These questions are related to events connected to today’s date, 12 September?
St. Mary’s Church, Newport, Rhode Island. Image Wikipedia
One
On 12 September 1953, Jacqueline Lee Bouvier married at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island. Who did she marry?
Two
On 12 September 1885, Arbroath achieved a world record scoreline in professional football (soccer) by defeating Bon Accord in the first round of the Scottish Cup. Was the margin of Arbroath’s win 26, 31, or 36 goals?
Three
The estimated age range of the wall paintings in the Lascaux Cave, France, and the year in which Lascaux was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List are 17,000 to 22,000 years and 1979; 87,000 to 92,000 years old and 1954; or 147,000 to 220,000 years old and 2000?
Four
Salisbury, Rhodesia, was founded on 12 September 1890. What are the current names of the city and country?
Five
The Battle of Marathon, fought on this day in 490 BCE, was a victory for the Athenians against which empire?
Edward VI by William Scrots. Image WikipediaMary by Hans Eworth, 1554. Image Wikipedia
One
England’s Elizabeth I was born on 7 September 1533, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. When she ascended the throne in 1558, she followed two siblings, whose regnal names were?
Answers: Edward VI and Mary I
Elizabeth I’s shrewdness, courage, and self-display inspired loyalty and unified England against foreign enemies. Her carefully crafted image as a symbol of the nation’s destiny, coupled with her authority to make critical decisions, defined the Elizabethan Age.
Two
Today marks the anniversary of ESPN’s debut on American television. In which decade did this event occur?
Answer: Seventies (1970s)
ESPN, founded in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen and his son Scott, revolutionised sports broadcasting. With backing from Getty Oil and later ABC, ESPN secured major sports contracts, including the NFL and NCAA football, establishing itself as a dominant force in the industry. Despite facing challenges in the 2010s, ESPN continues to evolve, launching streaming services and expanding its reach through partnerships and acquisitions.
Napoleon I on the Borodino Heights, by Vasily Vereshchagin (1897). Image Wikipedia
Three
The armies of what two nations fought at the Battle of Borodino on 7 September 1812?
Answer: France and Russia
The Battle of Borodino, fought on 7 September 1812, was the bloodiest single day of the Napoleonic Wars. Despite a French victory, the Imperial Russian army retreated, leading to the French occupation of Moscow and the eventual failure of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia.
Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses), born on this day in 1860, became internationally renowned as a painter of naïve folk art depicting rural life in the United States. Where was born: Greenwich, New York; Greenwich, Ohio; or Greenwich, Pennsylvania?
Answer: Greenwich, New York
Grandma Moses, an American folk artist, gained fame in her 70s for her paintings of rural life. Her work, characterised by simple realism and nostalgic atmosphere, has been widely exhibited and merchandised. Greenwich, New York, is a town in Washington County with a population of 4,868. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area and has historical significance as part of the Underground Railroad.
RMS Lusitania, possibly New York, c.1907. Image Wikipedia
Five
Launched on this day in 1907, what Cunard liner was named after an ancient Roman province on the Iberian Peninsula?
Answer: Lusitania (RMS Lusitania)
The ship’s name was inspired by Lusitania, an ancient Roman province located on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula. This region is now known as southern Portugal and Extremadura, Spain. Lusitania was targeted by a German submarine, torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 1,193 lives in May 1915.
England’s Elizabeth I was born on 7 September 1533, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. When she ascended the throne in 1558, she followed two siblings, whose regnal names were?
Two
Today marks the anniversary of ESPN’s debut on American television. In which decade did this event occur?
Three
The armies of what two nations fought at the Battle of Borodino on 7 September 1812?
Four
Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses), born on this day in 1860, became internationally renowned as a painter of naïve folk art depicting rural life in the United States. Where was born: Greenwich, New York; Greenwich, Ohio; or Greenwich, Pennsylvania?
Answer: RMS Lusitania
The ship’s name was inspired by Lusitania, an ancient Roman province located on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula. This region is now known as southern Portugal and Extremadura, Spain. Lusitania was targeted by a German submarine, torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 1,193 lives in May 1915.
George Mallory (3rd from left), Tibet, 1924. Image Wikipedia
One
People ask me, ‘What is the use of climbing Mount Everest?’ and my answer is ‘because it’s there.’
— George Mallory
In what decade of the twentieth century did mountaineers George Mallory and Sandy Irvine go missing near the summit of Mount Everest?
Answer: Twenties
English mountaineer George Mallory participated in the first three British Mount Everest expeditions. In 1924, he and fellow Englishman Sandy Irvine were last seen near Everest’s summit, sparking debate about whether they reached the summit.
What British motor racing commentator (1923-2021) said…
The lead car is unique, except for the one behind it which is identical.
