greatest Britons of all time. This quiz covers 80-71, in reverse order.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Jul 25 09
Average
Supersal1
2958 plays
12.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 1   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the first of a series of quizzes based on the results of a public vote undertaken by the BBC in 2002. Working in reverse order, this quiz will cover numbers 100-91.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, May 04 18
Average
Supersal1
May 04 18
2977 plays
13.
  Zed People   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Or, if you're American, Zee People. Since the quiz is about the British, or people with British connections, Zed is probably more accurate. All the questions are about people with a 'z' in their names.
Easier, 10 Qns, rossian, Feb 10 15
Easier
rossian editor
840 plays
14.
  No Men Allowed!   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A recent author's challenge was "A Knight to Remember", which I used to look at British knights. I think it is only fair to include one about the "Dames". I'll give you the clues; from those clues you tell me who the Dame is.
Easier, 10 Qns, pmarney, Sep 02 13
Easier
pmarney gold member
1295 plays
15.
  Iconic British Females   popular trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
I'll give you the names of ten British women who made history in a particular area. All you need to do is match each of them to the field in which she excelled and for which she is most remembered.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Jun 21 16
Average
rossian editor
1145 plays
16.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 8   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the eighth of a series of quizzes based on the results of a public vote undertaken by the BBC in 2002. Working in reverse order, this quiz will cover numbers 30-21.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Dec 12 14
Average
Supersal1
2549 plays
17.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 5   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the fifth of a series of quizzes based on the results of a public vote undertaken by the BBC in 2002. Working in reverse order, this quiz will cover numbers 60-51.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Dec 28 08
Average
Supersal1
2928 plays
18.
  Born Where?   popular trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
All the people in this quiz are British, but none of them was born here. Can you match the person to their place (and year) of birth?
Easier, 10 Qns, rossian, Mar 26 20
Easier
rossian editor
Mar 26 20
397 plays
19.
  Water, Water Everywhere   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Samuel Taylor Coleridge may have provided the title, but he wouldn't fit in this quiz, which covers a range of British people whose names all have a watery connection.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Feb 15 14
Average
rossian editor
891 plays
20.
  A Knight to Remember   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
British honours can be confusing for some. This quiz will look for you to identify people from the clues given who have been honoured with a knighthood by the Queen. These people will be from sport, music, film and theatre.
Easier, 10 Qns, pmarney, Oct 28 21
Easier
pmarney gold member
Oct 28 21
1607 plays
21.
  The Boleyns of Tudor England   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
My favourite period in history was when the Tudors were on the throne. However this quiz is not about them. How much do you know about the Boleyn family?
Average, 10 Qns, shortstef, Oct 15 21
Average
shortstef
Oct 15 21
4339 plays
22.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 6   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here is the sixth in my series of quizzes inspired by the BBC public vote to find the 100 greatest Britons of all time. This quiz covers 50-41, in reverse order.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Dec 28 08
Average
Supersal1
2609 plays
23.
  Nine Dukes and One Drake   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Dukes are next in line to Kings. Some of them played a major role in English History. Yet let us remember there is not just Dukes that matter in the games of life, also a simple Drake can change the course of history.
Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Jan 02 18
Average
flem-ish
Jan 02 18
4093 plays
24.
  That Snow Leopard!   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
No leopards in this quiz, but the people in it all share their surnames with living creatures. It could be called 'That's No Leopard' or 'That's No Other Animal Either'.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Jan 17 13
Average
rossian editor
977 plays
25.
  10 UK Female Firsts   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
These women were pioneers in very different fields.
Average, 10 Qns, dellastreet, Jul 17 14
Average
dellastreet gold member
660 plays
26.
  Deride and Prejudice   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Many people have been given nicknames which are less than complimentary. This quiz is about some of them, and is specific to UK people, or those with an historical British connection.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Feb 11 10
Average
rossian editor
1140 plays
27.
  The Bells are Ringing   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
All the British people in this quiz share the surname of Bell, although little else. From all walks of life, how many of them will 'ring a bell' with you?
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Aug 09 15
Average
rossian editor
661 plays
28.
  Don't I Know You?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Having lived in several different parts of the UK, I thought it would be interesting to write a quiz about people I could have met in these places.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Sep 15 09
Average
rossian editor
1736 plays
29.
  100 Greatest Britons - Part 7   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the seventh of a series of quizzes based on the results of a public vote undertaken by the BBC in 2002. Working in reverse order, this quiz will cover numbers 40-31.
Average, 10 Qns, Supersal1, Oct 15 10
Average
Supersal1
2199 plays
30.
  Things Famous People Say   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
My last quiz featured mainly quotes made by US celebrities - this time the Brits get their turn!
Average, 10 Qns, BettyBlue, Dec 28 07
Average
BettyBlue
2542 plays
31.
  Odd Fellows    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Every nation has its share of irregulars with quirks and foibles, but when it comes to eccentricity, can anyone top the Brits? Here are ten unconventional characters.
Tough, 10 Qns, 480154st, Jul 14 21
Tough
480154st gold member
Jul 14 21
226 plays
32.
  On the Money - Figures on English Banknotes 2   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Since 1970 the Bank of England has issued banknotes featuring figures from British history. Can you answer questions on the figures from banknotes issued from 2000 onwards?
Average, 10 Qns, Red_John, Aug 22 18
Average
Red_John
Aug 22 18
186 plays
33.
  Made in Britain   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
British scientists have been responsible for some of the greatest inventions in history of man. This quiz will test your knowledge of some of these events.
Average, 10 Qns, romeomikegolf, Jul 18 13
Average
romeomikegolf gold member
1539 plays
34.
  Educated at Eton    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Eton College was founded by Henry VI in 1440 to provide free education for seventy poor boys who could then go on to King's College, Cambridge, which he founded a year later. Eton has educated some of the most famous men in British history.
Average, 10 Qns, topblue, Apr 15 14
Average
topblue
514 plays
35.
  Famous and Infamous Brits    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are some interesting, but less well-known British historical figures. See if you can identify them.
Average, 10 Qns, sooz888, Apr 25 13
Average
sooz888
1134 plays
36.
  No Sex Please, We're British    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Naughty Brits! How familiar are you with these British sex scandals?
Average, 10 Qns, ctownron, Oct 17 15
Average
ctownron
1569 plays
37.
  Great British Eccentrics Multiple Choice Quiz   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The UK has produced a massive crop of eccentrics in the last three hundred years. Which of these strange folk did what?
Tough, 10 Qns, spaceowl, Jan 07 13
Tough
spaceowl gold member
622 plays
38.
  On the Money - Figures on English Banknotes 1    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Since 1970, the Bank of England has issued banknotes featuring figures from British history. Can you answer questions on the figures from banknotes issued between 1970 and 1999?
Average, 10 Qns, Red_John, Aug 19 18
Average
Red_John
Aug 19 18
195 plays
39.
  Famous Earls and Marquesses    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
It may not be a very democratic idea to have Marquesses and Earls. Yet some of them really have caught the eye of the crowds, and became popular heroes. See which of these you can identify. Apart from number 10 they all are genuinely true blue British.
Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Jan 09 14
Average
flem-ish
2645 plays
40.
  A Mix Of British Celebrities    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Most of the 'names' this quiz deals with still survive in the collective memory of the British people.Some of them are even looked up to with great respect.The mix is from all periods of English history.
Difficult, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Sep 28 13
Difficult
flem-ish
3724 plays
41.
  Questions on Great British Eccentrics   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Britons have always been known for a degree of eccentricity. Some, however, have been more eccentric than others.
Difficult, 10 Qns, StarStruck60, Feb 12 14
Difficult
StarStruck60
831 plays
42.
  London in Quotations   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The British capital has been celebrated and execrated in prose, poetry and song for centuries. Can you answer a few questions about a cross-section of quotes?
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, TabbyTom, Nov 10 05
Very Difficult
TabbyTom gold member
1457 plays
43.
  Great British Eccentrics: Part 2    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Following on the success of Part 1, here are ten more weirds, bizarres and grotesques from the last four hundred years of British and Imperial history.
Tough, 10 Qns, spaceowl, Aug 03 12
Tough
spaceowl gold member
442 plays
44.
  Oxford in Quotations   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are just a few of the many quotations inspired by the city and university of Oxford.
Tough, 10 Qns, TabbyTom, Feb 11 05
Tough
TabbyTom gold member
477 plays
45.
  10 Questions on Famous Britons    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The following quotes are familiar to us all, but can you match them up to the famous Briton who first coined the phrase?
Average, 10 Qns, haricot, Sep 14 10
Average
haricot
641 plays
46.
  Executions in Britain    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the last executions in Britain, here is a quiz on executed criminals there.
Tough, 10 Qns, MadameGuvnor, Aug 17 14
Tough
MadameGuvnor
507 plays
47.
  British Scoundrels, Villains and Eccentrics    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Britain has had it share of rogues, scoundrels and eccentrics. My challenge to you is to identify the villain or eccentric from my clues.
Tough, 10 Qns, bracklaman, Jun 09 23
Tough
bracklaman
Jun 09 23
1196 plays
48.
  Dead and Buried in Sussex   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Inspired by a book of the same name by David Arscott, this quiz is about graves and life ending incidents in Sussex - a nice and cheerful subject.
Difficult, 10 Qns, paper_aero, Nov 23 08
Difficult
paper_aero gold member
332 plays
49.
  Questions on Famous Britons    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz on all aspects of famous Britons. All information is taken from the book of the same name, published by Pitkin.
Tough, 10 Qns, cmt101, Apr 25 13
Tough
cmt101
1105 plays
50.
  Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A short quiz on John of Gaunt and his notorious mistress, Katherine Swynford.
Tough, 10 Qns, Lucy_Christine, Aug 11 05
Tough
Lucy_Christine
1286 plays
51.
  British Poisoners    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about famous and not so famous British poisoners.
Tough, 10 Qns, davewright909, Jun 09 14
Tough
davewright909
1072 plays
Related Topics
  United Kingdom [Geography] (84 quizzes)


