Main content

The first ever quintuplets

In 1934, the Dionne babies became the first quintuplets to survive birth but grew up away from their parents. Millions travelled to see them in their specially-adapted nursery.

Ninety years ago, the first surviving quintuplets were born in a small village in northern Canada.

The Dionnes grew up in a specially-adapted nursery where millions of people could visit them.

But, years later they struggled to adapt to life back with their parents which led to a fight for compensation.

This programme was produced and presented by Simon Watts in 2012 using ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ archive.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the β€˜Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and GΓΆrel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: The quintuplets on their fourth birthday. Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Wed 29 May 2024 02:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 28 May 2024 07:50GMT
  • Tue 28 May 2024 11:50GMT
  • Tue 28 May 2024 17:50GMT
  • Tue 28 May 2024 21:50GMT
  • Wed 29 May 2024 02:50GMT

Podcast