Twenty questions, round 319

[Spartaculous]

Is this person's invention associated with the Industrial Revolution?

No, not particularly so.

John Harrison

No.

I think we are at 19 questions right now. I will give a hint and say that Hominidae did correctly read my cryptic comment earlier, which was intended to not just be a joke about the previous round, but also indicative that this person's source of fame has shifted over time. If you began Q13 with "Was this person, in his lifetime, ...", the answer, I think, would have been "No.".

[DreamTrawler]

1,3: Real male human being
2,6,14: Born 1601-1718
1,5,7,11,12,15: Born in England
8: Native speaker of an Indo-European language
9: Not born to a Catholic family
10,13,16,17,18,19: Known for an invention, but not one associated with the Industrial Revolution - not primarily known for science or religion
4: Not primarily famous for athletics or visual, performing, or literary arts (including any kind of writing)

NOT
John Locke (DreamTrawler)
Samuel Pepys (damo666)
Jethro Tull (damo666)
John Harrison (Hominidae)

Hint: The source of this person's fame may differ between when they were alive and the present

[DreamTrawler]

We may actually be at 20 questions depending on how you counted those guesses

[Hominidae]

If we have actually been through 20 questions: Henry Bishop (postmaster general)

(If you're not counting one of Damo's guesses as unfree, then ignore this guess)

[DreamTrawler]

If we are on the final 5 guesses - Christopher Wren?

[Hominidae]

Primarily famous for being a monarch, royal family member, politician, religious leader, theologian, philosopher, scientist, mathematician, historian, and/or inventor?

Note that this got a "yes" without any conditions. I am guessing that this person was primarily known during his lifetime as a monarch (unlikely), royal family member, or politician.

[Spartaculous]

I am going to allow one more yes/no question (along with any unused free guesses), and then we will start the final guessing. I am currently ignoring the most recent two guesses.

[Hominidae]

I can't think of any good questions, so we might as well narrow down the birth year slightly. Born 1661 or later?

[Aristocrat]

Free guess (since 20 not answered yet): William Petty

[Spartaculous]

I can't think of any good questions, so we might as well narrow down the birth year slightly. Born 1661 or later?

Yes.

This now begins the period of final guesses. I am going to be a bit more generous with final guesses than promised in the rules, giving each player 2 guesses, with a 24-hour time limit (until 3:00 p.m. London time tomorrow).

I will also offer occasional hints. Based on feedback received in the past, I will do my best to make these hints answers to yes/no questions I could have reasonably been asked, and not make any of them dead giveaways.

First hint: yes, this person was best known in his lifetime as a politician.

[Spartaculous]

Free guess (since 20 not answered yet): William Petty

No (acknowledged as a free guess).

[cdngooner]

Since I get two guesses, I'll use one on Samuel Morland, although I would say he is more well known as an inventor than a politician.

[Spartaculous]

Since I get two guesses, I'll use one on Samuel Morland, although I would say he is more well known as an inventor than a politician.

No.

[Hominidae]

Since I get two guesses, I'll use one on Samuel Morland, although I would say he is more well known as an inventor than a politician.

No.

He was also born too early. We are looking for someone born 1661-1718.

[Jamiet99uk]

Thomas Savery
William Oughtred

[Spartaculous]

Thomas Savery
William Oughtred

No.

[Hominidae]

I wonder if this person is more associated with somewhere other than England. Searching for English inventors isn't turning up anyone who fits.

[Hominidae]

But even then, just searching for inventors and inventions isn't turning up anyone either.

[Hominidae]

John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich

[Spartaculous]

John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich

There we go! Congratulations on 6 in a row!