U.K. People: Famous & Historical Trivia Questions

1. This fellow had his chance to paddle the River Cam, but ended up thousands of miles away. Which graduate of Emmanuel College gave his name to a university in another Cambridge altogether?

From Quiz
Paddling the River Cam

Answer: John Harvard

John Harvard studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, between 1627 and 1635. He emigrated to New England in 1637, ministering to a congregation in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but died the following year, aged 30. Childless and having inherited money from a family severely reduced in size by the bubonic plague, he left half his fortune and his considerable library to a college proposed for Newtowne, Massachusetts. The town was renamed Cambridge, after the alma mater of many local ministers, and the college named Harvard after its major benefactor. He is represented in a stained glass window in the chapel of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

2. William John Cavendish Scott Bentick, the fifth Duke of Portland resided at Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire between 1854 and 1879, although he only actually used five rooms of the sprawling estate, all of which were painted which colour?

From Quiz Odd Fellows

Answer: Pink

Bentick is a great person to start an eccentricity quiz with, as some of his behaviour was quite bizarre. Not only did he only occupy just five rooms in this palatial house, he had all the fixtures and furnishings stripped from all rooms, apart from a commode in one corner of a room. Must have some comforts in life eh? He was also responsible for building an elaborate maze of underground tunnels and rooms below the abbey, including a 910 metre (1,000 yard) tunnel wide enough for several people to walk side by side which connected the main house and the riding house and a two kilometre (1.2 mile) long tunnel which connected with the coach house and was wide enough for two coaches to pass. Rooms underground included a library, a billiard room and a ballroom complete with a hydraulic lift big enough for 20 guests, but no balls were ever held in the ballroom. All of these underground rooms were of course painted pink also. The riding house, which at 121 metres (396 feet) long, 33 metres (108 feet) wide and 15 metres (50 feet) high was the second largest in the world, behind only one in Moscow, was never used for riding his horses and although Bentick employed many local people on his building projects, he refused to acknowledge or be acknowledged by them. All staff were instructed to ignore him at all times and there is an account of one employee, who out of respect raised his hat to the duke, only to be dismissed on the spot. There are many more tales about this wonderfully eccentric man, who really is worth checking out.