Answer: Murray Walker
Murray Walker (1923-2021) did his first broadcast commentary in 1948 and became a full-time commentator in the mid-seventies. He was known for making comical blunders which became known as ‘Murrayisms’ Wikipedia has supplied the following examples:
We’ve had cars going off left, right and centre Do my eyes deceive me, or is Senna’s Lotus sounding rough? With half of the race gone, there is half of the race still to go There is nothing wrong with the car, apart from that it is on fire, and The gap between them is now nine-tenths of a second; that’s less than a second! — Wikipedia
Yogi Berra, an American professional baseball catcher, manager and coach, played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, winning 10 World Series championships with the New York Yankees. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in baseball history and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Berra was known for his malapropisms and paradoxical statements, some examples below courtesy of Wikipedia It’s déjà vu all over again. You can observe a lot by watching On why he no longer went to Ruggeri’s, a St. Louis restaurant: ‘Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded’ When complimented by a woman in the grandstands on how he seemed to be enduring the heat well on a hot summer’s day: ‘Thanks, ma’am. You don’t look so hot yourself’ Always go to other people’s funerals; otherwise they won’t go to yours The future ain’t what it used to be A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore If you can’t imitate him, don’t copy him I really didn’t say everything I said — Wikipedia
Chuck Yeager next to experimental aircraft Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis. Image Wikipedia
Five
If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it’s an outstanding landing.
The above quote was from a pilot who, on 14 October 1947, while piloting Glamorous Glennis broke the sound barrier. Who was the pilot?
Answer: Chuck Yeagar
Yeagar became the first person to break the sound barrier on that flight. Piloting Glamorous Glennis, a Bell X-1 named after his wife, he reached Mach 1.05 st 45,000 feet (13,700. metres) over the Mojave Desert, California.
Henry Hudson’s voyages to North America. Image Wikipedia
One
On 3 September 1609, an English navigator and explorer sailed into what is now known as New York Harbour. He made four expeditions to find a route from Europe to Asia, and a bay, river and strait are named after him. What are his first and second names?
Answer: Henry Hudson
In 1606, Henry Hudson sailed up the river that now bears his name. In Canada, the Hudson Strait links the North Atlantic Ocean (Labrador Sea) to Hudson Bay.
On 3 September 1935, who became the first person to drive an automobile at over 300 miles per hour?
Answer: Sir Malcolm Campbell
On September 3, 1935, at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, his automobile was timed at 301.1292 miles (484.62 km) per hour, the first officially clocked land-vehicle performance exceeding 300 miles (483 km) per hour. — Encyclopædia Britannica
Three
On 3 September 1939, after the invasion of Poland, Britain, France, and which two of these countries – Australia, Canada, or New Zealand – declared war on Germany?
Answer: Australia and New Zealand
On 3 September 1939, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King announced the recommendation for a declaration of war in a radio broadcast. On 10 September 1939, a declaration of war by Canada against Germany was made by order-in-council signed by King George VI, King of Canada.
NASA’s Viking 2 on the surface of Mars. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Four
On this day in 1976, Viking 2, a NASA spacecraft, completed its journey, landed at its destination, and began sending information back to Earth. What planet had it landed on?
Answer: Mars
The Viking 2 mission, part of the American Viking programme, included an orbiter and a lander. The lander operated for 1,316 days, while the orbiter functioned for 706 orbits until July 25, 1978.
James Stewart, Jean Arthur and Frank Capra on the set of Mr Smith Goes to Washington. Image Wikipedia
Five
The director of 1939’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life died on 3 September 1991. Who was he?
Answer: Frank Capra
Italian-American film director Frank Capra, known for his influence in the 1930s and 1940s, won three Academy Awards for Best Director. Despite a career decline after World War II, his films, including It’s a Wonderful Life, were later critically acclaimed.
Another five questions which are related to today, September 3rd.
Set of Mr Smith Goes to Washington. See question 5. Image Wikipedia
One
On 3 September 1609, an English navigator and explorer sailed into what is now known as New York Harbour. He made four expeditions to find a route from Europe to Asia, and a bay, river and strait are named after him. What are his first and second names?
Two
On 3 September 1935, who became the first person to drive an automobile at over 300 miles per hour?
Three
On 3 September 1939, after the invasion of Poland, Britain, France, and which two of these countries – Australia, Canada, or New Zealand – declared war on Germany?
Four
On this day in 1976, Viking 2, a NASA spacecraft, completed its journey, landed at its destination, and began sending information back to Earth. What planet had it landed on?
Five
The director of 1939’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life died on 3 September 1991. Who was he?
Bookplate of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan, shown with one of his great-ape family, is holding the planet Mars and is surrounded by other characters from Burroughs’ stories and symbols relating to his personal interests and career. Image Wikipedia
One
On 1 September 1875, an American novelist was born. Starting in 1914, following a 1912 magazine story, he wrote a series of novels about an ape-man who was also known as John Clayton. Who was this novelist?
