Winston Churchill

Statesman, Military Commander

1874 – 1965

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Who was Winston Churchill?

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, DL, FRS, Hon. RA was a British politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century, Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, a historian, a writer, and an artist. He is the only British Prime Minister in history to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature, and was also the first person to be made an Honorary Citizen of the United States.

Churchill was born into an aristocratic family as the grandson of the 7th Duke of Marlborough. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was a charismatic politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer; his mother, Jennie Jerome, was an American socialite. As a young army officer, he saw action in British India, The Sudan, and the Second Boer War. He gained fame as a war correspondent and wrote books about his campaigns.

At the forefront of politics for fifty years, he held many political and cabinet positions. Before the First World War, he served as President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary, and First Lord of the Admiralty as part of the Asquith Liberal government. During the war, he continued as First Lord of the Admiralty until the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign caused his departure from government. He then briefly resumed active army service on the Western Front as commander of the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He returned to government as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Air. After the War, Churchill served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Conservative government of 1924–29, controversially returning the pound sterling in 1925 to the gold standard at its pre-war parity, a move widely seen as creating deflationary pressure on the UK economy. Also controversial was his opposition to increased home rule for India and his resistance to the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII.

Famous Quotes:

  • Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.
  • Never, never, never give up.
  • I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosities he excites among his opponents.
  • This was their finest hour
  • Personally, I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.
  • I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.
  • The eagle has ceased to scream, but the parrots will now begin to chatter. The war of the giants is over and the pigmies will now start to squabble.
  • I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns.
  • Dictators ride to and fro upon tigers which they dare not dismount.
  • Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on.

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Born
Nov 30, 1874
Woodstock
Also known as
  • Mr. Churchill
  • Prime Minister Winston Churchill
  • Sir Winston Churchill
  • Winston S. Churchill
  • Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
  • Winnie
  • The British Bulldog
  • Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill
  • Sir Churchill Winston
  • Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill
Parents
Siblings
Spouses
Children
Religion
  • Anglicanism
Nationality
  • United Kingdom
  • England
Profession
Education
  • Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
    ( - 1894/12)
  • Harrow School
    (1888/04/17 - )
  • St. George's School, Ascot
  • Stoke Brunswick School
Employment
  • University of Bristol
Lived in
  • Woodstock
Died
Jan 24, 1965
Hyde Park Gate
Resting place
St Martin's Church, Bladon

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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"Winston Churchill." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/winston_churchill>.

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