Winston Churchill very short biography. All about a man with a capital C - Churchill

Winston Churchill was born into an aristocratic family on the family estate - Blenheim Palace. His father was a descendant of the Earl of Marlborough and was active politically, and his mother, Lady Randolph Churchill, (before her marriage Jenny Jerome) came from a fairly wealthy American family and was distinguished by her love for various kinds of social events.

The parents, due to lack of time to raise him, already in 1975, when the boy was only a year old, decided to hire a nanny. Elizabeth Anne Everest had a huge influence on Churchill's development at an early age; she sincerely became attached to the baby, treating him with all love and reverence.

At the age of eight, the boy was sent to St. George's School, but soon the nanny insisted on his transfer to another institution - assault at school was an officially approved method of punishment and, seeing the consequences of such upbringing, Elizabeth was horrified. Next was the Thomson Sisters' School in Brighton, however, as in the first school, the boy lacked stars from the sky in matters of education.

Next was the prestigious Harrow School, where he discovered his talent as a fencer and even became its champion in 1892, and a year later, not without difficulties, he nevertheless became a student at the Royal Military School at Sandhurst. Latin was the hardest part of his exams, but thanks to a happy coincidence (a couple of people who passed the exams better than him refused to study), Churchill was transferred from cavalry cadets to a more prestigious infantry branch.

Becoming

The year 1895 was a turning point for Winston - he lost his father, and soon lost his nanny - the person who was closest and dearest to him. The only joyful event in this difficult period was receiving a military rank - now he was proudly called a junior lieutenant.

The more Churchill served, the more he realized that a military career was not for him at all. At the same time, not without the help of his mother, he takes his first steps in the field of journalism, and his first baptism of fire - literally and figuratively - is the uprising of the Cubans against the Spaniards. War correspondent Winston Churchill was sent to Cuba by the leadership of the Daily Graphic newspaper. Some of Churchill's first author's notes were published in The New York Times, and he himself received an award from the hands of the Spanish government - now his name appeared more and more often. In Cuba, Churchill became seriously interested in cigars - the habit of smoking remained with him for the rest of his life.

Churchill, who had no higher education, read a lot and engaged in self-development, thus trying to fill the lack of knowledge. At the same time, while still on active service, he never forgot about his job responsibilities, devoting a lot of time to working with personnel. In 1986, the regiment in which Churchill was a member arrived in India; in 1897, he, on his own initiative, went to Malakand, and then to North Africa, where at that time the most severe military operations were taking place aimed at suppressing indigenous uprisings. ethnic tribes. Winston did not manage to obtain permission to travel the first time - the leadership was against it, but under the pressure of Churchill’s arguments they finally gave in. The only clarification was that in the event of injury or death, he would not receive compensation. Upon returning from India, Churchill resigned in 1899.

Beginning of politics

The first significant event in the political arena for Churchill was the fight for a seat in parliament from the Conservative Party. At the time of his military retirement, he had already established himself as a journalist, published the best-selling book “War on the River”, moreover, he was of noble origin and had already received a military rank. But this was not enough, and the first attempt to win was a failure - the Liberals won the mandates from Oldham. However, in 1900, he again became a participant in the election race - Churchill, now a candidate from Oldham (Lancashire), overtook his Liberal rival by a record margin of 222 votes. At the same time, the politician himself defined his status as an “independent conservative,” which caused a rather contradictory reaction from many, including oppositionists, for whom he showed sympathy quite openly. In 1904, he left the ranks of the Conservatives and went over to the side of the Liberals.

In 1905, Churchill assumed authority as Under-Secretary for the Colonies. He perfectly understood the importance of overseas territories for the well-being of the British Empire and demonstrated without a shadow of a doubt his patriotism, manifested in prioritizing the interests of the country over other factors. In April 1908, Churchill became Minister of Industry and Trade.

Winston Churchill's political career developed quite rapidly and two years later, when he was only 35, he took the post of Minister of the Interior, relegating his literary activities to the back burner - now he simply did not have enough time for it. A year later, in the summer of 1911, he first encountered serious problems - sailors and port workers went on strike, the situation was heating up every day, and during one of the brawls there were even wounded. Churchill decided to mobilize troops, but, fortunately, a skirmish was avoided. However, such radical actions of the Minister of the Interior could not go unnoticed by the authorities - Churchill’s actions were called reckless and incorrect, and he himself, as a commander, received extremely negative reviews about the policy of his activities.

