18th October Quiz (Questions only)

1. On 18 October 1867, Russia formally handed a huge territory over to the United States at Sitka. Which territory? Which US Secretary of State, from your Thanksgiving round, arranged the purchase?

2. Which famous broadcasting organisation was founded on 18 October 1922, at first as a private company?

3. On 18 October 1954, the world's first commercial transistor radio was announced, using the invention from your 23 December round. What was it called?

4. On 18 October 1967, a Soviet probe became the first to send back data from inside another planet's atmosphere. Which planet, and what was the probe called?

5. On 18 October 1977, German special forces stormed a hijacked Lufthansa jet in Somalia and freed all the hostages. Name the unit and the city.

6. On 18 October 1685, Louis XIV cancelled a famous edict that had protected French Protestants, causing thousands to flee abroad. Which edict was cancelled? What were the Protestants called?

7. On 18 October 1898, the United States formally took control of which Caribbean island, which it had won in the war from your 21 April round?

8. The inventor from your 31 December round died on 18 October 1931. Who was he?

9. The mathematician from your 10 December round, whose machine Ada Lovelace wrote about, died on 18 October 1871. Half of his brain is on display in which London museum?

10. The composer from your 17 June round died on 18 October 1893. Who was he?

11. A British prime minister died on 18 October 1865, two days before his 81st birthday. He was the last British PM to die in office. Who was he?

12. An American rock and roll pioneer born on 18 October 1926 wrote "Johnny B. Goode", which is on the golden record carried by the spacecraft from your 5 September round. Who was he?

13. A tennis player born in Prague on 18 October 1956 won a record nine Wimbledon singles titles. Who is she?

14. A Belgian martial arts actor born on 18 October 1960 is nicknamed "the Muscles from Brussels". Who is he?

15. The Canadian prime minister from your 20 April round was born on 18 October 1919. Who was he?

16. A German actor born on 18 October 1926 starred in the film from your 5 September round and was famous for his wild temper. Who was he?

17. An Austrian singer and actress born in Vienna on 18 October 1898 starred in "The Threepenny Opera" and played Rosa Klebb, with a poisoned blade in her shoe, in "From Russia with Love". Who was she?

18. A treaty signed on 18 October 1748 in a German city ended the War of the Austrian Succession. Name the treaty. What is the city called in German?

19. The novel from your 20 November round, about the hunt for a white whale, was first published in London on 18 October 1851 under a different title. What was it called?

20. A French philosopher born on 18 October 1859 won the 1927 Nobel Prize for Literature. Who was he?