Birth:
November 30, 1874, Blenheim Palace, London
Death:
January 24, 1965. Buried at Blenheim Palace
Early Influences:
- According to his own account, he loved his Mother dearly, "but at a distance."
- Was not close to his father, Lord Randolph
- His nanny, Mrs. Everest, was a close friend throughout his life
- Grew up as the son of a British noble
Education:
- Attended private school from age of seven
- Entered Harrow in 1888; later indicated he was not impressed with his education
- Entered Sandhurst Royal Military College in 1893 after three attempts to pass the entrance test
- Joined the army in 1895
Major Accomplishments:
- Elected to Parliament as a Conservative in 1900
- Joined the Liberal Party and became the president of the Board of Trade in 1904
- Served as Under Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1906-08
- Served in the military in France during World War I
- Secretary of War 1918-21
- Chancellor of the Exchequer 1924-29
- Served as First Lord of Admiralty when World War II broke out
- Prime Minister from 1940-45 and 1951-55
- Knighted and awarded Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953 for his six volume history of World War II
Significance:
- Became a national hero after his escape from captivity during the Boer War
- Supported Edward VIII during his abdication despite the government's disapproval
- Returned Britain to the gold standard while Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Led Britain through World War II
- Refused to make peace with Germany while Hitler was in power
- With Roosevelt and Stalin, developed plan for victory over Germany
- During a speech in 1946, warned of the expansive tendencies of the Soviet Union coining the term 'iron curtain'.
Contemporaries:
