History tells us that Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born on November 30, 1874 at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England. He was the son of Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill, third son of the Duke of Marlborough. Lord Randolph Churchill was educated at Eton and Merton College, Oxford. Sir Winston Churchill was educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. Lord Randolph met Winston's American mother in New York in 1874, shortly before the first of their sons, Winston was born.
Winston's only sibling, his brother John, was born in 1880 when Lord Randolph seized leadership of the opposition in the House of Commons. Prior to that, Lord Randolph was a virtual unknown, though he became best known as the leader of the "Fourth Party", four conservatives who referred to themselves as Tory Democrats, favoring the industrial working class. They modeled their political stance after the great Conservative leader Benjamin Disraeli. Winston's father later became secretary of state for India.
Lord Randolph was known for his biting invectives, not unlike his son Sir Winston. He would make enemies within the Conservative Party as a result of his advanced views, rebellious, eccentric and often times, irresponsible nature engendered by his early history as a spoiled child with charm and inevitable failings. He died relatively young at age forty-five. His son, Winston, would follow in his father's political career in 1900 when he reached age twenty-five and was elected to Parliament for Oldham as a Conservative.
Sir Winston's Military Career
Sir Winston Churchill entered the British Army in 1895 as a subaltern in the Fourth Hussars. He participated as a correspondent in the Spanish campaign versus Cuban insurrectionists. Following this, he lived a garrison life in the South of India; but joined the British Forces on the Northwest Frontier. Two years later, he returned to England. By this time, though hostilities in the Balkans were under way, Winston Churchill made his way to Egypt, joining the Lancers Army under Lord Kitchener's command. Kitchener had a distinct disliking of Churchill because the young soldier had a penchant for blending journalism and military life. But, Churchill's indomitable spirit would not be dampened. He took part in the famous cavalry charge at Omdurman.
Churchill, The Correspondent
Churchill continued his desire to remain a correspondent when the Boer War broke out. He became a correspondent for the Morning Post in South Africa. But, his steely nature engaged him once again in fighting in defense of a British armored train just outside Ladysmith. Churchill fought bravely, but was captured. His amazing escape spurred books that centured on his experience and observations. He wrote The Story of Malakand Field Force, in 1898, The River War, in 1899 and London to Ladysmith via Pretoria, in 1900.
Upon his return to England, he was received with honor and acclaim. In 1903, rejecting the Conservatism of his father, he became a member of the Liberal opposition. His objections to protectionism issues raised by Joseph Chamberlain was cited as the reason for the change of party. He became one of England's most forceful speakers, a significant factor that would prove fortuitious during World War II.
Churchill, The Author
Churchill wrote many books including a biography of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, The Second World War, The Gathering Storm, Their Finest Hour, The Grand Alliance, The Hinge of Fate, Closing the Ring, Triumph and Tragedy, History of the English-Speaking Peoples: The Birth of Britain, The New World, The Age of Revolution and his last, Great Democracies. Winston Churchill visited the USA in 1946 coining the term "Iron Curtain". He served his country as Prime Minister and a prominent military world leader.
He died January 24, 1965 and was buried near Blenheim palace.
Reference: Colliers Encyclopedia, E.R. Adair.
Eleanore Whitaker - Staff writer for RITRO.com, former newsletter contributor to League of Women Voters, Editor of "Timepiece Magazine for Thomas Warne Museum ...
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