3. Five-pound note (issued 2002) - Elizabeth Fry is known for her pioneering work to improve the lives of the poor and socially disadvantaged. Which area is she best known for?

From Quiz On the Money - Figures on English Banknotes 2

Answer: Prison reform

Elizabeth Fry first visited Newgate Prison in 1813, finding the conditions for inmates deplorable. Although financial issues in her family prevented her from personally undertaking any work until 1816, she subsequently founded and funded a prison school at Newgate for children imprisoned with their mothers, as well as forming the Association for the Reformation of the Female Prisoners of Newgate, which intended to provide materials and teach skills to women prisoners that they could use to earn a living once released. In 1818, she gave evidence to a House of Commons committee on prison conditions, becoming the first woman to give evidence to Parliament. The five-pound note issued in 2002 was the first to feature a woman as the historical figure since the ten-pound note of 1975 featuring Florence Nightingale. It remained in circulation for nearly 15 years, finally being withdrawn in 2017.

4. One-pound note (issued 1978) - In 1669, Sir Isaac Newton was appointed as the Lucasian Professor at Cambridge University, but which subject does the Lucasian Professor teach?

From Quiz On the Money - Figures on English Banknotes 1

Answer: Mathematics

The Lucasian Professorship was founded in 1663 by Henry Lucas, the former MP for Cambridge University, who left his collection of 4,000 books and a bequest of £100 a year to found a professorship of mathematics. Subsequent holders of the position following Newton include Charles Babbage and Stephen Hawking. The one-pound note issued in 1978 featuring Newton was the last one-pound note issued by the Bank of England. It was replaced by a one-pound coin in 1983, and removed from circulation in 1988.

5. Andy Bell was the partner of Vince Clarke in which musical duo?

From Quiz The Bells are Ringing

Answer: Erasure

Vince Clarke, a keyboard expert, had already established a successful music career with the band Depeche Mode and in Yazoo, with Alison Moyet as his partner. By 1985, he needed a new singer and chose Andy Bell from those who responded to his advertisement. Under the name of Erasure, the pair had their first UK hit in 1986 with their fourth single - 'Sometimes'. They followed this up with several other top ten entries, including 'A Little Respect' in 1988 and 'Blue Savannah' in 1990. The duo are still working together in the twenty-first century, with their most recent album at the time of writing this quiz being 'The Violet Flame' released in 2014.

6. Zac Purchase has represented Britain, sometimes alone and at other times with a partner, in which outdoor sport?

From Quiz Zed People

Answer: Rowing

Zachary Jake Nicholas Purchase, to give him his full name, has had much success as a rower, specifically in sculling. This means that a single rower controls oars on both sides of the boat. In partnership with Mark Hunter, Purchase won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 but the pair had to settle for silver four years later, when the Danish pair of Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Quist Hansen just beat them.

7. Who was the last woman executed in Britain?

From Quiz Executions in Britain

Answer: Ruth Ellis

This occurred on July 13 1955. Because Ruth was mother of young children and had been physically assaulted by her victim David Blakeley - and perhaps because she was also stunningly beautiful - public opinion was sympathetic towards her. Moreover, when she was first questioned by the police she did not have a lawyer present. It is often said that her execution contributed to the campaign for the abolition of capital punishment in the United Kingdom.

8. Margaret Thatcher became the first female British Prime Minister in May 1979, but who, 60 years earlier, had become the first woman to sit in Parliament?

From Quiz 10 UK Female Firsts

Answer: Nancy Astor

American-born Nancy (Lady) Astor was elected MP for Plymouth, Sutton in November 1919, taking over the seat from her husband, who became a member of the House of Lords on the death of his father. Constance (Countess) Markievicz had been elected as member for St Patrick's, Dublin in the 1918 General Election but, like other Sinn Fein MPs, did not take up the seat. Margaret Wintringham was the first British-born woman to sit in Parliament. She succeeded her late husband as Liberal MP for Louth, winning a by-election in September 1921. Margaret Bondfield became in 1923 one of the first three Labour women MPs. In 1929 she was appointed the first British woman Cabinet minister.

