Here are some questions relating to today, 25 April.
See #2. Aerial view of the Suez Canal at Suez. Image Wikipedia
On 25 April 1901, New York became the first US state to mandate license plates with a law ordering automobiles and motorcycles to display “the separate initials of the owner’s name placed upon the back thereof in a conspicuous place.” But where was the first place to legally require a registration or licence plate?
France—France introduced registration plates in 1893, followed by Germany and the Netherlands. The US began requiring plates in 1903, with New York being the first state (this was after NY first requiring in 1901 that the owner’s initials be clearly visible on the back of the vehicle).
Today in 1859, construction of the Suez Canal officially began. How many countries does it pass through?
One—Egypt. The Suez Canal, a 120-mile (193 km) artificial waterway in Egypt, connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas, providing a direct trade route between Europe and Asia. Constructed between 1859 and 1869, it is operated by the Suez Canal Authority and offers a significant shortcut for vessels, reducing travel time between the Arabian Sea and Europe. Utilising several lakes, it is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The canal’s strategic importance has led to historical events like its nationalisation in 1956 and closure during the Six-Day War.
The Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway. Image Wikipedia
Today in 1959, exactly 100 years after work began on the Suez Canal (see #2 above), the Saint Lawrence Seaway opened, completing the link from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes and allowing ocean-going ships to reach the westernmost point of Lake Superior. What distance is the westernmost point of Lake Superior from the Atlantic Ocean?
2,340 miles/3,766 km—The Saint Lawrence Seaway, a joint Canada-US project, connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. It opened North America’s industrial and agricultural heartlands to deep-draft ocean vessels and forged the final link in a 2,340 miles/3,766 km long waterway from Duluth, Minnesota, to the Atlantic by clearing a throughway in an 186-mile/299 km stretch of the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Lake Ontario.
Guglielmo Marconi. Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1874, a physicist and Nobel Prize laureate (Physics, 1909) was born. He invented a successful system of radio telegraphy. Who was he?
Guglielmo Marconi—an Italian electrical engineer and physicist, invented the wireless telegraph, or radio, in 1896, and received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1909. He later worked on shortwave wireless communication, the foundation of modern long-distance radio. Marconi’s early experiments in Italy led him to London, where he received support and filed his first radio patent in 1896. He founded the Marconi Company in the UK and was ennobled as a marquess in 1929.
On 25 April 1990, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro became Central America’s first female president. What country was she president of?
Nicaragua—Violeta Chamorro, became Central America’s first female president in 1990, serving until 1997. After her husband, Pedro Chamorro, was assassinated by the Somoza dictatorship in 1978, she took over his newspaper, La Prensa, and became a symbol of opposition against the Sandinista government that overthrew the Somozas. As president, Chamorro reversed Sandinista policies, privatised state industries and promoted national reconciliation. Her presidency was marked by economic strife and social unrest, but she successfully ended hyperinflation and re-established international banking relationships.
Here are some questions relating to today, 25 April.
See #1. The first automobile license plate issued in the State of Minnesota, 1903. Image Wikipedia
On 25 April 1901, New York became the first US state to mandate license plates with a law ordering automobiles and motorcycles to display “the separate initials of the owner’s name placed upon the back thereof in a conspicuous place.” But where was the first place to legally require a registration or licence plate?
Belgium
France
United Kingdom
Today in 1859, construction of the Suez Canal officially began. How many countries does it pass through?
One
Two
Three
Today in 1959, exactly 100 years after work began on the Suez Canal (see #2 above), the Saint Lawrence Seaway opened, completing the link from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes and allowing ocean-going ships to reach the westernmost point of Lake Superior. What distance is the westernmost point of Lake Superior from the Atlantic Ocean?
1,230 miles/1,979 km
1,785 miles/2,873 km
2,340 miles/3,766 km
On this day in 1874, a physicist and Nobel Prize laureate (Physics, 1909) was born. He invented a successful system of radio telegraphy. Who was he?
Alessandro Volta
Enrico Fermi
Guglielmo Marconi
On 25 April 1990, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro became Central America’s first female president. What country was she president of?
The flag shown above is from a country where voting began on 23 April 1993, in a UN-monitored referendum to make its independence official. The country is…
Eritrea—Eritrea, located in the Horn of Africa on the Red Sea, gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a nearly 30-year war. It is a multi-ethnic nation with nine recognised ethnic groups, primarily Tigrinya and Tigre, and is one of the least developed countries globally. Eritrea is a unitary one-party presidential republic, and its capital and largest city is Asmara.
Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1998, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin who had killed Martin Luther King, Jr., died in prison in the United States. Where had he assassinated King?
Memphis, Tennessee—Martin Luther King Jr., a leading civil rights figure, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on 4 April 1968, leading to widespread riots. James Earl Ray, a career criminal, initially pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison but later recanted, alleging a conspiracy. The King family also believes the assassination was part of a government conspiracy.
