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Quiz about Famous Marylanders
Quiz about Famous Marylanders

Famous Marylanders Trivia Quiz


This quiz focuses on well-known and/or influential people who were born or resided in Maryland.

A multiple-choice quiz by bernie73. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
bernie73
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
379,145
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
330
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Best known as the creator of "Hairspray" (1988), which writer and director was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1946, where he still maintains his primary residence? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This person was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but spent much of his life living in Maryland as the long-time quarterback for the Baltimore Colts. Which Colts quarterback wore number 19 and appeared in Super Bowls III and V? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This native Marylander was the first African-American to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court. Who was he? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This Marylander was a long-time writer and columnist for the "Baltimore Sun". Who often referred to the American middle class as the "Boobosie"? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This baseball player may usually be associated with the New York Yankees, but he spent his formative years (until 19) in Baltimore, Maryland. Who was this player, known as "The Sultan of Swat"? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This author was born in Boston but spent a significant portion of his adult life in Baltimore and died there. Who was this person, the author of "The Raven"? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This native Marylander was a long-time Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. Which Chief Justice issued the "Dred Scott" decision in 1857? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This Marylander was born in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore in about 1822. Which Marylander may be best known for her work on the Underground Railroad? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This native Marylander was born in slavery in Talbot County, Maryland. Escaping to freedom, he became a well-known anti-slavery speaker, also writing a "Narrative" about his life. Who is this man? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This last question is a little different. Many people know that Francis Scott Key wrote the words to a poem that as a song would become known as "The Star-Spangled Banner". To what tune was "The Star-Spangled Banner" set? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Best known as the creator of "Hairspray" (1988), which writer and director was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1946, where he still maintains his primary residence?

Answer: John Waters

"Hairspray", which starred Ricki Lake and Divine, focused on the issue of racial segregation in the Baltimore of the early 1960s. Waters has written and/or directed many other films including "Cry-Baby" (1990), "Pecker" (1998), and "A Dirty Shame" (2004). Waters also serves as a board member of the Maryland Film Festival.
2. This person was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but spent much of his life living in Maryland as the long-time quarterback for the Baltimore Colts. Which Colts quarterback wore number 19 and appeared in Super Bowls III and V?

Answer: Johnny Unitas

Johnny Unitas (1933-2002) held the record for the most consecutive games--47--with at least one touchdown pass for an amazing 52 years (1960-2012). He threw for over 40,000 yards and 290 touchdowns during his NFL career (1955-1973) which included one season each with the Pittsburgh Steelers (on the practice squad) and the San Diego Chargers.

He was a member of both the 50th Year and 75th Years All-Time Teams for the NFL.
3. This native Marylander was the first African-American to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court. Who was he?

Answer: Thurgood Marshall

Marshall (1908-1993) was a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He served on the Supreme Court from 1967-1991. Earlier, as a lawyer, he argued the "Brown v. Board of Education" (1954) case before the same body. He also served as a judge on the US Court of Appeals and US Solicitor General.
4. This Marylander was a long-time writer and columnist for the "Baltimore Sun". Who often referred to the American middle class as the "Boobosie"?

Answer: H. L. Mencken

Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) was a life-long resident of Baltimore. Known for his coverage of important events of the twentieth century, such as the Scopes Trial about evolution (which he called the "Monkey" trial), he was free with his scathing criticism. Highly critical of the idea of democracy, he felt free to criticize many members of the public.
5. This baseball player may usually be associated with the New York Yankees, but he spent his formative years (until 19) in Baltimore, Maryland. Who was this player, known as "The Sultan of Swat"?

Answer: Babe Ruth

Ruth (1895-1948) may be best known for his 714 career home runs, a record that stood for nearly 40 years. He also had a .342 career batting average and won 94 games as a pitcher before he became a position player. He played with the Boston Red Sox (1914-1919), New York Yankees (1920-1934), and the Boston Braves (1935). Before that, he briefly played with the then Minor League Boston Orioles.
6. This author was born in Boston but spent a significant portion of his adult life in Baltimore and died there. Who was this person, the author of "The Raven"?

Answer: Edgar Allan Poe

Poe (1809-1849) is primarily known for his poems and short stories such as "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Gold Bug", and "The Masque of the Red Death". Moving between New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland, Poe is also known for marrying his then 13-year old cousin, Virginia Clemm.

He also spent time attending both the University of Virginia and the United States Military Academy (West Point).
7. This native Marylander was a long-time Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. Which Chief Justice issued the "Dred Scott" decision in 1857?

Answer: Roger B. Taney

Taney (1777-1864) was born in Calvert County, Maryland and was actually the brother-in-law of Francis Scott Key, with whom he worked together for a time in a law practice. He was a Jacksonian Democrat who promoted the idea of states' rights while he was on the Supreme Court.

Although he manumitted his own slaves, in the Dred Scott case he declared that African-Americans were not citizens of the United States and did not possess the rights of citizens. Many legal scholars consider the Dred Scott case one of the worst decisions ever issued by the US Supreme Court.
8. This Marylander was born in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore in about 1822. Which Marylander may be best known for her work on the Underground Railroad?

Answer: Harriet Tubman

Born as Araminta Ross, Tubman (c. 1822-1913) gained her own freedom by escaping to Philadelphia, PA, in 1849. Over the next 11 years, she directly or indirectly provided assistance to over 100 enslaved people gaining their freedom. During the Civil War, she served the Union Army as a spy.
9. This native Marylander was born in slavery in Talbot County, Maryland. Escaping to freedom, he became a well-known anti-slavery speaker, also writing a "Narrative" about his life. Who is this man?

Answer: Frederick Douglass

Born Frederick Bailey, Douglass (c. 1818-1895) was the author of "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" (1845) as well as the long time editor of "The North Star", an abolitionist paper. Living many of his later years in nearby Washington, DC. Douglass held several government positions in his later years including US Ambassador to Haiti.
10. This last question is a little different. Many people know that Francis Scott Key wrote the words to a poem that as a song would become known as "The Star-Spangled Banner". To what tune was "The Star-Spangled Banner" set?

Answer: To Anacreon in Heaven

Key (1779-1843) was born in Frederick County and was working as a lawyer when he visited a British warship to arrange the release of some American prisoners. Since this occurred as the British fleet was moving into position to bombard Fort McHenry on the outskirts of Baltimore during the War of 1812, he was not allowed to leave the ship until the next day. From his vantage point, he wrote a description of the attack that became "The Star-Spangled Banner".

The original poem had four stanzas of which usually only the first is sung at public performances of the song.
Source: Author bernie73

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