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Dateline: 1779 Trivia Quiz

1779 was a busy year- see how much you know about it.

A multiple-choice quiz by bullymom. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
bullymom

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
81,630

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1521

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What explorer was killed in Hawaii on February 14, 1779? Hint

James Cook

Thor Heyerdahl

Henry Hudson

Abel Tasman

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Question 2 of 10

2. What famous cabinetmaker died in England in 1779?

Answer: (Two Words- first and last name, or just last name)

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Question 3 of 10

3. What ship was captured by American privateers led by John Paul Jones on September 23, 1779? Hint

Mary Deere

Guerriere

Lusitania

Serapis

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Question 4 of 10

4. Swedish explorer HJ Wikar traced this African river in 1779. Hint

Orange

Zambezi

Nile

Congo

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Question 5 of 10

5. What 1779 invention of Englishman Samuel Crompton greatly advanced the Industrial Revolution? Hint

Steam engine

Sewing machine

Cotton gin

Spinning-mule

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Question 6 of 10

6. The opera "Iphigenie en Aulide", by what composer, was the big hit in Paris in 1779? Hint

Richard Wagner

William Blake

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Christopher Gluck

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Question 7 of 10

7. What American city was captured by the British on January 29, 1779? Hint

Savannah, Georgia

Augusta, Georgia

Charleston, South Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina

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Question 8 of 10

8. The famous painting "Blue Boy" was painted by whom in 1779? Hint

Thomas Gainsborough

Rembrandt

Charles Peale

Joshua Reynolds

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Question 9 of 10

9. In June 1779, what country joined the American colonies in their fight for independence?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 10 of 10

10. This academician and author was born in 1779. Although he wrote mostly academic works, he is best known for his poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas".

Answer: (Two Words-first and last name or just last name)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What explorer was killed in Hawaii on February 14, 1779?

Answer: James Cook

On his third trip to the Pacific, Captain Cook was killed during a skirmish with the Hawaiian natives. Cook was a busy man; along with "discovering" Hawaii, he landed on Antarctica, charted New Zealand, surveyed the east coast of Australia, and sought a Northwest Passage.

2. What famous cabinetmaker died in England in 1779?

Answer: Thomas Chippendale

Long before the name "Chippendale" was associated with male dancers, it was associated with fine English furniture. Chippendale was famous for his cabinets and chairs, in which he used mahogany, which was then a new wood.

3. What ship was captured by American privateers led by John Paul Jones on September 23, 1779?

Answer: Serapis

The British warship was captured after a naval battle off the English coast. The American naval hero John Paul Jones lost his own ship, the Bonhomme Richard, in the battle.

4. Swedish explorer HJ Wikar traced this African river in 1779.

Answer: Orange

The Orange runs west from the interior of Africa to the Atlantic coast in the Namib Desert. The Dutch settlers named it "Orange" after the ruling house of their native land, but the native Sotho people called it Ntshu, for "black river".

5. What 1779 invention of Englishman Samuel Crompton greatly advanced the Industrial Revolution?

Answer: Spinning-mule

This innovation, a combination of the spinning-jenny and water mule, was able to produce thread suitable for making fine muslins.

6. The opera "Iphigenie en Aulide", by what composer, was the big hit in Paris in 1779?

Answer: Christopher Gluck

This Bohemian composer was considered to be the man who reformed opera and made it greatly popular.

7. What American city was captured by the British on January 29, 1779?

Answer: Augusta, Georgia

Today Augusta is famous for its Masters Golf Tournament.

8. The famous painting "Blue Boy" was painted by whom in 1779?

Answer: Thomas Gainsborough

Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was considered the master of landscape paintings. He was the favorite among the British aristocracy for his portraits.

9. In June 1779, what country joined the American colonies in their fight for independence?

Answer: Spain

Spain entered the American Revolution after France, who had already signed on, promised it that it would help recover Gibraltar and Florida from the British.

10. This academician and author was born in 1779. Although he wrote mostly academic works, he is best known for his poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas".

Answer: Clement Moore

Clement Moore was a dour, grumpy professor of classics at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. Although he mainly wrote such gripping works as "A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language", he will always be remembered for the poem he wrote for his children, "A Visit from St. Nicholas". Moore turned to Dutch tradition to create the picture of jolly old Saint Nick which has come to represent Sants Claus to all Americans.

Source: Author bullymom

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