Who was Born First? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Marco Polo

Marco Polo was born in Venice, Italy in 1254. He took 24 years to return to Venice after setting out on his travels in 1269. He documented his journey in a book dating back to around 1300. Christopher Columbus, who "discovered America", was born in 1450 or 1451 in Genoa.

The exact date of his birth is uncertain. Vasco da Gama was the first European explorer to reach India by sea. He was born in Portugal in either 1460 or 1469. Ferdinand Magellan was born in 1480 in Portugal. He led a Spanish expedition which was the first to circumnavigate the globe.

He did not survive the entire voyage however. He was killed in a battle with Philippine natives in 1521 before the expedition returned to Spain.

Answer: Lyndon B. Johnson

Johnson was born 27th August 1908. He became president following the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963 and won the presidency again in 1964 with 61% of the vote. Kennedy was born 29th May 1917 but was assassinated in 1963. Nixon was born 9th January 1913.

He lost the presidential election to Kennedy in 1960 but came back to win it in 1968 and again in 1972. Gerald Ford was born 14th July 1913. He became vice-president following the resignation of Vice-President Spiro Agnew and president following Nixon's resignation and is therefore the only man to have held the two top positions in American politics without being elected to either.

Answer: James Callaghan

James Callaghan was born in 1912 and was prime minister 1976-79. Margaret Thatcher was born in 1925 and was prime minister 1979-90. John Major was born in 1943 and was prime minister 1990-97. Harold Wilson was born in 1916 and was prime minister from 1964-70 and again from 1974-76, when he was succeeded by James Callaghan.

Answer: Charles Babbage

Babbage was born in London, England in 1791 and is best known for the "Difference Engine", an early mechanical calculator. His design was completed in 1823 but he never finished the build due to a dispute over costs. A working version was finally completed in 1989-1991 and correctly completed its first calculation to 31 digits. Edison was born in February 1847 in Milan, Ohio.

He was a prolific inventor and is remembered for things like the phonograph and the electric light bulb. Alexander Graham Bell was born in March 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is best known as the inventor of the telephone. Kellogg was born in 1852 in Tyrone, Michigan and he invented Corn Flakes with his brother Will.

Answer: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo, whose most famous painting is the 'Mona Lisa', was born in the town of Vinci near Florence, Italy, in 1452. Caravaggio was born in Milan, Italy, in 1571. His first name was actually Michaelangelo. Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden, the Netherlands in 1571 and Michaelangelo was born in Caprese, Italy in 1475.

Answer: Jeremy Irons

Jeremy Irons was born in 1948 and won his Oscar for "Reversal of Fortune" (1990). Denzel Washington was born in 1954 and has won two Oscars for "Glory" (1989) and "Training Day" (2001). Daniel Day-Lewis was born in 1957 and has three Oscars for "My Left Foot" (1990), "There Will Be Blood" (2008) and "Lincoln"" (2013). Sean Penn was born in 1960 and has two Oscars for Mystic River" (2004) and Milk (2009).

Answer: Handel

Handel was born in 1685 in Halle, Germany but spent the greater part of his life living in London. Mozart was born in 1756. He was a child prodigy and composed over 600 works before his death aged just 35. Beethoven was born in 1770. He suffered from a gradual loss of hearing in the latter half of his life and was totally deaf for his last 10 years. Chopin was born in 1810 in Poland.

He lived the second half of his life in Paris.

Answer: Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine was born in 1934. She is sister to Oscar winner Warren Beatty and won her own Oscar for "Terms of Endearment" (1983). Helen Mirren was born in 1945 and won her Oscar for "The Queen" (2006). Meryl Streep is among the most successful actresses in history.

She was born in 1949 and has 15 Oscar nominations and three Oscar wins for "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979), "Sophie's Choice" (1983) and "The Iron Lady" (2011). Susan Sarandon was born in 1946 and won her Oscar for "Dead Man Walking" (1996).

Answer: Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was born in 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi and was one of the best known singers of the 20th century. Paul McCartney was born in 1942 and is one half of the Lennon-McCartney song-writing team and a member of the Beatles. Neil Sedaka was born in 1939 and is an important pop/rock singer and composer whose career extends over more than 50 years. Elton John was born in 1947 and is one of the most successful singers/songwriters of all time.

He has also won an Oscar for Best Original Song with "The Lion King" (1994).

Answer: Pius X

Pius X was born in 1835 and was Pope 1903-14. Innocent X was born in 1574 and was Pope 1644-55. Clement X was born in 1590 and was Pope 1670-76. Leo X was born in 1475 and was Pope 1513-21.