There have been five sets of Presidents with the same last name. Can you name them all without the Google?
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I’ll start with three. Roosevelt, Bush, Johnson.
Hint: Think really early.
2nd hint: name of one of the Beatles
I get Adams, Roosevelt, and Bush, but I wouldn’t have gotten Johnson right away.
One more?
Last one is pretty obscure. I wouldn’t know it if I hadn’t been doing research on the last article. I just think it’s interesting that out of 44 Presidents, Five shared names.
Another hint. One didn’t live too long into his term and is often overlooked by historians.
Harrison. Thanks for the Beatles hint.
William Henry Harrison was the last President born before the Declaration of Independence and the first President to die in office. He lasted all of 32 days before dying from complications of a cold he caught from dressing improperly on a rather cold inauguration day.
His Grandson Benjamin had the distinction of making Grover Cleaveland the only non-consecutive two term President by defeating him in 1888 and losing to him four years later.
As an Ohioan, Harrison was easy, although William Henry Harrison is claimed by both VA and OH ie The mother of presidents dispute. Born in VA 1773, he moved to Ohio after the War of 1812 where his political career flourished.
Tippecanoe and Tyler too
Harrison’s death was the beginning of Tecumseh’s curse.
and so it goes …
He lasted all of 32 days before dying from complications of a cold he caught from dressing improperly on a rather cold inauguration day.
Actually no, On March 26, Harrison became ill with a cold. According to the prevailing medical misconception of that time, it was believed that his illness was directly caused by the bad weather. Modern studies have shown that exposure to adverse weather does not cause respiratory illnesses, and Harrison had become ill more than three weeks after the inauguration.
>
For many years I also thought his death was a direct result from his inauguration faux pas.
carry on
Hunh. Whatdya know? I’ve heard inauguration day cold story all my life. Urban Legend, I guess. Thanks, shiloh for clearing that up. Nice Avatar, BTW.
Okay, if we’re doing trivia questions, I’ve got one.
Who was the first President of the Untied States?
I’ll make it easy on you. It’s multiple choice. Was it:
1) John Hancock
2) John Hanson
3) Elias Boudinot
4) Peyton Randolf
Defend your answer.
I’d go with Hancock. Mostly because I don’t know those other cats. Hancock is probably most famous for his autograph.
I actually meant “United States” not “Untied States”. I didn’t mean this as a trick question. Sorry for the typo.
Hanson, w/out looking it up, he was the president of the 1st Continental Congress or something lol.
First saw this trivia question about (30) years ago …
I’ll provide an answer to my President question later. Here’s another US trivia question. Well, it’s a four-part question.
Of the 50 states, which one is farthest:
1) North
2) South
3) West
4) East
AK is the the most northern, western and eastern as the Aleutian Islands cross the International Dateline.
Hawaii is the most southern state …
Shiloh wins the prize!
Can you name the most North, South, East, and West of the 48 Continental States?
My mom and dad visited Point Barrow, AK about (20) years ago.
carry on
Dang, shiloh beat me to it.
Good argument for Hanson! Yes, he was the first President of the Continental Congress, which was the first governing body here.
As for Hancock, he was President of the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 when the Colonies declared themselves to be an independent nation. So he has a claim on the title as well.
Any idea why the other two are on my list?
Which state in the United States is the furthest east?
None of the above. John Hanson wasn’t the President of the United States, as the United States did not yet exist.
See this for more details.
Okay, here’s another one. Which is further north; Salem ORE. Or Salem, MASS? Portland ORE, or Portrland, ME?
Michael, that’s an informative and convincing argument. Thanks for the link.
But note, my question did not include any reference to the “country” of the United States, nor the “nation.” Under both the Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation, there are references to the “united states of America” as an entity. The nature of that entity changed, first from a collection of colonies, then to an alliance of sovereign states, then to a single nation. It seems to me that it is valid to view this as a single, evolving entity. YMMV of course.
The other two men I named — Payton Randolf was the first President of the United States under the Articles of Confederation.
Elias Boudinot was chosen somewhat arbitrarily. During the course of the Revolutionary War, other nations slowly, one at a time, began officially recognizing the United States as being independent from Britain — as being, in effect, not British colonies, but a separate and self-sufficient political entity. At some point, the number of foreign recognitions reached a sort of critical mass, signifying acceptance by the rest of the world. Basically, this could be seen as having achieved victory in the war. I chose Elias Boudinot’s term as President of the Continental Congress as signifying that time. Others can perhaps choose a different date — there was no official signing of some document, which we can use as a more firm date.
At any rate, the point of my question was not really to make an argument for someone else to be seen as having been our first President, as it was an excuse to make reference to some obscure and (to me) delightful tidbits about American history.
And, darn, I mixed up two of the names — Peyton Randolf was the first President of the Continental Congress, whereas John Hanson was the first President under the Articles of Confederation.
Oregon for both. Maine’s a lot further south than most people realize.
Correct! Michael wins. Most students grew up with the Mercator projection maps in school which tends to flatten and distort physical features. But Both Salem and Portland Oregon are above the 45th Parallel. While Portland, ME is at 43 degrees
54°40′ or fight.
And yet it was neither, in the end. 🙂
Yeah, those Whigs talked a good game, but then when it came down to it, they crumpled like cheap suits.
Remind you of anyone in contemporary politics?
Freaking wigs. Might as well be beards.
I kinda like the Untied States. Indicative of our current political atmosphere, no?
Crap! Did I read the map wrong?