Battle of Clontarf [1014] by Hugh Frazer, 1826. Image Wikipedia
Today in 1014, the Battle of Clontarf took place, where the High King Brian Boru defeated Viking invaders but was killed in battle. Brian Boru was the king of…
Ireland—The Battle of Clontarf, fought on 23 April 1014 near Dublin, was a significant conflict between Brian Boru’s Irish forces and a coalition of Leinster, Dublin, and Vikings. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, including the deaths of Brian, his son, and grandson, as well as the opposing leaders, the battle marked a turning point in the decline of Viking power in Ireland and solidified Brian’s legacy as a prominent figure in Irish history.
Drink Coca-Cola 5¢”, an 1890s advertising poster. Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1985, a company replaced its tried-and-tested product with a new version. However, in the face of public backlash, they were forced to revert to the original within months. What company?
Coca-Cola—In April 1985, Coca-Cola introduced a new flavour, New Coke, to combat declining market share, following a formula developed through taste tests. Despite initial taste tests showing most consumers preferred New Coke over both the original Coke and Pepsi, the company faced significant public backlash due to nostalgia for the original taste. Consequently, Coca-Cola reverted to the original formula on 10 July 1985, marketing it as Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke continued to be available, was renamed Coke II in 1992, and was eventually discontinued in 2002.
Ethelred the Unready, circa 968-1016. Illuminated manuscript, The Chronicle of Abindon, c.1220. MS Cott. Claude B.VI folio 87, verso, The British Library. Image Wikipedia
On 23 April 1016, King Ethelred II of England passed away. What was his epithet?
Ethelred the Unready—Ethelred II, known as Ethelred the Unready— was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death in 1016. His 37-year reign, the longest of any Anglo-Saxon English king, was marked by conflict with the Danes, including the St Brice’s Day massacre and the Danegeld tribute. As an ineffectual ruler, he failed to prevent Danish invasions, leading to distrust, disloyalty, and failed attempts to buy peace, ultimately resulting in his exile in 1013.
The flag shown above is from a country where voting began on 23 April 1993, in a UN-monitored referendum to make its independence official. The country is…
Eritrea
South Sudan
Eswatini
On this day in 1998, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin who had killed Martin Luther King, Jr., died in prison in the United States. Where had he assassinated King?
Montgomery, Alabama
Memphis, Tennessee
Macon, Georgia
Today in 1014, the Battle of Clontarf took place, where the High King Brian Boru defeated Viking invaders but was killed in battle. Brian Boru was the king of…
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
On this day in 1985, a company replaced its tried-and-tested product with a new version. However, in the face of public backlash, they were forced to revert to the original within months. What company?
Budweiser
Coca-Cola
McDonald’s
On 23 April 1016, King Ethelred II of England passed away. What was his epithet?
On 22 April 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral, a Portuguese navigator, is credited as the first European to reach…
Brazil—Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral sighted the mainland of South America near the present-day city of Pôrto Seguro, Brazil.
Blue Marble photograph taken by the crew of Apollo 17. Image NASA/Wikipedia
Earth Day was first celebrated today in…
1970—Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April, is a global event that honours environmental achievements and promotes sustainability. It originated in the US in 1970, organised by Gaylord Nelson and Denis Hayes, involving 20 million Americans and leading to significant environmental legislation. Today, it is observed worldwide with various activities addressing environmental concerns like climate change, involving a billion people in over 193 countries, with notable milestones such as the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016.
The First German Gas Attack at Ypres by William Roberts. Image Wikipedia
Where was modern chemical warfare initiated on 22 April 1915?
Belgium—Chemical weapons have a long history, dating back to ancient times when warring forces poisoned water supplies. However, they became true weapons of mass destruction during World War I with the introduction of modern chemical warfare by the German army by launching a chlorine attack at Ypres, Belgium, on 22 April 1915, killing 5,000 French and Algerian troops.
Vladimir Nabokov. Image Wikipedia
All of these Americans were born on 22 April, but who was born first?
Vladimir Nabokov, author—was born in 1899; Oppenheimer, 1904, and Nicholson, 1937. Vladimir Nabokov, a Russian-born American novelist and critic, wrote in both Russian and English, achieving international acclaim for his English-language works such as Lolita and Pale Fire.
Hernán Cortés. Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1519, a Spanish conquistador established a settlement at Veracruz, Mexico. Who was he?
Hernán Cortés—a Spanish conquistador, led an expedition from 1519 to 1521 that overthrew the Aztec Empire in Mexico, bringing much of mainland Mexico under Spanish rule. He strategically allied with local tribes, particularly the Tlaxcaltecs, who resented Aztec dominance, and used a native interpreter to aid his efforts. Despite defying orders from the governor of Cuba, Cortés’s leadership and the Aztecs’ internal conflicts resulted in the conquest of Tenochtitlán in 1521. For his achievements, he was awarded the title of marqués del Valle de Oaxaca.
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below and an explanation of the title and a song are at the end.
Portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart by Allan Ramsey. National Galleries of Scotland. Wikipedia
This battle, the last fought on British soil, took place on 16 April 1746; it was the Battle of…
The Battle of Culloden—fought on 16 April 1746—was the last Jacobite rising and the last full-scale battle on British soil. Led by Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart), the Jacobites, outnumbered and exhausted, were defeated by the Hanoverian forces under the Duke of Cumberland. The battle marked the end of the Highland clan culture and the Stuart dynasty’s last attempt to reclaim the British throne. Jim Clark, 1967 US Grand Prix Watkins Glen, NY. Wikipedia
The Scot who won the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship for the second time in 1965 was…
Jim Clark—a Scottish racing driver, competed in Formula One from 1960 to 1968, winning two World Drivers’ Championship titles with Lotus in 1963 and 1965. He set records for most wins, pole positions and fastest laps. Clark also achieved success in American open-wheel racing, winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1965. He began racing in 1956 and tragically died in a racing accident in 1968. Portrait of John Witherspoon, Presbyterian minister and President of Princeton University. Wikipedia
The only clergyman to sign the US Declaration of Independence was a Scottish minister; he was…
John Witherspoon—was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. He was a Founding Father of the United States and the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. After studying theology at the University of Edinburgh, he served as a pastor in Beith, Ayrshire and Paisley; he was known for his involvement in ecclesiastical debates. In 1768, he crossed the Atlantic to become president of the College of New Jersey, revitalising the institution by expanding its curriculum and increasing enrolment. A staunch supporter of American independence, Witherspoon was active in political affairs, serving in the Continental Congress and advocating for independence. He authored numerous works on religious and political subjects, including Ecclesiastical Characteristics and Considerations on the Nature and Extent of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament. The Citie of Edinburgh from the South (detail) by Wenceslas Hollar (1670). Wikipedia
The New Zealand city of Dunedin’s Scottish connection, is that it is named after…
Edinburgh—Dunedin’s name comes from the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, Dùn Èideann, which means “fort of Edin”. The name “Edin” derives from the Cumbric word Eidyn, referring to the region and its hillfort, Din Eidyn, located at Castle Rock.
This Scottish-born actor received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jimmy Malone in a 1987 film; he was…
Sean Connery—Sir Sean Connery, a Scottish actor, gained international fame for his role as James Bond. He also starred in films by Hitchcock, Lumet and Huston, winning an Academy Award—Best Supporting Actor as Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables)—and a knighthood.
Sean Connery as James Bond, Goldfinger, 1964. Wikipedia
Skye Boat Song
The post title is a line taken from the beginning of The Skye Boat Song which was composed in the late 19th century and recalled the journey of Bonnie Prince Charlie from Benbecula, an Atlantic island of the Outer Hebrides, to the Isle of Skye.
Skye Boat Song
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl loud the waves roar Thunderclaps rend the air Baffled our foes stand by the shore Follow they will not dare
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
Many's the lad fought on that day Well the claymore could wield When the night came silently lay Dead in Culloden's field
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
Though the waves leap soft shall ye sleep Ocean's a royal bed Rock'd in the deep Flora will keep Watch o'er your weary head
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
Burned are our homes exile and death Scattered the loyal men Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath Charlie will come again
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
On 15 April 1955, Ray Kroc launched McDonald’s Systems, Inc., later known as McDonald’s Corporation, in…
Des Plaines, Illinois—McDonald’s, founded in 1940, is an American multinational fast food chain. It serves over 69 million customers daily in more than 100 countries. “Teapot Rock-Famous Teapot Dome” “[Salt Creek] Oil District-In Wyoming,” Historical postcard, c. 1922. Wikipedia
On this day in 1922, US Senator John B. Kendrick (Wyoming) introduced a resolution calling for an investigation into a secret land deal. This led to the discovery of the…
Teapot Dome scandal—The Teapot Dome scandal involved the secret leasing of federal oil reserves by Secretary of the Interior Albert Bacon Fall to Harry F. Sinclair and Edward L. Doheny. Fall received bribes from Sinclair and Doheny, leading to his conviction for bribery and imprisonment.
George Cross granted to the Island of Malta in 1942. National War Museum, Malta. Wikipedia
On this day in 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island fortress of…
Malta—see quote from handwritten message of King George VI.
“To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history.“
Today in 1923, ___ became generally available for use by people with diabetes. The missing word is…
Insulin—a pancreatic hormone, regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating glucose uptake into cells. Insulin deficiency leads to diabetes mellitus, requiring insulin injections
On 15 April 2019, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris in France was seriously damaged by a large fire. This Paris cathedral is located on the…
Île de la Cité—a 22.5-hectare (55.5 acres) island in the Seine, is the historical heart of Paris. It features iconic landmarks like Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle and the Pont Neuf, and underwent significant transformations in the 19th century under Haussmann’s urban renewal project.
Quizology.Online 