Historical Truths (or are they?)—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

One

Is it true or false that William the Conqueror died of smallpox on 9 September 1092?

Answer: True

King William of England died on 9 September 1087 at Rouen, France, several weeks after being seriously injured at the Battle of Mantes. In July 1087, while fighting a counter-offensive against the French, the King fell against the pommel of his saddle, severely damaging his intestines.

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Two

Is it true or false that Elvis Presley appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time on 9 September 1960?

Answer: False

Presley’s first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was on 9 September 1956. He made two further appearances over the next four months, but he didn’t appear on the show again after his third appearance.

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Three

Is it true that a Scottish monarch was crowned at the age of nine months on 9 September 1543? If so, who was the monarch?

Answer: True. Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary Stuart became queen at the tender age of six days old in December 1543 upon her father James V’s death. Crowned as Mary, Queen of Scots on 9 September 1543 in Stirling, she remained queen until her forced abdication on 24 July 1567.

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Four

Is it true or false that on 9 September 1759, forty-seven nations adopted Sauchie Fraser’s proposal for a standard time and time zones?

Answer: False

On this date in 1885, twenty-five nations adopted Sanford Fleming’s  proposal for standard time and time zones. 

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Five

Captain William Bligh FRS RN, born on 9 September 1754, is best known for being cast adrift from HMS Bounty. Is it true or false that between 1806 and 1808, he served as Governor of New South Wales?

Answer: True

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