Few men are remembered as influential in the annals of British history as Winston Churchill.
Born on November 30, 1874, he was a statesman, soldier, and writer. He also served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. Some attribute the survival of England during this period to his tremendous leadership.
As a boy, Churchill’s academic performance was substandard. At seven years of age, he attended boarding school at St. George’s School in Ascot, Berkshire. This was a short-lived academic stint and at 13, he transferred to Brunswick School in Hove. During this period, his grades improved slightly. Churchill’s father desired that he have a military career. Therefore, his last three years of schooling were in preparation as an officer. His first two attempts for admittance to the Royal Military College were failures. After a third attempt, he succeeded.
Churchill had an impressive military career. Joining the British Army in 1895, he had deployments in British India, Sudan, and South Africa. During the Second Boer War, he garnered recognition for his books on his war experiences. In 1900, he left the army. Churchill worked as President of the Board of Trade. He was a champion for prison reform and for worker’s social security. This was not all, however. Churchill furthered his recognition by serving under Prime Minister George as Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War, Secretary of State for Air, and Secretary of State for the Colonies. All these positions inevitably prepared him for his most important achievement: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Hitler began becoming notorious in Germany well before the start of World War 2. Many of the world leaders turned a blind eye to him. They simply excused him as a riotous troublemaker. From the very start, Churchill denounced Hitler. During World War 2, Prime Minister Neville Chamber resigned. Chamber’s apathetic leadership during this tumultuous time proved unsatisfactory to the British people. Therefore, they elected Churchill as Prime Minister. As all of Europe fell to Hitler, Churchill never gave in. His public defiance towards Hitler inspired the British people. Churchill was a tremendous leader and orator. His public speeches gave strength to the weary British soldiers. Many historians credit Churchill with leading the English to victory over Hitler.
In his most influential speech, Churchill stated, “We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will 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 despite all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be.”