In October of the same year, Churchill took over as First Lord of the Admiralty.

Wartime

Having assumed the post of Secretary of the Navy, which was formally lower in rank than the Minister of the Interior, Churchill devoted all his efforts to preparing the fleet for the upcoming war with Germany. At the same time, he became one of the initiators of the Dardanelles operation, the main goal of which was to open a sea route to Russia, but he suffered a fiasco, and personally admitted this to the fullest. The wave of indignation that swept after the defeat forced him to resign as First Lord of the Admiralty.

At the end of the First World War, Churchill took up issues international level, heading the post of Minister for the Colonies. This period was quite fruitful for him; during his tenure in this position, in particular, he signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty - the most important document that completed the Irish War of Independence. He also tried to return to Parliament as a Liberal for Dundee, but this did not end well. Just like what happened when he stood for Leicester. The double defeat prompted Churchill to try again as a non-party member. Luck smiled on Winston Churchill only in the 24th - he triumphantly returned to the House of Commons, taking the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer, and already in the 25th he again found himself in the ranks of the Conservative Party.

Second world war has truly become finest hour Churchill. Having always had a clear, unambiguously negative position regarding the communists, this time he understood more than ever the full significance of the Red Army. Winston Churchill showed strong-willed and patriotic qualities, the ability to think sensibly and resolve a variety of wartime conflicts. While serving as Prime Minister, he took an active part in international meetings and conferences, including such significant ones as the Tehran (1943) and Crimean (1945) conferences, in addition, he regularly visited battlefields to communicate and support of ordinary people. Churchill's war policy was supported by an overwhelming majority - 84% of the population, and this figure remained until the end of the war.

At the end of May 1945, Churchill resigned, steadfastly withstanding yet another defeat of the Conservative Party in the elections. At the same time, he returned to writing, concluding a number of contracts with world-class tabloids: Life, The Daily Telegraph and The New York Times and others. He also began work on memoirs with the eloquent title “The Second World War.”

Recent years

Churchill managed to return to the post of Prime Minister at a fairly advanced age - at 76 years old. For four whole years he conducted government affairs, and only when his health became very bad did he leave his post, this was 1955.

Churchill is the recipient of the Order of the Garter, as well as the Nobel Prize in Literature. It is interesting that Hemingway himself applied for the award together with the politician in 1953, but he was able to take it after Churchill - a year later.

It is impossible not to mention Churchill’s famous Fulton speech, delivered at Westminster College on March 5, 1946. Churchill, who was not an official at the time, expressed his position as a private guest of the event. In general, the essence of his words boiled down to the need to create a “fraternal association of English-speaking peoples,” and he also mentioned the Soviet Union, with its totalitarian regime, and called it the cause of “international difficulties.” This day is considered to be the day of the beginning of the Cold War between the USA and the USSR.

The great politician, who left an indelible mark on the history of mankind, left the world on January 24, 1965 from a stroke.

Personal life

Despite his active political and military activities, Churchill, who was not particularly attractive in appearance, chose an incredibly beautiful and educated girl as his wife. The companion of the great Churchill was Clementine Hozier of Irish-Scottish origin. Clementine bore him four children, in whose upbringing he, like his parents once, did not take much part. Either jokingly or seriously, he once said: “It is easier to govern a nation than to raise four children.”

