Winston Churchill:Discover the life of the British Prime Minister

Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (1874-1965) was a British politician and Prime Minister of Great Britain.

He was one of the most iconic figures during World War II (1939-1945) as he embodied the Allied resistance against Nazism.

Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was born on November 30, 1874 at Blenheim Palace in the English city of Woodstock. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill was English and his mother, Jennie Jerome, American.

From a wealthy family, Churchill had a strict upbringing in Dublin, Ireland. He later followed the military career and in the footsteps of his progenitor. His father held positions in politics, standing out as Minister of Finance.

Churchill served in the British Army from 1895 to 1924, graduating as a Lieutenant Colonel at the Sandhurst Military Academy.

He joined the Conservative Party and held political positions in his country when this party was in government as Secretary of State, Deputy, Chancellor of the Exchequer, etc.

He was Minister of Finance, Trade, Defence, Colonies, Munitions, and ultimately Prime Minister of Great Britain.

He served in the Boer War (in Africa), the War in Cuba, India and South Africa. Furthermore, he held the post of First Lord of the Admiralty in World War I.

In World War II he was elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1940 and stood out for his intransigence towards Nazism. On the other hand, he had to maintain the hopes of the British people and made speeches that were followed by the entire population.

At this time, he forged ties with United States President Franklin Roosevelt as the United Kingdom was directly dependent on American cooperation in order to resist German attacks.

Churchill was an accomplished orator, known for his nationalist speeches that preached peace.

In view of the publication of his articles and works, he received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. In 1955 he resigned as Prime Minister, delivering a grand speech entitled “Never Despair ”.

Churchill died in London on January 24, 1965.

World War I (1914-1915)

Churchill served as First Lord of the Admiralty and was responsible for the modernization of the British Navy. In this sense, he promoted the exchange of the use of coal for oil in order to make ships more efficient and faster.

On the other hand, he was behind the disaster of the Battle of Gallipoli where 200,000 British and their Australian and New Zealand allies lost their lives due to a strategic error. Due to the disaster, he resigns, however months later he offers to fight in France.

World War II (1939-1945)

After Minister Neville Chamberlain failed in negotiations with Adolf Hitler, the Conservatives returned to government with Winston Churchill at the helm.

His policy of intolerance towards the Nazis, the strategic alliance with Stalin and the support of the Americans made Churchill respected and admired throughout the world.

Despite England being heavily bombed, Churchill went on the radio and delivered his famous "We will never surrender" speech:

Funeral

Churchill's funeral brought together leaders of several generations who came to pay their last respects to the statesman who helped Europe in its darkest hour.

The population also flocked to see the funeral procession. To this day, Churchill is cited as a paragon of statesmanship.

Works

Of his works stand out:

The History of Malakand Force Camp (1898)
The River War (1899)
From London to Ladysmith via Pretoria (1900)
The March of Ian Hamilton (1900)
Savrola (1900)
Lord Randolph Churchill (1906)
My African Journey (1908)
The World Crisis (1923-1931)
My Youth (1930)
India (1931)
Thoughts and Adventures (1932)
Great Contemporaries (1937)
World War II (six volumes:1948-1954)
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples (1956-1958)

Sentences

“No one wants democracy to be perfect or flawless. It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government, save for all other forms that have been tried from time to time .”
“Politics is almost as exciting as war, and almost as dangerous. In war, you are killed once, but in politics, several times .”
“Imagination consoles men for what they cannot be; the sense of humor consoles them for what they are .”
“All great things are simple. And many can be expressed in one word:freedom; justice; honor; to owe; piety; hope .”
“The disadvantage of capitalism is the unequal distribution of wealth; the advantage of socialism is the equal distribution of miseries .”

Curiosities

Churchill's "We Will Not Surrender" speech is quoted in the song "Aces High" by Steve Harris of English group Iron Maiden.
In 2017, Joe Wright's film "Darkest Hour" was released, addressing Churchill's performance during World War II.
Winston Churchill names avenues, streets and schools around the world.

Read more: Iron Curtain