18th August Quiz
1. On 18 August 1587, the first English child was born in the Americas, at a colony that later vanished. Name the child and the colony. What word was found carved on a post when the colony was next visited?
2. Which Mongol conqueror is traditionally said to have died on 18 August 1227?
3. During a solar eclipse on 18 August 1868, a French astronomer saw a mysterious yellow line in the Sun's light, which led to the discovery of a new element. Which element? What does its name mean?
4. On 18 August 1920, which state became the 36th and final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment, from your 26 August round? Whose letter changed a young legislator's vote?
5. On the morning of 18 August 1969, which guitarist closed the Woodstock festival with a famous version of "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
6. On 18 August 1963, a man who had needed federal troops to protect him when he enrolled became the first Black graduate of the University of Mississippi. Who was he?
7. On 18 August 1964, the International Olympic Committee banned a country from the Tokyo Olympics because of its racist policies. Which country?
8. One of the explorers from your 23 September round was born on 18 August 1774. Which one?
9. An Italian composer born on 18 August 1750 was portrayed in the film "Amadeus" as Mozart's jealous rival. Who was he?
10. The husband of Empress "Sisi" from your 10 September round was born on 18 August 1830. Who was he?
11. An American actor and director born on 18 August 1936 founded a famous independent film festival. Name him and the festival.
12. An American actor born on 18 August 1952 starred in "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost". Who was he?
13. Two American actors were born on exactly the same day, 18 August 1969. One starred in "Fight Club", and the other in "Heathers" and "True Romance". Name both.
14. A French novelist famous for drinking huge amounts of coffee died on 18 August 1850. Who was he, and what is his vast series of novels called?
15. On 18 August 1572, the Protestant Henry of Navarre married the Catholic sister of the French king in Paris. Which massacre followed six days later?
16. A controversial novel by the author from your 22 April round was published in the United States on 18 August 1958. Name the author and the novel.
17. On 18 August 1966, which Chinese leader held the first of a series of huge rallies in Tiananmen Square to inspire a new youth movement? What were its members called?
18. On 18 August 1903, a German inventor claimed to have made a short powered flight near Hanover, months before the Wright brothers. Who was he?
19. On 18 August 1612, a famous witch trial began at Lancaster. Which Lancashire hill gave the "witches" their name?
20. On 18 August 1932, a Swiss physicist rose almost 16,000 metres in a balloon. He inspired a famous comic-book character. Name the physicist and the character.
ANSWERS
1. Virginia Dare, at Roanoke. The word was "CROATOAN".
2. Genghis Khan
The exact date and cause of Genghis Khan's death are uncertain; 18 August 1227 is the date traditionally given. His burial place has never been found.
3. Helium. Its name comes from "helios", the Greek word for the Sun.
Pierre Janssen observed the yellow line in 1868, and Norman Lockyer also observed it that year. Lockyer and the chemist Edward Frankland named the element. Helium was not found on Earth until 1895.
4. Tennessee. Harry Burn changed his vote after a letter from his mother.
5. Jimi Hendrix
6. James Meredith
7. South Africa
8. Meriwether Lewis
9. Antonio Salieri
10. Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
11. Robert Redford. The festival is the Sundance Film Festival.
12. Patrick Swayze
13. Edward Norton and Christian Slater
14. Honoré de Balzac. His series is "La Comédie humaine" ("The Human Comedy").
15. The St Bartholomew's Day Massacre
16. Vladimir Nabokov, "Lolita"
17. Mao Zedong. Its members were the Red Guards.
18. Karl Jatho
Karl Jatho's flight on 18 August 1903 was a short powered hop rather than a controlled flight. That's why it's usually called a claim, and the Wright brothers are still credited with the first controlled powered flight.
19. Pendle Hill (the Pendle witches)
20. Auguste Piccard. He inspired Professor Calculus in the Tintin books.
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