Answer: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) was an American writer known for creating Tarzan and John Carter. Tarzan, aka John Clayton and Viscount Greystoke, first appeared in Tarzan of the Apes as a 1912 magazine serialisation and 1914 novel. This was followed by 23 further novels and Tarzan became a cultural icon, spawning comic strip, films and merchandise.
On this date in 1969, Muammar al-Qaddafi, or al-Gaddafi, along with a group of fellow young army officers, deposed the king and declared Libya a republic. Who was the deposed king?
Answer: King Idris I
Muammar Gaddafi ruled Libya from 1969 to 2011, initially as a revolutionary leader and later as the Brotherly Leader of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. He implemented his Third International Theory, nationalised the oil industry, and promoted Islamic socialism. Gaddafi’s rule was marked by authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and support for terrorism, leading to his overthrow and assassination during the 2011 Libyan Civil War.
On 1 September 1954, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window opened in American film theatres. Starring James Stewart, it also featured a future princess. Who was this future princess?
Answer: Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco)
Grace Kelly, an American actress, achieved stardom in Hollywood films before marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. As Princess of Monaco, she focused on charity work, particularly for children and the arts. Kelly passed away at the age of 52 due to injuries from a car crash.
On this date in 1972, the first native-born American to become world champion achieved that title. Who was the American and who did he defeat to win the world title?
Answer: Bobby Fischer (USA) defeated Boris Spassky (USSR)
The 1972 World Chess Championship, held in Reykjavík, Iceland, marked the end of 24 years of Soviet dominance. The first game was played on 11 July 1972. The 21st and last game, begun on August 31, was adjourned after 40 moves, with Spassky resigning the next day without resuming play or attending the venue. Fischer won the match 12½–8½, becoming the eleventh undisputed world champion. This victory made Fischer the first US-born world champion.
On 1 September 1985, a search found the wreck of the Titanic lying at a depth of 13.000 feet (4,000 metres). Who was the oceanographer who led this search?
Answer: Robert Ballard
Robert Ballard, an American oceanographer, is renowned for discovering the Titanic in 1985 using the submersible Argo. He pioneered deep-sea archaeology and explored the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Galapagos Rift, uncovering thermal vents and chemosynthesis. Ballard also founded the JASON project, the Institute for Exploration, and the Ocean Exploration Trust, continuing his search for shipwrecks and sharing his discoveries through writing.
Lord of the…
The post title refers to both Lord of the Jungle and Lord of the Apes which have been used for Tarzan.
Tarzan and the Golden Lion. Illustration by James Allen St. John. Image Wikipedia
On 1 September 1875, an American novelist was born. Starting in 1914, following a 1912 magazine story, he wrote a series of novels about an ape-man who was also known as John Clayton. Who was this novelist?
Two
On this date in 1969, Muammar al-Qaddafi, or al-Gaddafi, along with a group of fellow young army officers, deposed the king and declared Libya a republic. Who was the deposed king?
Three
On 1 September 1954, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window opened in American film theatres. Starring James Stewart, it also featured a future princess. Who was this future princess?
Four
On this date in 1972, the first native-born American to become world champion achieved that title. Who was the American and who did he defeat to win the world title?
Five
On 1 September 1985, a search found the wreck of the Titanic lying at a depth of 13.000 feet (4,000 metres). Who was the oceanographer who led this search?
Lyndon B. Johnson, 1915. Image WikipediaLyndon B Johnson, 1972. Image Wikipedia
One
Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?
Answer: Lyndon B Johnson
Lyndon B Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, served from 1963 to 1969. He assumed the presidency after John F. Kennedy’s assassination and was later elected in a landslide. Johnson’s presidency is remembered for his Great Society programmes, which aimed to expand civil rights, improve healthcare, and combat poverty, but his legacy is also marred by the Vietnam War.
Two
On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?
Answer: 1930s (1939)
The jet engine, though conceptually ancient, only became practical in the 20th century. Early attempts, like the Caproni Campini N.1 and Tsu-11, were unsuccessful. The breakthrough came with the gas turbine, leading to the development of the turbojet, with Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain (He178) playing pivotal roles in its creation.
Three
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last? 1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes 2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes 3. Between 960 and 990 minutes
Answer: Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes
The war lasted no longer than 40 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history. — Encyclopædia Britannica
The conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes, marking it as the shortest recorded war in history. — Wikipedia
Four
The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?
Answer: Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins, a 1964 American musical film, features Julie Andrews as a magical nanny who transforms a troubled London household.
Five
On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve? 1. 199.96 mph 2. 273.13 mph 3. 345.49 mph
Answer: 345.49 mph
Captain George Eyston, a British engineer and racing driver, broke the land speed record three times between 1937 and 1939.
Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy, pictured above in 1915, went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?
Two
On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?
Three
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last? 1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes 2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes 3. Between 960 and 990 minutes
Four
The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?
Five
On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve? 1. 199.96 mph 2. 273.48 mph 3. 345.49 mph
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