“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” -Winston Churchill
Lived from 1874 to 1965
British Conservative Politician and Statesman
Prime Minister, 1940-45 and 1951-55
Memorable quotes:
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
“Never, never, never give up.”
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
History:
-Was born in Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, into the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough. Winston’s father, Lord Randolph Churchill, served in the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer; his American-born mother, Jennie Jerome, was best known as a socialite.
-From the age of two to six, Churchill was moved to Dublin, where his grandfather worked as Viceroy.
-After leaving the prestigious Harrow School in 1893, he applied to the Royal Military College in Sandhurst, Berkshire.
-In his youth Churchill served in British India (from 1896), Egypt (1898) in the Sudan and in the Second Boer War campaign. He made a name for himself with his work as a war correspondent during this time.
-Before the outbreak of WW1, Churchill worked as President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary, and the First Lord of the Admiralty
-He was Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1921 and a signatory of 1921’s Anglo-Irish Treaty, which created the fledgling Irish Free State.
-In May 1940, a summit involving Chamberlain, Halifax, Churchill and the government’s Chief Whip established that Churchill was the best choice for PM, and, as a constitutional monarch, George VI formally requested that Churchill take up the post.
-In his second term in office from 1952, Churchill introduced much needed reforms in the areas of housing, safety, health, and welfare.
- He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953 for his published writing, which included the six-part The Second World War. In a 2002 BBC poll of the "100 Greatest Britons” he was announced overall winner, "The Greatest of Them All"
Challenges
-Churchill suffered poor health throughout his life, including a heart attack in December 1941 while visiting the White House. He contracted pneumonia in 1943. Nevertheless, he travelled more than 100,000 miles during WW2 to negotiate with other heads of state. He typically used the alias Colonel Warden to cover his tracks.
-He beat his famous speech impediment after years of training and public speeches. Even his dentures were carefully designed to help his speech.
-Among his most famous speeches was, "Now we are masters of our own fate", delivered to the U.S. Congress, in 1942.
Lifestyle:
-From a young age, Churchill gained attention for his strong sense of independence and a rebellious attitude.
-Churchill once admitted that he barely spoke to his father, who died at the age of 45. The bereavement led Churchill to fear that he would also die young, and that he should move quickly to make an impact on the world
-He was known for his penchant for beer, whisky, cigars and breakfast in bed. Although he used private chauffeurs and rarely took public transport, he has been described by biographers as being in touch with the needs of the common man. He was adored by his secretaries. He would give them artwork, which they were able to sell to add to their retirement income.
Learning More:
Churchill: Four Faces and the Man, by Various (1969)
In Search of Churchill, by Martin Gilbert
Man of the Century: Winston Churchill, by John Ramsden
