British History 1714-1901 Flashcards
The Irish famine was mainly caused by the failure of which crop because of disease?
POTATO
Which Victorian was known as “The Lady with the Lamp”?
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE
As well as the Young Pretender how is Charles Edward Stuart more popularly known?
BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE
Who commanded the Prussian army at the Battle of Waterloo?
GEBHARD VON BLÜCHER
The Jacobites were routed by a government army led by George II’s son Prince William Duke of Cumberland at which battle of 1746?
CULLODEN
Having served in the Royal Navy in his youth which monarch was nicknamed the “Sailor King”?
WILLIAM IV
Which British general was mortally wounded during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (aka Battle of Quebec) on 13 September 1759?
JAMES WOLFE
Who introduced the penny post in 1840?
ROWLAND HILL
What part of Captain Robert Jenkins’ anatomy was cut off sparking a conflict between Britain and Spain that lasted from 1739 to 1748?
EAR
Nelson destroyed the French fleet at which battle in 1798 forcing Napoleon to abandon his invasion of Egypt?
NILE/ABOUKIR BAY
Where on the Isle of White did Queen Victoria die on 22 January 1901?
OSBORNE HOUSE
George II commanded his troops at which battle in 1743? It was the last time that a British monarch personally led his troops into battle.
DETTINGEN
What collective name was given to the Dorset agricultural labourers who were arrested for and convicted of swearing a secret oath as members of the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers in 1834?
TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS
Where in Britain did a force of 1400 French soldiers land near on 22 February 1797 only to surrender two days later? This is often referred to as the ‘last invasion of Britain’.
FISHGUARD
Who was commissioned to write four new coronation anthems including Zadok the Priest when George II was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1727?
GEORGE HANDEL
A French naval victory just outside Chesapeake Bay led to a Franco-American siege of which city and subsequent capture of 7000 British troops?
YORKTOWN
The Charge of the Light Brigade took place during which battle of the Crimean War?
BALACLAVA
Which MP became the first railway fatality in 1830 when he fell under a train at the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway?
WILLIAM HUSKISSON
Britain and France signed which treaty in March 1802 bringing an interval of peace in Europe that lasted for 14 months?
TREATY OF AMIENS
Which British Admiral was court-martialed and executed after a failed attempt to save Minorca from being captured by the French in 1756?
JOHN BYNG
Which leading figure in the United Irishmen committed suicide in prison after being captured during an unsuccessful attempt to land in Ireland?
WOLFE TONE
The failure of which British joint-stock company led to a financial crisis in 1720?
SOUTH SEA COMPANY
Dubbed ‘the Crystal Palace’ who designed the main building which housed The Great Exhibition of 1851?
JOSEPH PAXTON
Introduced in England and Wales in 1696 which unpopular tax on “light and air” was abolished in 1851?
WINDOW TAX
Which group was responsible for The Boston Tea Party on 16 December 1773?
SONS OF LIBERTY
Along with Herbert Burrows which woman organised the match-girls strike in 1888 of the women and girls working at the Bryant and May Factory in Bow?
ANNIE BESANT
At which naval battle of 1801 is Nelson reputed to have disobeyed Sir Hyde Parker’s order to withdraw by holding the telescope to his blind eye?
COPENHAGEN
The Peterloo Massacre took place in which British city on 16 August 1819?
MANCHESTER
The last public hanging took place in Britain in 1868 when which member of the Fenians was convicted for his part in the Clerkenwell bombing?
MICHAEL BARRETT
How are the members of the Order of the Knights of St Francis of Wycombe which was formed by Francis Dashwood in 1746 better known?
HELLFIRE CLUB
Sir William Watkin and Alexandre Lavalley undertook which major engineering project in 1881 before it was abandoned in May 1882?
CHANNEL TUNNEL
The Jacobites defeated an inexperienced government army led by General Cope at which 10 minute battle in September 1745?
PRESTONPANS
What was the name of the defensive lines which Wellington constructed to protect Lisbon during the Peninsular Wars?
LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS
Which son of George II died unexpectedly in 1751 leaving George’s grandson George to become heir apparent and ultimately king in 1760?
FREDERICK
Which Act of Parliament caused consternation in the American colonies – and gave rise to the slogan “No taxation without representation”?
STAMP ACT
Which Indian ruler did Robert Clive defeat at the Battle of Plassey in 1757?
SIRAJ UD-DAULAH
In which year were the first convicts sent from Britain to Australia?
1787
An early incident in the Indian Mutiny was when which Indian soldier (sepoy) shot at Lt. Henry Baugh at Barrackpore parade ground near Calcutta?
MANGAL PANDEY
Who led the American Continental Navy squadron at the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779 in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire?
JOHN PAUL JONES
Which year became known as “Annus Mirabilis” (Year of Victories) after a string of British victories during the Seven Years’ War?
1759
In 1789 Catherine Murphy was the last person to suffer which method of execution in Britain?
BURNED AT THE STAKE
After his defeat at Waterloo Napoleon surrendered to Captain Frederick Maitland who was in command of which ship on 15 July 1815?
HMS BELLEROPHON
What was Queen Victoria’s actual first Christian name? She chose to be known by her second name once she acceded to the throne.
ALEXANDRINA
Which naval battle fought on 30 November 1853 provided Britain and France with the casus belli for declaring war against Russia?
BATTLE OF SINOP
Who led the naval mutiny at Nore in 1797?
RICHARD PARKER
Which treaty was signed at the conclusion of the War of 1812?
GHENT
The Speenhamland system of outdoor relief intended to mitigate rural poverty (or Poor Law) in England was named after a 1795 meeting at which public house in Speenhamland Berkshire?
PELICAN INN
Which area of London is named after a battle in Italy in 1806?
MAIDA VALE
What name was given to the strict and elaborate set of rules designed by Victoria Duchess of Kent along with her attendant Sir John Conroy concerning the upbringing of the Duchess’s daughter the future Queen Victoria?
KENSINGTON SYSTEM
In 1838 who drafted the ‘People’s Charter’?
WILLIAM LOVETT
