Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, the British Prime Minister, is best known for his contribution and leadership during World War 2. His sharp wit and uncompromising resilience has impressed generation of all ages across the globe. In this post I have penned down the life of Winston Churchill.
Birth of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
Winston Churchill was born on 30th Nov, 1874. He was born at the stately home of his father in Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire. He was two months premature baby. His mother name was Jeanette Jerome ("Jennie") and father name was Lord Randolph Churchill (politician by profession, who was born on 13th Feb, 1849).
Childhood of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
Winston Churchill was neither close to his mother nor to his father. He was more close to Elizabeth Anne Everest, his nanny. He used to call his nanny an old woom. Churchill's nickname was 'Winnie'. As a boy Winston collected stamps from all over the world, given to him by his father.
School and College of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
Winston started schooling at St. George’s School, Ascot. From 1884-1888, Winston attended The Misses Thompson’s Preparatory School where he learned things that interested him such as French, history, poetry, riding a horse and swimming. He entered Harrow School on 17th April, 1888. Academic wise, Churchill, was not the smart kid. He was considered in the bottom half of class and examination. He failed two times in the entrance examination for Sandhurst Military Academy.
Marriage & Children of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
Winston Churchill married love of his life Clementine Ogilvy Hozier on 12th Sep, 1908. They had five children, four daughters (Diana Churchill, Sarah Churchill, Marigold Frances, Mary Churchill) and one son (Randolph Frederick Edward Churchill).
Career of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
He was appointed as a cornet in the British military and became a Second-Lieutenant in the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars. He was one of the greatest politicians of the United Kingdom who went on to become the Prime Minister of the country in 1940, serving till 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. Winston enjoyed an exceptional success in his political life from the very beginning and held many important positions such as President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty in the Asquith Liberal government.
Winston becomes involved with the Malakand Field force fighting local tribesmen on the North west frontier. Sir Winston stood for Parliament from Oldham and this time he won the seat for Oldham as the Conservative MP. He became the member of Conservative Party. He took his seat in the House of Commons for the first time on Jan. 23, 1901. Winston Churchill was made First Lord of the Admiralty in 1911. In this role, Churchill set about modernizing Britain’s battleships. The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed by Winston Churchill which replaced Third Home Rule Bill and the Ireland Act and would result in a much more independent South Ireland, or Irish Free State as the new country was called. He was named "Man of the Year" by Time's Magazine. He was named "Man of the Half Century" by Time's Magazine.
Artist Side of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
Sir Winston wrote about 20 books and various speeches and other papers. His first book was, "The Story of the Malakand Field Force," He was the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Early in his writing career he was often mistaken for the American novelist whose name was also Winston Churchill. Churchill wrote to his American counterpart, and told him he was thereafter going to sign all his published works 'Winston Spencer Churchill' to avoid confusion. The two actually met in Boston in 1899 and became fast friends.
He was not only a great writer but also an amazing painter, speaker and influential person as a whole. He had published almost 600 paintings in his lifetime. Churchill spent much of his time between 1931 and 1935 at his home, Chartwell, in Kent. He was an enthusiastic amateur mason and built garden walls and a swimming pool.
Comedy Side of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
Nancy Astor once said to Churchill, "If I was your wife I'd poison your coffee!" He replied, "If I was your husband I'd drink it."
"Battling Bessie Braddock", fiery Labour MP from Liverpool once said to Churchill, "Winston, you're drunk!" To which he replied, "Bessie, you're ugly, but in the morning I shall be sober."
Last Days of Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
In 1962, he fell while getting out of bed in Monte Carlo and fractured his left thigh. Although hospitalized in England for almost two months, the 87-year-old statesman flashed the V-for-victory sign as he returned to his home in late August. Winston Churchill died on Sunday, 24th Jan 1965 at the age of 91 years. Cause of death was stroke. He rested in peace in London, England. He died on the exact same day as his father 70 years earlier in 1965.
Churchill’s state funeral was massive. 350 million people watched on television and 112 nations sent representatives to St Paul’s Cathedral. Churchill is buried at St Martin’s Church, Bladon.
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