Archimedes of Greece (287-212 BCE) was a 'renaissance man', well before the Renaissance ever occurred. He was a mathematician, inventor, engineer, astronomer, physicist ("a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king" - oops, no). But, seriously, he was the scientist who discovered the concept of specific gravity, and ran through the streets naked, shouting "Eureka" (meaning 'I have found it!').
Many, many years later, it became California's state motto.
2. Showman
Answer: P.T. Barnum
There are very few single words that can define just one man. However, when you hear the expression "The World's Greatest Showman", it can only mean Phineas T. Barnum (1810-1891). Barnum was an author, publicist, politician (Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut and member of Congress) and philanthropist.
He not only founded the Barnum and Bailey Circus, but he brought Jenny Lind ("The Swedish Nightingale") to America, and gave the world the "Feegee" mermaid and Tom Thumb.
3. "Password"
Answer: Allen Ludden
"Password" was a game show which first aired on television in 1961. TV personality Allen Ludden (1917-1981) was the host of the popular game show. He also hosted the academic quiz "G.E. College Bowl", but became inextricably linked to "Password" and the subsequent "Password Plus".
He was soft-spoken and had a charming, intelligent style (unlike many of those screaming emcees). He also happened to be the love of Betty White's life.
4. "Bam!"
Answer: Emeril Lagasse
Celebrity chef and cookbook author Emeril Lagasse was born in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1959. His TV shows include "Emeril Live", "Essence of Emeril" and "Top Chef". But whichever show he is hosting, you will hear him utter his famous catchphrase "Bam!", ensuring that his audience will stay awake.
He is known for his cheerful style, his creole and cajun cooking, and his philanthropy, i.e, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, which helps disadvantaged children.
5. Boz
Answer: Charles Dickens
From a poem published in March 1837: "Who the dickens 'Boz' could be/Puzzled many a learned elf,/Till time unveiled the mystery,/And 'Boz' appeared as Dickens' self." Charles Dickens (1812-1870) had had several pieces published in "The Monthly Magazine" without a signature; however, in August 1834, "The Boarding House" appeared under the pseudonym 'Boz'.
It started as the nickname 'Moses' for his brother Augustus (from an Oliver Goldsmith character), but morphed into 'Boses' and, finally 'Boz'. Dickens' "Sketches by Boz" was published in 1836.
6. Bibi
Answer: Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister 'Binyamin' Netanyahu was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1949, just one year after Israel was officially declared a nation. Growing up in Jerusalem, he was given the boyhood nickname "Bibi" for short. Despite all the events which have occurred since, e.g., his brother's death in Entebbe, his ambassadorship to the United Nations, and his appointment as Prime Minister on March 31, 2009, the nickname has remained with him.
7. Scarface
Answer: Al Capone
No, by Scarface, I am not referring to the Al Pacino role ("Say hello to my little friend"), I am alluding to the real life Prohibition era Chicago gangster, Alphonse Gabriel Capone (1899-1947). Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York where he later worked on Coney Island (home of Nathan's hotdogs). Sometime after 1917, as the story goes, the scars on the left side of his face were the result of knife wounds inflicted by Frank Galluccio, a fellow gang member.
8. "Catfish"
Answer: James Hunter
Professional Major League Baseball pitcher, James Augustus Hunter (1946-1999) was widely known as "Catfish". Hunter pitched for the Kansas City Athletics, the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees between 1965 and 1979. He was the first pitcher since 1915 to win 200 games by the age of 31, and he was on five World Series winning teams.
It was flamboyant Athletics' owner Charles Finley who gave Hunter the name "Catfish", in an attempt to make him more marketable.
9. Governator
Answer: Arnold Schwarzenegger
The derivation of the nickname "The Governator" for Arnold Schwarzenegger seems rather obvious. Arnold was born in Austria in 1947. He emigrated to the United States in 1968 at the age of 21, having already won the title of "Mr. Universe". He became an actor and action star (e.g., "The Terminator"), an entrepreneur, and the 38th Governor of California from 2003 to 2011. "The Governator" was a superhero franchise for kids, developed by Stan Lee (of Marvel Comics).
10. Tippecanoe
Answer: William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) was the ninth President of the United States. He was a military officer and a politician, and the last president to be born a British subject. In 1811, he fought against Native Americans in the Battle of Tippecanoe, where he earned his nickname.
His campaign slogan was "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" (for John Tyler, his running mate). Harrison's Inaugural Address, given during a snowstorm, lasted an hour and forty five minutes. Thirty one days later he died of pneumonia.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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