9. Which actor, with a watery name, has appeared on British television as Terry McCann, George Carter and Gerry Standing?

From Quiz Water, Water Everywhere

Answer: Waterman

Dennis Waterman played George Carter in 'The Sweeney', which appeared on British television from 1975 until 1978, with John Thaw playing Jack Regan. Terry McCann was his character in 'Minder', where he was responsible for the safety of the wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley, played by George Cole. Waterman also recorded the theme song for 'Minder', called 'I Could Be So Good for You', which reached the UK Singles Chart at number three. In 2003, he took on the role of Gerry Standing in 'New Tricks', alongside Alun Armstrong, James Bolam and Amanda Redman. By 2013, he was the only original member left, with his colleagues played by Denis Lawson, Nicholas Lyndhurst and Tamzin Outhwaite.

10. This dyslexic entrepreneur and "Virgin" business magnate and investor was knighted in 1999. Who is he?

From Quiz A Knight to Remember

Answer: Richard Branson

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson started his first business venture aged just 16. From the humble beginnings of this small business he could not be held back and went on to become one of the richest people in the UK with the Virgin group brand. He now even owns an island called Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. Up to 28 guests can be accommodated there at any one time.

11. Magnus Pyke appeared regularly on British television screens in the 1970s, talking about which subject?

From Quiz That Snow Leopard!

Answer: Science

Pyke became a well known public figure following his appearances on television programmes such as 'Don't Ask Me' and 'Don't Just Sit There'. Although he appeared eccentric, and had an idiosyncratic presenting style involving much windmilling of his arms, Pyke did much to make science accessible to the general public. Pyke was featured on both the record and video for Thomas Dolby's 1992 hit 'She Blinded Me with Science', which can be found on various internet sites.

12. In the mid-eighteenth century, Jemmy Hirst of Rawcliffe in Yorkshire acquired a reputation for oddness. What animal did he ride when he took part in the local hunt?

From Quiz Great British Eccentrics

Answer: A bull

Hirst was an interesting character who rose from a humble background to make a fortune speculating in farm produce. He had a legendary love of animals, teaching an otter to fish(!) and keeping a kennel of pigs that he had trained as foxhounds. He regularly attended the Doncaster races in a carriage pulled by four Andalusian mules, and disturbed local gentry by turning up to dinner with his pet bear, Nicholas. Awkward to a fault, he bowed to no man and when presented to King George III, stuck his hand out to be shook instead. The king was massively amused, fortunately, and fell to talking stock breeding with him.

13. Which great Briton, in time of war, said, 'Thank God, I have done my duty.'?

From Quiz Famous Britons

Answer: Admiral Lord Nelson

Admiral Nelson uttered these words as he lay dying below decks of his flag ship HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, having defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. His victory is commemorated by Trafalgar Square in central London, at the centre of which stands 'Nelson's Column', a tall pillar topped by a statue of the admiral who lost both his right eye and right arm in action.

14. In 1934 Percy Shaw patented a device that improved road safety and has undoubtedly saved many lives. It was officially adopted by the Ministry of Transport in 1947. What did Shaw invent?

From Quiz Made in Britain

Answer: Catseyes

Shaw was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, in April 1890. The roads he drove on were mainly unlit and one foggy night in 1933, so the story goes, he was prevented from crashing by the lights of his car reflecting back from the eyes of a cat. He designed the catseye road stud using reflective glass lenses invented a few years earlier by Richard Hollins Murray. Shaw filed his patent in 1934 and the following year started Reflecting Roadstuds Ltd. to make and market the items. The original design used white reflectors but today several colours are used depending on their position in the road.

