Famous and Infamous Brits Trivia Quiz

Here are some interesting, but less well-known British historical figures. See if you can identify them.

A multiple-choice quiz by sooz888. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
sooz888

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
337,085

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1105

Last 3 plays: Hayes1953 (7/10), Andyboy2021 (10/10), Guest 86 (8/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. These notorious criminals committed a series of murders in order to supply corpses for medical dissection in Edinburgh. Hint

Flanagan and Allen

Burke and Hare

Flanders and Swann

Peters and Lee

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2. The daughter of a Northumberland lighthouse keeper, this brave girl assisted her father in carrying out a daring rescue at sea in 1838. Hint

George Eliot

Isabella Beeton

Grace Darling

Mary Boleyn

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3. A pioneer of Rights for Women, this young woman died by throwing herself under the King's horse at the Epsom Derby in 1913. Hint

Emily Dickinson

Harriet Tubman

Emmeline Pankhurst

Emily Davison

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4. This Irish adventurer, in 1671, audaciously tried to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. Hint

Hereward the Wake

Colonel Blood

Guy Fawkes

Lord Byron

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5. Known as 'Blind Jack of Knaresborough,' this man was blind from childhood, but had numerous jobs and became a noted road-builder in the north of England. Hint

Jack Ketch

Jack Horner

John Metcalf

John Bull

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6. The first known Christian martyr in Britain, this man lived in the Roman town of Verulamium, which subsequently came to bear his name. Hint

St Christopher

St Neot

St Alban

St Thomas Becket

7. This notable dandy and friend of the Prince Regent (later George IV), famously fell out with the prince by saying to a mutual acquaintance, "Who's your fat friend", when referring to the prince. Who was it? Hint

Beau Brummel

Lord Byron

Beau Nash

Oscar Wilde

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8. This swashbuckling English sea captain and victor of battles against the French, became the subject of many ballads and inn signs up and down the land. Hint

Captain Bligh

Admiral Benbow

Captain Hook

Captain Pugwash

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9. This notable English lady was married four times and used her wealth to build great mansions, one of which housed Mary Queen of Scots during her detention. Hint

Jane Grey

Nell Gwyn

Bess of Hardwick

Moll Flanders

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10. Born Mary Robinson, this young daughter of a Lakeland innkeeper was courted by an imposter called John Hatfield who was hanged for his crimes. She became known by what title? Hint

The Swan of Avon

The Princess of Wales

The Lass of Richmond Hill

The Beauty of Buttermere

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. These notorious criminals committed a series of murders in order to supply corpses for medical dissection in Edinburgh.

Answer: Burke and Hare

William Burke and William Hare killed at least 15 people before being caught. They had previously dug up bodies from local cemeteries. Hare gave evidence against Burke to escape trial. William Burke was hanged in 1829.

2. The daughter of a Northumberland lighthouse keeper, this brave girl assisted her father in carrying out a daring rescue at sea in 1838.

Answer: Grace Darling

Grace Darling (1815-1842) assisted her father in saving thirteen people from the wreck of the 'S.S. Forfarshire' in her father's small fishing boat. She is buried in the churchyard at Bamburgh, Northumberland.

3. A pioneer of Rights for Women, this young woman died by throwing herself under the King's horse at the Epsom Derby in 1913.

Answer: Emily Davison

A militant campaigner, Emily Wilding Davison (1872-1913) attempted to commit suicide while in prison, rather being subjected to force-feeding. Like many of the militant women of her time, she was highly educated.

4. This Irish adventurer, in 1671, audaciously tried to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.

Answer: Colonel Blood

Blood befriended the Keeper of the Jewels and courted his daughter in order to gain admission to the Tower. The attempt was foiled, and Blood was later pardoned.

5. Known as 'Blind Jack of Knaresborough,' this man was blind from childhood, but had numerous jobs and became a noted road-builder in the north of England.

Answer: John Metcalf

Despite his blindness, Metcalf once ran from London to Harrogate in six days to beat a friend travelling by coach who took eight days - and all for a wager!

6. The first known Christian martyr in Britain, this man lived in the Roman town of Verulamium, which subsequently came to bear his name.

Answer: St Alban

Alban sheltered a Christian priest who converted him to Christianity. He was executed for refusing to offer sacrifices to Roman gods. The abbey (now cathedral) of St Alban's grew up around his shrine.

Answer: Beau Brummel

When George Bryan 'Beau' Brummel lost his royal patron after the quarrel, he lost interest in his appearance, fell into debt and fled to France where he died in an asylum.

8. This swashbuckling English sea captain and victor of battles against the French, became the subject of many ballads and inn signs up and down the land.

Answer: Admiral Benbow

Admiral John Benbow (1653-1702) was mortally wounded in the West Indies in 1702 and was buried in Kingston, Jamaica. His life ended amid controversy as some naval officers who had disobeyed him were court-martialled and two of them shot.

9. This notable English lady was married four times and used her wealth to build great mansions, one of which housed Mary Queen of Scots during her detention.

Answer: Bess of Hardwick

Bess of Hardwick (1527-1608), Countess of Shrewsbury by her fourth and final marriage (in 1568), was immensely gifted at needlework and established a very substantial collection of textiles, now kept at Hardwick Hall. This former home of hers is also commemorated in the rhyme, "Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall" because of its many large windows in an age when glass was an expensive commodity.

At the time of her death in 1608 she had an annual income of �60,000 in the money of the time, making her probably the woman with the highest income in the British Isles. (In terms of the Retail Price Index that is over �7.5 million in 2009 terms.

However, if calculated in relation to average income - a more appropriate measure - it amounts to the staggering sum of �119 million).

10. Born Mary Robinson, this young daughter of a Lakeland innkeeper was courted by an imposter called John Hatfield who was hanged for his crimes. She became known by what title?

Answer: The Beauty of Buttermere

A man posing as 'Colonel the Hon. Alexander Augustus Hope, MP Hatfield' was in fact a bigamist and confidence trickster, who was hanged for his crimes in 1803. A shepherdess by occupation, her misfortune attracted public sympathy and some money was raised for her. So, Mary Robinson (1778-1837) became something of a celebrity and attracting the attention of the Lakes poets.

Source: Author sooz888

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Mar 22 2023 : Hayes1953: 7/10
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