4th January Quiz Medium
- 10 questions
- about 15 minutes to run
- published 9 Apr 2026
- updated
1. Isaac Newton's birthday is often given as Christmas Day 1642, but in today's calendar he was born on 4 January 1643. Why the difference?
2. A Frenchman born on 4 January 1809, blinded as a small child in an accident in his father's workshop, invented a reading system for blind people. Who was he?
3. A German scholar born in Hanau on 4 January 1785 collected fairy tales such as "Hansel and Gretel" with his brother. Name him and his brother.
4. Which US state joined the Union on 4 January 1896, as the 45th state?
5. Which Asian country became independent from Britain on 4 January 1948, at 4:20 in the morning, a time chosen by astrologers?
6. On 4 January 1958, the world's first artificial satellite burned up as it fell back into the atmosphere, three months after launch. What was it called?
7. A French writer and Nobel Prize winner was killed in a car crash on 4 January 1960 with an unused train ticket in his pocket. Who was he?
8. Which poet died on 4 January 1965? A book of his poems about cats later became the basis for which hit musical?
9. On 4 January 1967, a British speed record holder was killed when his jet-powered boat flipped over at more than 300 mph. Name him, the boat, and the lake.
10. The world's tallest building opened on 4 January 2010. Name it, the city, and what it was called before being renamed at its opening.
ANSWERS
1. England still used the old Julian calendar in 1642. In the Gregorian calendar used today, his birthday works out as 4 January 1643.
2. Louis Braille
3. Jacob Grimm and his brother Wilhelm
4. Utah
5. Burma (now Myanmar)
6. Sputnik 1
7. Albert Camus
8. T.S. Eliot. The musical is "Cats" (based on "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats").
9. Donald Campbell, in Bluebird K7, on Coniston Water
10. The Burj Khalifa, in Dubai. It was originally called the Burj Dubai.
How was this quiz?
Thank you, that helps Paul balance future quizzes.