15. This Old Etonian was the winning cox of the 1950 University Boat Race, he later married a British princess - marriage that ended in divorce 18 years later. He was created Earl of Snowdon in 1961. Who was he?

From Quiz Educated at Eton

Answer: Anthony Armstrong-Jones

Anthony Armstrong Jones coxed the winning Cambridge Boat in the 1950 Boat Race. He married the Queen's sister Princess Margaret in 1960 and was given the Earldom of Snowdon a year later. He divorced Princess Margaret in 1978.

16. British actor Hugh Grant was arrested in Los Angeles, California after propositioning a prostitute on Sunset Boulevard. What was her name?

From Quiz No Sex Please, We're British

Answer: Divine Brown

Grant was arrested on June 27, 1995 for lewd conduct, pleaded no contest, and was sentenced to two years probation. Since the incident with Grant, Brown has appeared on the "Howard Stern Show", and has posed for "Penthouse" magazine.

17. Which British politician was given the nickname 'Doris Karloff'?

From Quiz Deride and Prejudice

Answer: Ann Widdecombe

Ann Widdecombe is renowned for her forthright views and willingness to speak her mind. The 'Doris Karloff' nickname seems to be an invention of the tabloid press, partly due to her less than glamorous appearance. Ann was MP for Maidstone (now Maidstone and the Weald) from 1987 until 2010. The other ladies are also politicians.

18. Which Oxford eccentric built a tall folly and at the top pinned a notice stating "People committing suicide from this tower do so at their own risk"?

From Quiz Great British Eccentrics

Answer: Baron Berners

The fourteenth Baron Berners started eccentricity early in life. At the age of seven he decided that if you could teach a dog to swim then throwing one out of the window would teach it to fly. Fortunately his mother's dog, which was the subject of this experiment, was unhurt. In later life he had a giraffe as a pet, dyed the pigeons on his country estate pink and blue, and affixed notices to trees stating that anyone throwing stones at the notices would be prosecuted. He died in 1950 aged 67.

19. Every 5th November Britain celebrates this man's failure to blow up Parliament in 1605. Who is he?

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 8

Answer: Guy Fawkes

The leader of the Gunpowder Plot was Robert Catesby. Guy Fawkes (1570-1606) was recruited for his experience with explosives. The conspirators intended to blow up the Houses of Parliament, along with King James I and most of the aristocracy. The conspirators were Catholic and sought a rather drastic end to Protestant persecution of Catholics, and to reinstate Britain as a Catholic country. However, the plot was discovered and Guy Fawkes was sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered. He managed to jump off the scaffold, thus breaking his neck and avoiding the most painful part of the process.

20. Which English monarch took part in the meeting with Francis I of France, known as "The Field of the Cloth of Gold"?

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 7

Answer: Henry VIII

"The Field of the Cloth of Gold" took place in June 1520 on the outskirts of Calais. It was a diplomatic meeting intending to show friendship between England and France. The two castles in the area were felt to be too rundown to house the courts, so each court had its own campsite, making it possibly the most expensive camping holiday in history. Tents and pavilions were covered with cloth of gold and jewels. Little was achieved politically.

21. John Wesley is credited with being the founder of the Methodist movement. In what century did he live?

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 6

Answer: Eighteenth

John Wesley (1703-1791) was an Anglican clergyman. He felt that ordinary people were excluded from the church, and he was often banned from airing his views from the pulpit. He began preaching in the open, bringing the church to the people. He strongly believed that people should be Christian in deed as well as in word. As well as preaching, he was a campaigner against social injustice and an opponent of the slave trade.

22. This composer is very well known for his "Pomp and Circumstance March No.1", which USA quizzers may also know as "The Graduation Song". Who is he?

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 5

Answer: Edward Elgar

Elgar (1857-1934) was born in Worcestershire. He was surrounded by music from an early age, as his father was a music dealer and a church organist. Elgar taught himself musical theory. Words written by A C Benson were added to the "Pomp and Circumstance March" and the song is now commonly known as "Land of Hope and Glory". After the First World War, Elgar came to despise the piece, considering it too jingoistic.

