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Who is Sir Winston Churchill?

Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965) is widely considered to have been one of the most important leaders in modern world history.

Born 30 November 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was part of an aristocratic family descended from John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough. As a young man, Sir Winston Churchill had planned on a career in the military. He attended the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served his country in India, Cuba, and South Africa.

Sculpture of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.
Sculpture of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.

While Sir Winston Churchill did receive a number of honors for his military service, he soon decided his true passion was politics. Despite suffering from a speech impediment, Churchill was a brilliant orator and a charismatic leader. He held several important positions during his early political career, including President of the Board of Trade, Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War, Home Secretary, First Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of State for Air, and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Churchill provided vital leadership to England during World War II.
Churchill provided vital leadership to England during World War II.

Sir Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1940. He played a vital role in leading his country though World War II and is widely credited with helping restore the world’s faith in democracy during this difficult time. His good relationship with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt also helped to secure vital food, ammunition, and oil by allowing his people to take advantage of North Atlantic shipping routes.

Churchill had a good relationship with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Churchill had a good relationship with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Aside from his political accomplishments, Sir Winston Churchill was a prolific author and a widely respected historian. In 1953, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his books on English and world history. A History of the English-Speaking Peoples , a four-volume work covering the period between Caesar’s invasion of Britain and the start of World War I, is one of his most noted projects.

John F. Kennedy named Sir Winston Churchill an Honorary Citizen of the United States in 1963.
John F. Kennedy named Sir Winston Churchill an Honorary Citizen of the United States in 1963.

After his retirement as Prime Minister in 1955, Sir Winston Churchill’s health began to decline. His lifelong battle with depression became more difficult to manage and he suffered a number of small strokes that greatly impaired his mobility. However, he did find some solace in traveling with his many friends.

Sir Winston Churchill passed away on 24 January 1965 at age 90. The Queen ordered that Churchill be given a state funeral—even though this honor is customarily reserved for members of the royal family. Churchill was later buried in his family’s plot at St Martin's Church, Bladon.

While Sir Winston Churchill was voted the greatest Briton in the 2002 BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, it should be noted that his accomplishments have been recognized throughout the world. He was named an Honorary Citizen of the United States by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. France, Belgium, Egypt, Libya, Nepal, Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, and Norway presented various medals and awards to him as well. In addition, there are a number of schools and public buildings in the United States and Canada named in his honor.

Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders

Dana holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. She has loved being part of the PublicPeople team ever since discovering the joys of freelance writing after her son was born. Dana also hones her writing skills by contributing articles to various blogs, as well as creating sales copy and content for e-courses.

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Dana Hinders
Dana Hinders

Dana holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. She has loved being part of the PublicPeople team ever since discovering the joys of freelance writing after her son was born. Dana also hones her writing skills by contributing articles to various blogs, as well as creating sales copy and content for e-courses.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon172025

I still don't understand why the KZ-camps were not

bombed. Pinpoint attacks could have been carried

out, for example, by the formidable British Mosquito fighter-bombers escorted by the equable magnificent long-range Mustang-fighters. And it could have been done again and again due to Allied air superiority.

Proxy414

@ShadowGenius

I think we should have heeded leaders like Patton and charged across the Eurasian continent. So much more bloodshed would have occurred, but even more bloodshed would have been prevented. Personally, I think that Stalin's regime and the spread of communism was buttressed by the idea that the West would do little to nothing to stop Stalin.

ShadowGenius

@Armas1313

It's true, think of an American president giving his enemies the finger. This is how Winston interacted with Hitler, and he was even willing to make a deal with the devil to bring down Hitler. He ended up doing this in siding with Stalin alongside President Roosevelt. After the war, he waned in power, because Britain and America did not want to wage war further with the USSR, or have any kind of caustic rhetoric hurt the global balance. This resulted in the lengthy and horrifying Cold War.

Armas1313

Winston Churchill's mother was a strong American woman of high class. She is said to have had a very powerful personality, which Winston probably inherited and used quite well in Britain. His style of leadership was quite effective and charismatic in wartime. He counteracted the weak and obliging image of Neville Chamberlain and brought Britain to a powerful victory alongside the Yanks. His skill with words and scathing wit are renowned. Also his classic and obscene two-fingered victory salute to Germany was a great morale-booster. Such obscenity was unheard of in the ruling class.

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    • Sculpture of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.
      By: onepony
      Sculpture of Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.
    • Churchill provided vital leadership to England during World War II.
      By: Cheryl Casey
      Churchill provided vital leadership to England during World War II.
    • Churchill had a good relationship with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
      By: air
      Churchill had a good relationship with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
    • John F. Kennedy named Sir Winston Churchill an Honorary Citizen of the United States in 1963.
      By: ビッグアップジャパン
      John F. Kennedy named Sir Winston Churchill an Honorary Citizen of the United States in 1963.