Winston Churchill Biography Winston Churchill Biography

Churchill Winston Leonard Spencer (1874 - 1965)
Winston Churchill
Biography
English politician statesman, Prime Minister of Great Britain (1940-1945 and 1951-1955). Winston Churchill was born on November 30, 1874 in Blenim, near Woodstock (Oxfordshire, UK) in the family of R.G. Churchill, who was related to the Dukes of Marlborough. Winston Churchill received his education at the privileged school of Harrow and at the military cavalry school. In 1896-98 he served in India, taking a direct part in suppressing the uprising on the northwestern border. He took part in military operations against Sudan, which ended with the capture of this country by British troops. In 1897, as war correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph, Churchill joined General Blood's expedition to the Strait of Malakand. In the same status, Churchill took part in the initial stage of the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 in South Africa. There, on November 15, 1899, Churchill was captured by Louis Botha, the future first prime minister of the Union of South Africa and a close friend of Churchill. After his release from captivity, Churchill left military service and spent some time in the USA, where he lectured, and upon returning to England, he began to build his political career with the money he received. In 1900 he was elected to parliament from the Conservative Party. In 1904 he joined the Liberal Party, from which he entered the House of Commons in 1906. In 1906-08, Winston Churchill was appointed Deputy Secretary of State for the Colonies of Great Britain, in 1908-1910 - Minister of Trade, in 1910-1911 - Minister of the Interior, in 1911 - Minister of the Navy - First Lord of the Admiralty, leading the British fleet in the 1st World War war 1914-1918. Churchill's main achievement in those years was the creation of the British Royal Air Force. However, after unsuccessful operation The air force in the Dardanelles, carried out in 1915, Churchill was subjected to serious criticism and in 1916 was forced to resign. With the rank of lieutenant general, commanding the 6th Regiment of the Royal Fusiliers, Churchill went to the front. However, soon, in 1917, Prime Minister Lloyd George recalled him from the front, appointing him Minister of War Supply. Churchill held this post until 1918. In 1919-1921, Winston Churchill was Minister of War and Minister of Aviation. In 1924 he returned to the Conservative Party. In 1924-1929, Churchill was Minister of Finance in the cabinet of S. Baldwin. In 1925 the gold standard of the pound sterling was reintroduced. After Great Britain entered World War II, in September 1939, Winston Churchill was appointed Minister of the Navy in the government of N. Chamberlain. In May 1940, after Great Britain entered World War II and the resignation of N. Chamberlain, Winston Churchill became prime minister of the coalition government. In July 1941, Churchill's government signed an agreement with the USSR on joint action against fascist Germany, and in May 1942 - an agreement on alliance in the war against Germany. Winston Churchill took part in the Tehran (1943), Crimean (1945) and Potsdam (1945) conferences. After the defeat of the Conservatives in the parliamentary elections in July 1945, Winston Churchill's government resigned. On March 5, 1946, in the city of Fulton (Missouri, USA), Churchill, in the presence of US President Harry Truman, gave a speech in which he called for the strengthening of the United Nations and the creation of a military-political alliance between Great Britain and the United States, directed against the USSR and communist countries with the goal of preventing a new war and preserving freedom and democracy; in August in Zurich he gave a speech “Wake up, Europe!”, calling for the unity of European countries - the winners and the vanquished. In 1951, Churchill was again appointed Prime Minister and resigned in 1955. In 1953, Winston Churchill received a knighthood and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1963 he became an honorary US citizen. Winston Churchill died on January 24, 1965 in London. He was buried in the county of Oxfordshire. Among the works of Winston Churchill are journalism, books of the historical and memoir genre.
__________
Sources of information:
Encyclopedic resource www.rubricon.com (Great Soviet Encyclopedia, Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary, Encyclopedic Dictionary “World History”, Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary)
Radio Liberty
Project "Russia Congratulates!" - www.prazdniki.ru

(Source: “Aphorisms from around the world. Encyclopedia of wisdom.” www.foxdesign.ru)

. Academician 2011.

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Books

• Winston Churchill. Biography, Churchill Winston. Winston Churchill is best known as one of the most effective politicians of the turbulent 20th century. A Briton, a patriot to the core, he was a true gentleman, but for the good of the cause...

Childhood and youth

When Churchill was eight years old, he was sent to preparatory school St. George. Corporal punishment was practiced at school, and Winston, who constantly violated discipline, was often subjected to it. After the nanny who regularly visited him discovered traces of defects on the boy’s body, she immediately informed his mother, and he was transferred to Thomson Sisters’ School in Brighton. Academic progress, especially after the transfer, was satisfactory, but the behavioral certification read: “The number of students in the class is 13. Place is 13th.”

