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Quiz about The Life of Sir Joseph Paxton
Quiz about The Life of Sir Joseph Paxton

The Life of Sir Joseph Paxton Trivia Quiz

Sir Joseph Paxton was a Victorian architect, gardener and designer.

A multiple-choice quiz by genovia12. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
genovia12
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
329,845
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
208
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Question 1 of 10
1. Sir Joseph Paxton was born in Bedfordshire on what date? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. Paxton's first employment as a garden boy was undertaken at which house? Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. In 1823 Paxton began as a gardener at Chiswick Gardens which were under the care of the Horticultural Society. Here, he encountered William Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire, who offered him a position at which house? Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. What was the name of the niece of the housekeeper whom Paxton married whilst at Chatsworth? Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. Whilst at Chatsworth he undertook many major landscaping projects such as the establishment of a vast conifer arboretum, the construction of multiple glass houses and the remodelling of the village of Edensor. Which enormous and dramatic fountain did Paxton construct in the canal pond? Hint


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Question 6 of 10
6. In 1837 Paxton designed a conservatory in order to hold a seed of the exotic Victoria Regia lily from Guyana. The design of the structure was the inspiration for which building that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851? Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. Which two men assisted Paxton with the engineering of Crystal Palace in Hyde Park? Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. In 1854 Paxton became the Liberal Member of Parliament for which constituency? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. Paxton co-founded which prominent horticultural newsletter in 1841? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. Paxton died on the 8th June 1865 and was buried in the churchyard of which village close to Chatsworth House? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Sir Joseph Paxton was born in Bedfordshire on what date?

Answer: 3rd August 1803

 Born in Milton Bryan in central Bedfordshire, Paxton was the seventh son of a yeoman. His date of birth is sometimes listed as 3rd August 1801 which was an intentional mistake to enable him to take a position prematurely as a gardener at Chiswick Gardens.
2. Paxton's first employment as a garden boy was undertaken at which house?

Answer: Battlesden House

 At fifteen he began work at Battlesden House in central Bedfordshire. It was the property of Sir Gregory Osborne Page-Turner (1785-1843). Woburn Abbey is the seat of the Duke of Bedford. Houghton House is a ruined property which is believed to have inspired John Bunyan's House Beautiful in "The Pilgrim's Progress." Moggerhanger House was redeveloped by the architect Sir John Soane.
3. In 1823 Paxton began as a gardener at Chiswick Gardens which were under the care of the Horticultural Society. Here, he encountered William Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire, who offered him a position at which house?

Answer: Chatsworth House

 Paxton took on the prestigious role of Head Gardener at Chatsworth in 1826. Haddon Hall is the Derbyshire seat of the Duke of Rutland and is close to Chatsworth House. Hardwick Hall is a wealthy country house constructed for Bess of Hardwick. Calke Abbey is a Baroque mansion in South Derbyshire which has been occupied by the Harpur family for three hundred years.
4. What was the name of the niece of the housekeeper whom Paxton married whilst at Chatsworth?

Answer: Sarah Bown

 Sarah Bown Paxton was born in Matlock, Derbyshire on 14th January 1800 to Thomas Bown and Sarah Gregory. The pair were married in nearby Edensor on 20th February 1827. They had eight children; William, Blanche, Victoria, George, Laura, Rosa and Annie.
5. Whilst at Chatsworth he undertook many major landscaping projects such as the establishment of a vast conifer arboretum, the construction of multiple glass houses and the remodelling of the village of Edensor. Which enormous and dramatic fountain did Paxton construct in the canal pond?

Answer: The Emperor Fountain

 In 1843 Tsar Nicholas I announced an imminent visit to Chatsworth. The Duke of Devonshire had recently visited Russia where he had admired the immense fountains and thus he planned to construct his own version which would surpass those he had already seen.

A huge lake was excavated on the moors to supply the site and Paxton's hydraulic design was a significant achievement of its day. Unfortunately, the Tsar never actually visited!
6. In 1837 Paxton designed a conservatory in order to hold a seed of the exotic Victoria Regia lily from Guyana. The design of the structure was the inspiration for which building that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851?

Answer: Crystal Palace

 Paxton was visiting London on other business when he was encouraged to present his architectural plans to the Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition. Its extensive use of prefabricated sections of glass, iron and light wooden frame was unprecedented. The construction of the one hundred and thirty-five metre long building lasted only eight months and cost £1,500,000 to build.
7. Which two men assisted Paxton with the engineering of Crystal Palace in Hyde Park?

Answer: Charles Fox and William Cubitt

 Charles Fox was a director of Fox and Henderson, a specialist company for ironwork, whose architectural work focused mainly on railways. William Cubitt was a prominent civil engineer who was Chief Engineer of Crystal Palace. Both men were knighted alongside Joseph Paxton on 23rd October 1851.

After the Great Exhibition the men were employed in moving the Crystal Palace to the new location at Sydenham.
8. In 1854 Paxton became the Liberal Member of Parliament for which constituency?

Answer: Coventry

 He retained this position until he died in 1865.
9. Paxton co-founded which prominent horticultural newsletter in 1841?

Answer: The Gardeners' Chronicle

 The co-founders of this publication were the horticulturalists Charles Wentworth Dilke, John Lindley and William Bradbury.
10. Paxton died on the 8th June 1865 and was buried in the churchyard of which village close to Chatsworth House?

Answer: Edensor

 Paxton retired from his position as Head Gardener at Chatsworth in 1858 on the death of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. He remained in a property on the estate with his wife, who lived until 12th September 1871. Husband and wife are both buried at St. Peter's Churchyard, Edensor.
Source: Author genovia12

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Referenced Topics
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