Quiz: Pioneers from British history

Quiz: Pioneers from British history

We are celebrating the remarkable individuals who have shaped British history, from groundbreaking scientists to social reformers. Test your knowledge of historical figures and learn more about their astounding achievements with the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB).

Who was Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)?A: A romantic poet and satirist, whose poems include “She Walks in Beauty”.B: The creator of one of the earliest computer programmes.C: A popular portrait artist and one of two female founding members of the Royal Academy of Arts.What is Aneurin [Nye] Bevan (1897–1960) best known for?A: Founding the modern hospice.B: Establishing the National Health Service (NHS).C: Advocating for mental health care as General Secretary of the National Association for Mental Health.What is Sir Roger Bannister (1929–2018) best known for?A: Captaining England when they won the World Cup.B: Winning the Wimbledon singles championship five times.C: Becoming the first athlete to break the four-minute mile.Who was (Una) Winifred Atwell (1913–1983)?A: One of the longest-serving governors of the BBC.B: A community activist and the first Black headteacher in Wales.C: A musician who topped the British pop charts and sold out the Royal Albert Hall.Who was Dr Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958)?A: A crystallographer who contributed to the discovery of the structure of DNA.B: A crystallographer who discovered the structure of penicillin.C: A geneticist who pioneered the mapping of human chromosomes.What invention is Sir James Martin (1893–1981) best known for?A: The ejector seat.B: The portable fire extinguisher.C: Cat’s eyes.What is Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910) best known for?A: Leading the Edinburgh Seven, the first group of female students matriculated at a British university.B: Becoming the first recognized female doctor in Britain.C: Setting up a boarding house to treat soldiers during the Crimean War after the War Office refused her services.

Featured image by Ray Harrington, via Unsplash, public domain.

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