Sir Winston Churchill
Biography
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was born in the Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England, on 30 November, 1874. He was born into the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough. His father was Lord Randolph Churchill, who served at the Chancellor of the Exchequer (equivalent of Secretary of the Treasury.) His mother was Jeannie Jerome, a popular American socialite.
Because of his family's wealth, Churchill was enrolled in some of the best schools in the area. But before that, he was living in Dublin with a nanny, who gave him his first taste of education, who taught him to read, to write, and math. Since Churchill was distant from his parents, he developed a close parental relationship with the nanny. Back in England, Churchill's parents enrolled him first in George's school, then Brunswick School, then finally Harrow School. He had been expelled from these schools, as he usually had the lowest grades in his class. At Harrow, Churchill had joined the Harrow Rifle Corps, the youth military program. He had trouble in his regular classes though, mainly because of his speech impediments, a lisp and a stutter.
After leaving Harrow, Churchill applied to the Royal Military College, however he had to give the entrance exam three times before being admitted. He applied to be enlisted in the Cavalry division, as opposed to the infantry division, because the required grade was lower, and he would not have to learn math, which was his weakest point. After graduating eighth in his class, Churchill was appointed as the Second Lieutenant Colonel in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars. In 1941, during World War Two, Churchill was honoured as the Regimental Colonel of the Hussars, and later was promoted to Colonel-in-Chief after the war, an honour usually reserved for members of the Royal Family.
Churchill met a woman by the name of Clementine Hozier, at a ball at the home of the Earl of Crewe, in 1904, where they had become friends. However, they had not met again for four years, until 1908, but when they met again, they started a lifelong romance. In August of that year, Churchill proposed to Clementine in the Temple of Diana at the Blenheim Palace. They were married one month later, and had their first child in July of the next year, whom they named Diana. They had a total of five children together, with all but one living until adulthood. Their fourth child, Marigold, had died from a fatal Sepsis at the age of three. Churchill and Clementine had their last child in 1922, and they bought the Chartwell house, in which the resided until Churchill's death in 1965.
Winston Churchill held many government positions over the course of his life. These include many cabinet positions such as Secretary of State for the Colonies, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, his most major accomplishments were during his time as the British Prime Minister, during World War Two, as in ultimately winning the war.
Because of his family's wealth, Churchill was enrolled in some of the best schools in the area. But before that, he was living in Dublin with a nanny, who gave him his first taste of education, who taught him to read, to write, and math. Since Churchill was distant from his parents, he developed a close parental relationship with the nanny. Back in England, Churchill's parents enrolled him first in George's school, then Brunswick School, then finally Harrow School. He had been expelled from these schools, as he usually had the lowest grades in his class. At Harrow, Churchill had joined the Harrow Rifle Corps, the youth military program. He had trouble in his regular classes though, mainly because of his speech impediments, a lisp and a stutter.
After leaving Harrow, Churchill applied to the Royal Military College, however he had to give the entrance exam three times before being admitted. He applied to be enlisted in the Cavalry division, as opposed to the infantry division, because the required grade was lower, and he would not have to learn math, which was his weakest point. After graduating eighth in his class, Churchill was appointed as the Second Lieutenant Colonel in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars. In 1941, during World War Two, Churchill was honoured as the Regimental Colonel of the Hussars, and later was promoted to Colonel-in-Chief after the war, an honour usually reserved for members of the Royal Family.
Churchill met a woman by the name of Clementine Hozier, at a ball at the home of the Earl of Crewe, in 1904, where they had become friends. However, they had not met again for four years, until 1908, but when they met again, they started a lifelong romance. In August of that year, Churchill proposed to Clementine in the Temple of Diana at the Blenheim Palace. They were married one month later, and had their first child in July of the next year, whom they named Diana. They had a total of five children together, with all but one living until adulthood. Their fourth child, Marigold, had died from a fatal Sepsis at the age of three. Churchill and Clementine had their last child in 1922, and they bought the Chartwell house, in which the resided until Churchill's death in 1965.
Winston Churchill held many government positions over the course of his life. These include many cabinet positions such as Secretary of State for the Colonies, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, his most major accomplishments were during his time as the British Prime Minister, during World War Two, as in ultimately winning the war.
Motivation
Churchill's ultimate motivation for one of his biggest successes was simply the desire to win the war. He felt that the people of his nation were losing faith in the war effort, which is the time he came up with the famous "Keep Calm and Carry On" phrase. He knew that the world, along with himself, could not afford to lose the war, since it would allow for the advancement of then Nazi Germany. It was this thought that motivated Churchill to press on to find the end of the war.
Churchill in the American Revolution Era
If Churchill had been alive during the late 18th century, he would have most definitely still been a highly ranked political/ military leader, for his excellent military and political mind, and strategies. If he had fought with his homeland, the British, they would have been much more successful in putting down the revolution in America. Churchill's military experience outclassed that of Washington's by far, so the British soldiers would have had a much higher chance of winning the war. Churchill is not a man to surrender, he perseveres to the end of something, such as World War Two, so the British surrender at Yorktown likely would not have happened.
If I Was Churchill?
If I had the (motivational) speaking ability of Churchill, I would probably become a public speaker, or activist. Churchill had the ability to persuade, and motivate an entire nation into persevering through the worst time in their lives, that would be a valuable skill to have for anyone. Speaking opportunities would be at assemblies at schools, or other places, and giving speeches on different topics relevant to the current situation, or about current issues.
Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat - Churchill's speech to House of Commons
We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."
Historiography
The author, John Keegan, of this article claims that Churchill was one of the most powerful men, and greatest leaders of the 20th century. Keegan writes out a detailed biography of Churchill, focusing mainly on his heritage, and the military aspects of his life. Keegan writes about how much of an influence Churchill was in the second World War, and his military expertise that played a big part of allowing him to win the war. Keegan compares Churchill to the other most prominent figures of the era, such as Roosevelt and Stalin, his contemporaries during the war, and compares the roles they had played during this war.
Political Cartoon
Works Cited
"Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat." Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
Churchill, Winston. The Great Democracies. London: Cassell, 1958. Print.
Gould, Peter (8 April 2005). "Largest Assemblage of Statesmen at funeral since Churchill". BBC News.
Johnson, Paul (2010). Churchill. New York, NY: Penguin. p. 4. ISBN 0-14-311799-8.
Keegan, John. "Winston Churchill." Time. Time Inc., 13 Apr. 1998. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
O'Farrell, Padraic (2000). Down Ratra Road: Fifty Years of Civil Defence in Ireland. Dublin:
Stationery Office. ISBN 978-0-7076-6506-1.
Churchill, Winston. The Great Democracies. London: Cassell, 1958. Print.
Gould, Peter (8 April 2005). "Largest Assemblage of Statesmen at funeral since Churchill". BBC News.
Johnson, Paul (2010). Churchill. New York, NY: Penguin. p. 4. ISBN 0-14-311799-8.
Keegan, John. "Winston Churchill." Time. Time Inc., 13 Apr. 1998. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
O'Farrell, Padraic (2000). Down Ratra Road: Fifty Years of Civil Defence in Ireland. Dublin:
Stationery Office. ISBN 978-0-7076-6506-1.