Prime Minister Winston Churchill (The late Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill)
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, DL, FRS, Hon. RA (30 November 1874 - 24 January 1965) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister from 1940-1945 during the Second World War and again from 1951-1955 at the start of the reign of Elizabeth II. Churchill has also been regarded as a great officer in the British Army, historian, writer and artist. He was made an honorary US citizen and has also received the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Born to Lord Randolph Churchill, a politician and son of the Duke of Marlborough and Jennie Jerome an American socialite, Churchill was born into an aristocratic family.
As a young officer he served in British India, Sudan and in the Second Boer War in which he wrote correspondents and books. He also entered politics and due to his family prominence and fame he was seen as a front runner and one of the many faces of politics for 50 years. During the First World War he continues to serve as First Lord of the Admiralty under the Asquith Liberal Government. But after the disastrous outcome of the Gallipoli Campaign, Churchill left government. After that he resumed active service in the Western Front as the commander of the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.
He returned to government as Minister for Munitions, Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Air. Under Baldwin, Churchill served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1929-1929. He was also seen controversial for his opposition to Indian home rule and the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII which made people think Churchill would form a King's Party. During the 1930's he led warnings about Nazi Germany and before the Second World War was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty.
But on 10 May 1940 Neville Chamberlain resigned and Churchill became the wartime Prime Minister. It was during the war that Churchill shoulder his bravery and belief in the strength of the British Army and Morale often broadcasting to the nation. Winston Churchill worked with Army officials to map out the defense of Britain from Nazi attacks including the relocation of his own offices and many new forms of communication. He also created a secret Army of Civilians who were trained (if Operation Sea Lion came into tact) to from behind enemy lines destroy the Nazi Army and push them out of the country. He also appealed to the US President Franklin D Roosevelt who he had good relations with and even before the US entered the war, the UK were aided by them with financial and military support. But this relationship also helped bring the US soldiers to Europe and on May 8th 1945, Winston Churchill stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret to celebrate VE (Victory in Europe) Day.
Churchill and the Conservatives lost the 1945 election and Churchill became Leader of the Opposition during the Attlee Labour Government. Yet due to vigorous determination to come back to power and the financial and power struggle of the Attlee Government, Churchill and the Conservatives regained Government in 1951. Major topics included housing, decline of the British Empire and the early years of The Commonwealth, War in Malaya and their Foreign Policies. One of the biggest events of his second premiership was the death of George VI which was devastating to the British public and saw a 25 year old Princess Elizabeth become Queen. It was Winston Churchill's duty to guide the new Queen as Prime Minister until his retirement in 1955 due to health issues caused by multiple strokes.
When he left Premiership he was offered the title of Duke of London but declined it due to his son entering the House of Commons. Instead he was created a Garter Knight and given the honour of a State Funeral. Churchill began to decline in health and was believed to have Alzheimer's Disease and had a reduced mental capacity. In 1963, President John .F. Kennedy gave Churchill honourary citizenship but couldn't attend the ceremony.
On the 15 January 1965 Churchill suffered a a severe stroke that left him gravely ill and nine days later (24 January) he died at his London home in the morning at the age of 90. Churchill's body lied in state for three days in Westminster Hall and Churchill was given the world's largest funeral to that point. 112 countries sent representatives (all except China) and 350 million people watched it in every country except Ireland. The funeral took place on the 30 January at Westminster Abbey and was unusually attended by the Queen. Churchill was buried at a family plot at St Martin's Church, Bladon not far from Blenheim Palace.
Sir Winston Churchill has been referred to as the greatest political leader of the 20th Century and in 2002 was voted the Greatest Briton of all time. Well after his death he is still well remembered by those British and non-British and is regarded as one of the best Prime Ministers due to keeping the United Kingdom stable during one of the worst periods of all time.
Born to Lord Randolph Churchill, a politician and son of the Duke of Marlborough and Jennie Jerome an American socialite, Churchill was born into an aristocratic family.
As a young officer he served in British India, Sudan and in the Second Boer War in which he wrote correspondents and books. He also entered politics and due to his family prominence and fame he was seen as a front runner and one of the many faces of politics for 50 years. During the First World War he continues to serve as First Lord of the Admiralty under the Asquith Liberal Government. But after the disastrous outcome of the Gallipoli Campaign, Churchill left government. After that he resumed active service in the Western Front as the commander of the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.
He returned to government as Minister for Munitions, Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for Air. Under Baldwin, Churchill served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1929-1929. He was also seen controversial for his opposition to Indian home rule and the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII which made people think Churchill would form a King's Party. During the 1930's he led warnings about Nazi Germany and before the Second World War was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty.
But on 10 May 1940 Neville Chamberlain resigned and Churchill became the wartime Prime Minister. It was during the war that Churchill shoulder his bravery and belief in the strength of the British Army and Morale often broadcasting to the nation. Winston Churchill worked with Army officials to map out the defense of Britain from Nazi attacks including the relocation of his own offices and many new forms of communication. He also created a secret Army of Civilians who were trained (if Operation Sea Lion came into tact) to from behind enemy lines destroy the Nazi Army and push them out of the country. He also appealed to the US President Franklin D Roosevelt who he had good relations with and even before the US entered the war, the UK were aided by them with financial and military support. But this relationship also helped bring the US soldiers to Europe and on May 8th 1945, Winston Churchill stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret to celebrate VE (Victory in Europe) Day.
Churchill and the Conservatives lost the 1945 election and Churchill became Leader of the Opposition during the Attlee Labour Government. Yet due to vigorous determination to come back to power and the financial and power struggle of the Attlee Government, Churchill and the Conservatives regained Government in 1951. Major topics included housing, decline of the British Empire and the early years of The Commonwealth, War in Malaya and their Foreign Policies. One of the biggest events of his second premiership was the death of George VI which was devastating to the British public and saw a 25 year old Princess Elizabeth become Queen. It was Winston Churchill's duty to guide the new Queen as Prime Minister until his retirement in 1955 due to health issues caused by multiple strokes.
When he left Premiership he was offered the title of Duke of London but declined it due to his son entering the House of Commons. Instead he was created a Garter Knight and given the honour of a State Funeral. Churchill began to decline in health and was believed to have Alzheimer's Disease and had a reduced mental capacity. In 1963, President John .F. Kennedy gave Churchill honourary citizenship but couldn't attend the ceremony.
On the 15 January 1965 Churchill suffered a a severe stroke that left him gravely ill and nine days later (24 January) he died at his London home in the morning at the age of 90. Churchill's body lied in state for three days in Westminster Hall and Churchill was given the world's largest funeral to that point. 112 countries sent representatives (all except China) and 350 million people watched it in every country except Ireland. The funeral took place on the 30 January at Westminster Abbey and was unusually attended by the Queen. Churchill was buried at a family plot at St Martin's Church, Bladon not far from Blenheim Palace.
Sir Winston Churchill has been referred to as the greatest political leader of the 20th Century and in 2002 was voted the Greatest Briton of all time. Well after his death he is still well remembered by those British and non-British and is regarded as one of the best Prime Ministers due to keeping the United Kingdom stable during one of the worst periods of all time.