Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Churchill was born into the aristocratic Spencer-Churchill family on the 30th November 1874 at Blenheim Palace – exactly 150 years ago. His father, Lord Randolph, was a prominent politician, and his mother, Jennie Jerome, an American socialite. Churchill flourished as a cadet in the cavalry of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, and at age 19, joined the 4th Hussars regiment of the British Army. He began working as a war correspondent and soldier across the British Empire, and gained notoriety in Britain after a daring escape from a Prisoner of War camp in South Africa. By age 26, he had already published five books, all the while avidly poring over old parliamentary debates in readiness for a political career. In 1900, Churchill stood as the Conservative candidate in Oldham, and won the seat – marking the start of a fascinating and longstanding career in British politics.

On the day Hitler launched his invasion of France, Belgium, and Holland in 1940, Neville Chamberlain resigned, and Winston Churchill succeeded him as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. One of the first public figures to warn of the growing threat from Nazi Germany, he was resolute in his aim to defeat Hitler. His first address was delivered in the House of Commons on 13th May 1940: the now famous, Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat speech. Churchill would spend hours writing and practicing reading his speeches aloud, utilising language to send a message of hope and determination across the world. He went on to oversee many crucial military operations, such as the D-Day invasion, which marks its 80th anniversary this year. The statesman reflected on his time as Prime Minister in WWII as his finest accomplishment, calling what came afterwards ‘all anticlimax.'

After leading Britain to victory in WWII, Sir Winston Churchill’s legacy was cemented through not just his contributions to the war effort, but countless other impressive accolades too. Over his lifetime, Churchill authored 43 books, and in 1953 was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature, ‘for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory’. In the same year, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him at Buckingham Palace, a rare honour in recognition of his positive contributions to the United Kingdom. Churchill passed away at the age of 90 on the 24th January 1965 and his life was solemnised with a state funeral, attended by world leaders and vast crowds wishing to pay their respects. In 2002, the statesman was voted ‘greatest Briton of all time’, underscoring his enduring popularity and the profound mark he left on 20th century history.