23. Whose novels included "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility"?

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 4

Answer: Jane Austen

Jane Austen (1775-1817) achieved little fame during her lifetime, as her novels were published anonymously. Although they were well received by those who read them, they did not enjoy a wide audience. In 1869 her nephew James Austen-Leigh published a biography "A Memoir of Jane Austen", and it was after this that her popularity really took off.

24. What is Charles Babbage (1791-1871) credited with inventing?

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 3

Answer: First computer

Babbage's "difference engine" was an early type of calculator. He drew up plans for a second, more complex "difference engine" but this was not built until 2002. It comprised around 8,000 parts and weighed five tons, so it was a little difficult to have perched on one's desk! He also designed an "analytical engine", which could be programmed using punchcards.

25. This mediaeval monarch is known for his marriage to a woman who had been Queen of France, fighting his sons and ridding himself of a turbulent priest. Who is he?

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 2

Answer: Henry II

Henry II (1133-1189) was born in France. His claim to the throne came from his Grandfather, Henry I, via his mother, The Empress Matilda. The family in-fighting was largely caused by disagreements over who should inherit Henry's vast French properties, some of which were bought to him by his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. The disagreement with his one time friend Thomas a Becket was caused largely by the fact that Henry wanted to increase his control over the church and cut down on interference from Rome. Henry increased the use of Scutage, a tax paid by nobles to avoid military service. This enabled him to pay mercenaries to act as soldiers, thus strengthening his control of the armed forces. He also established the first Magistrate Courts and introduced various assizes, which were a forerunner of the trial by jury system.

26. Women are few and far between on the list, but we start with Marie Stopes (1880-1958). What did she establish in 1921?

From Quiz 100 Greatest Britons - Part 1

Answer: First British family planning clinic

The first Family Planning Clinic was established in North London and offered a free service to married women. Whilst modern women have cause to be grateful to her, it should also be noted that she was an enthusiastic advocate of eugenics. She supported compulsory sterilisation for the poor and sick. She disinherited her own son, Harry, as he married a woman with a sight defect, and the bulk of her estate was willed to the Eugenics Society. However, her views were not uncommon for the times in which she lived. More shocking at the time were her views that men and women were equal partners in marriage, and that each child should be planned and wanted, with parents who were able to care for it.

27. Mark Lemon was the first editor of the satirical magazine 'Punch'. In which churchyard in Sussex may his grave be visited?

From Quiz Dead and Buried in Sussex

Answer: St Margaret's, Ifield

Mark Lemon was an early commuter, living in the (then) village of Crawley and taking the train into London every day. Mark Lemon was also involved in the early days of the 'Illustrated London News' and 'The Field'. By 2000 'The Field' was the only one of these three magazines that survived. Mark Lemon's grave may be visited, but unless one knows where to look it may take a while to find. There is a pub immediately outside the churchyard as well should one need to recover from such strenuous activity.

28. A British naval hero, he's also given his name to a cricketing superstition.

From Quiz Some Quintessential Brits!

Answer: Horatio Nelson

English cricketers have an unlucky number - 111 - which is called "The Nelson", referring to the legend of Nelson's one missing eye, arm and leg (even though Nelson never lost a leg!) Born in 1758, Horatio Nelson died on the deck of his ship in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. His men put his body in a barrel of brandy to preserve it until they got back to port - then drank the brandy. Why waste good booze, eh?

29. In what year did Boudicca lead her people in a revolt against the occupying Romans?

From Quiz Famous Britons

Answer: AD 61

Boudicca was a Celtic tribal queen. When King Prasutagus died the Romans sought to ignore Boudicca's rightful role as his successor and to make her tribe, the Iceni, a subject population. When Boudicca rebelled against the Romans she was flogged and her daughters raped.

30. "Helping people in need is a good and essential part of my life, a kind of destiny". Which iconic Royal said this?

From Quiz Things Famous People Say

Answer: Princess Diana

Much has been written about Diana both during her lifetime and even more since her tragic death in Paris in 1997. She remains a beloved icon to the British public and will always be "The People's Princess".

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