16th August Quiz Medium
- 20 questions
- about 25 minutes to run
- published 9 Nov 2023
- updated
1. On 16 August 1819, cavalry charged a peaceful crowd demanding parliamentary reform in Manchester, killing at least 15. The event was nicknamed "Peterloo". On which open space did it happen?
2. On 16 August 1858, Queen Victoria exchanged greetings with the US president over the first transatlantic telegraph cable. Which president?
3. Gold was found on Bonanza Creek on 16 August 1896, starting the Klondike Gold Rush. In which Canadian territory?
4. On 16 August 1960, Joseph Kittinger jumped from a balloon at over 31 km, a record that stood for 52 years. Which Austrian broke it in 2012?
5. Cyprus became independent from Britain on 16 August 1960. Who was its first president, an archbishop?
6. On 16 August 1962, which drummer was sacked from the Beatles?
7. Henry VIII's army routed the French at the Battle of the Spurs on 16 August 1513. Why was it given that name?
8. On 16 August 2009, in Berlin, Usain Bolt set the 100 metres world record that still stands. What is the time?
9. On 16 August 2004, a flash flood swept cars into the sea and wrecked buildings in the village of Boscastle. In which county?
10. Elvis Presley died on 16 August 1977. What was the name of his mansion in Memphis?
11. A British officer and writer born in Tremadog on 16 August 1888 wrote "Seven Pillars of Wisdom". By what name is he popularly known?
12. A singer born in Bay City, Michigan, on 16 August 1958 is known by her first name. What is her surname?
13. A Canadian director born on 16 August 1954 made "Titanic" and "Avatar". In 2012 he made the first solo dive to the deepest known point of which ocean trench?
14. An English novelist born on 16 August 1902 is credited with inventing the historical romance set in which period of English history?
15. An American poet and novelist born on 16 August 1920 was born in which country?
16. An American actor born on 16 August 1962 played Michael Scott, the American version of which British character?
17. An American actress born on 16 August 1958 played Tina Turner in which 1993 film?
18. Babe Ruth died on 16 August 1948. The supposed curse on the Boston Red Sox after they sold him to the Yankees was named after which of his nicknames?
19. A jazz pianist born on 16 August 1929 played on the best-selling jazz album of all time, by Miles Davis. Name the album.
20. A German born on 16 August 1832 founded the first laboratory for experimental psychology, in Leipzig in 1879. Who was he?
ANSWERS
1. St Peter's Field
The name "Peterloo" mocked the soldiers by comparing the attack on unarmed civilians with the Battle of Waterloo four years earlier. The main speaker was the radical Henry Hunt.
2. James Buchanan
The Queen's message of 98 words took over 16 hours to transmit. The cable failed within a month.
3. Yukon
4. Felix Baumgartner
5. Archbishop Makarios III
6. Pete Best
7. Because the French cavalry fled so quickly (they made great use of their spurs)
8. 9.58 seconds
Exactly a year earlier, on 16 August 2008, Bolt had set a world record of 9.69 seconds in the Beijing Olympic final.
9. Cornwall
10. Graceland
11. Lawrence of Arabia (T.E. Lawrence)
12. Ciccone (Madonna)
13. The Mariana Trench (the Challenger Deep) (James Cameron)
14. The Regency period (Georgette Heyer)
15. Germany (in Andernach) (Charles Bukowski)
16. David Brent (Steve Carell)
17. What's Love Got to Do with It (Angela Bassett)
18. "The Bambino" (the Curse of the Bambino)
19. Kind of Blue (Bill Evans)
20. Wilhelm Wundt
How was this quiz?
Thank you, that helps Paul balance future quizzes.