Sir WINSTON CHURCHILL

Winston Churchill
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For other uses, see Winston Churchill (disambiguation).

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom



Deputy Anthony Eden
Preceded by Clement Attlee
Succeeded by Anthony Eden

In office
10 May 1940 – 26 July 1945

Monarch George VI

Deputy Clement Attlee
Preceded by Neville Chamberlain
Succeeded by Clement Attlee
Leader of the Opposition
In office
26 July 1945 – 26 October 1951
Monarch George VI
Prime Minister Clement Attlee
Preceded by Clement Attlee
Succeeded by Clement Attlee
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office
10 May 1940 – 7 April 1955
Preceded by Neville Chamberlain
Succeeded by Anthony Eden
Minister of Defence
In office
28 October 1951 – 1 March 1952
Prime Minister Himself
Preceded by Emanuel Shinwell
Succeeded by The Earl Alexander of Tunis
In office
10 May 1940 – 26 July 1945
Prime Minister Himself
Preceded by The Lord Chatfield as Minister for Coordination of Defence
Succeeded by Clement Attlee
Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office
6 November 1924 – 4 June 1929
Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin
Preceded by Philip Snowden
Succeeded by Philip Snowden
Home Secretary
In office
19 February 1910 – 24 October 1911
Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith
Preceded by Herbert Gladstone
Succeeded by Reginald McKenna
President of the Board of Trade
In office
12 April 1908 – 14 February 1910
Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith
Preceded by David Lloyd George
Succeeded by Sydney Buxton
Member of Parliament
for Woodford
In office
5 July 1945 – 15 October 1964
Preceded by New constituency
Succeeded by Patrick Jenkin
Member of Parliament
for Epping
In office
29 October 1924 – 5 July 1945
Preceded by Sir Leonard Lyle
Succeeded by Leah Manning
Member of Parliament
for Dundee
with Alexander Wilkie
In office
24 April 1908 – 15 November 1922
Preceded by

Alexander Wilkie
Edmund Robertson

Succeeded by

Edmund Morel
Edwin Scrymgeour

Member of Parliament
for Manchester North West
In office
8 February 1906 – 24 April 1908
Preceded by William Houldsworth
Succeeded by William Joynson-Hicks
Member of Parliament
for Oldham
with Alfred Emmott
In office
24 October 1900 – 12 January 1906
Preceded by Walter Runciman
Alfred Emmott
Succeeded by

Alfred Emmott
John Albert Bright

Personal details
Born Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill
30 November 1874
Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire,
England, United Kingdom
Died 24 January 1965 (aged 90)
28 Hyde Park Gate, London, England
Resting place St Martin's Church, Bladon, Oxfordshire
Citizenship British
Nationality English
Political party

Conservative (1900–04, 1924–64)
Liberal (1904–24)

Spouse(s) Clementine Churchill (m. 1908–1965)
Relations

Lord Randolph Churchill (father)
Lady Randolph Churchill (mother)
John Strange Spencer-Churchill (brother)
Pamela Harriman (former daughter-in-law)
Winston Churchill (grandson)

Children

Diana Churchill
Randolph Churchill
Sarah Tuchet-Jesson
Marigold Churchill
Mary Soames

Residence

10 Downing Street (official)
Chartwell (private)
28 Hyde Park Gate, London (private; place of death)

Alma mater Harrow School, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Profession Member of Parliament, statesman, soldier, journalist, historian, author, painter
Religion Anglican
Military service
Allegiance British Empire
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1895–1900, 1902–24
Rank Lieutenant-Colonel
Battles/wars

Anglo-Afghan War:
Siege of Malakand
Mahdist War
Battle of Omdurman
Second Boer War:
Siege of Ladysmith
First World War:
Western Front

Awards

Galó de l'Orde del Mèrit (UK).png Order of Merit
Order of Companions of Honour ribbon.png Companion of Honour
India Medal BAR.svg India Medal
Queens Sudan Medal BAR.svg Queen's Sudan Medal
Queens South Africa Medal 1899-1902 ribbon.png Queen's South Africa Medal
1914 Star BAR.svg 1914–15 Star
British War Medal BAR.svg British War Medal
Allied Victory Medal BAR.svg Victory Medal
Territorial Decoration (UK) ribbon.PNG Territorial Decoration

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, PC, DL, FRS, Hon. RA (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British Conservative politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century, he served as Prime Minister twice (1940–45 and 1951–55). A noted statesman and orator, Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, a historian, a writer, and an artist. He is the only British prime minister to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature, and was the first person to be made an Honorary Citizen of the United States.

Churchill was born into the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was a charismatic politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer; his mother, Jenny Jerome, was an American socialite. As a young army officer, he saw action in British India, the Sudan, and the Second Boer War. He gained fame as a war correspondent and wrote books about his campaigns.

At the forefront of politics for fifty years, he held many political and cabinet positions. Before the First World War, he served as President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary, and First Lord of the Admiralty as part of the Asquith Liberal government. During the war, he continued as First Lord of the Admiralty until the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign, which he had sponsored, caused his departure from government.[neutrality is disputed] He then served briefly on the Western Front, commanding the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He returned to government as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Air. After the War, Churchill served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Conservative (Baldwin) government of 1924–29, controversially returning the pound sterling in 1925 to the gold standard at its pre-war parity, a move widely seen as creating deflationary pressure on the UK economy. Also controversial were Churchill's opposition to increased home rule for India and his resistance to the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII.

Out of office and politically "in the wilderness" during the 1930s, Churchill took the lead in warning about Nazi Germany and in campaigning for rearmament. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. Following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain on 10 May 1940, Churchill became Prime Minister. His steadfast refusal to consider defeat, surrender, or a compromise peace helped inspire British resistance, especially during the difficult early days of the War when Britain stood alone in its active opposition to Hitler. Churchill was particularly noted for his speeches and radio broadcasts, which helped inspire the British people. He led Britain as Prime Minister until victory over Nazi Germany had been secured.

After the Conservative Party lost the 1945 election, he became Leader of the Opposition. In 1951, he again became Prime Minister, before retiring in 1955. Upon his death, Elizabeth II granted him the honour of a state funeral, which saw one of the largest assemblies of world statesmen in history.
[1] Named the Greatest Briton of all time in a 2002 poll, Churchill is widely regarded as being among the most influential persons in British