In October of the same year, the regiment is sent to India and is stationed in Bangalore. Churchill reads a lot, thus trying to compensate for the lack of a university education, and becomes one of the best players in the regiment's polo team. According to the recollections of his subordinates, he conscientiously treated his officer duties and devoted a lot of time to training with soldiers and sergeants, but the routine of service weighed on him, he went on vacation to England twice (including to the celebrations on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Victoria), and traveled around India, visiting Calcutta and Hyderabad.

Letters from the front lines were published by the Daily Telegraph, and at the end of the campaign, his book “The History of the Malakand Field Corps” was published in a circulation of 8,500 copies. "The Story of the Malakand Field Force" ). Due to the hasty preparation for printing, a huge number of typographical errors crept into the book; Churchill counted more than 200 typos and since then he always demanded that the publisher’s proofs be personally corrected.

Having returned safely from Malakand, Churchill immediately begins to push for a trip to North Africa to cover the suppression of the Mahdist uprising in Sudan. The desire to go on another journalistic trip did not meet with the understanding of the command, and he writes directly to the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, honestly admitting that the motives for the trip are both the desire to cover a historical moment and the opportunity to derive personal, including financial, benefit from the publication of the book . As a result, the War Department granted the request, appointing him to the supernumerary position of lieutenant; the order of appointment specifically noted that in the event of injury or death he could not count on payments from War Department funds.

Although the rebels had numerical superiority, the allied Anglo-Egyptian army had an overwhelming technological advantage - repeating small arms, artillery, gunboats and the latest innovation of the time - Maxim machine guns. At the pitched battle of Omdurman, Churchill took part in the last cavalry charge of the British army. He himself described this episode:

I broke into a trot and galloped towards individual [opponents], shooting them in the face with a pistol, and killed several - three for sure, two unlikely, and one more very doubtful.

In his reports, he criticized the commander of the British troops, his future cabinet colleague, General Kitchener, for his cruel treatment of prisoners and wounded and for his disrespect for local customs. “He is a great general, but no one has ever accused him of being a great gentleman,” Churchill said about him in a private conversation, an apt description, however, quickly became public. Although the criticism was largely fair, the public reaction to it was ambiguous; the position of a publicist and accuser did not fit well with the official duty of a junior officer.

After the end of the campaign, Churchill returned to India to take part in a national polo tournament. During a short stop in England, he speaks several times at Conservative rallies. Almost immediately after the end of the tournament, which his team won by winning a hard-fought final match, he retired in March 1899.

Debut in politics

By the time of his resignation, Churchill had gained some fame as a journalist, and his book about the Sudan campaign, The War on the River. "The River War") became a bestseller.

Boer War

By the autumn of 1899, relations with the Boer republics had deteriorated sharply, and when in September the Transvaal and the Orange Republic rejected British proposals to enfranchise English workers in the gold mines, it became obvious that war was inevitable.

Lord Loreburn, leader of the House of Lords, publicly called the Home Secretary's actions "irresponsible and reckless."

At the same time, deteriorating relations with Germany prompted Churchill to address issues foreign policy. From ideas and information obtained from military specialists, Churchill drew up a memorandum on the “military aspects of the continental problem” and presented it to the Prime Minister. This document was an undoubted success for Churchill. He testified that Churchill, having a very modest military education, which was given to him by the school of cavalry officers, was able to quickly and professionally understand a number of important military issues.

Expenditures on the naval forces were the largest expenditure item in the British budget. Churchill was tasked with implementing reforms while improving cost efficiency. The changes he initiated were quite large-scale: the main headquarters of the Navy was organized, naval aviation was established, new types of warships were designed and laid down. Thus, according to the original plans, the shipbuilding program of 1912 was supposed to consist of 4 improved battleships of the type "Iron Duke". However, the new First Lord of the Admiralty ordered the project to be reworked for the main caliber of 15 inches, despite the fact that the design work for the creation of such guns had not even been completed. As a result, very successful battleships of the type were created Queen Elizabeth, who served in the British Navy until 1948.

One of major decisions was the transition of the military fleet from coal to liquid fuel. Despite the obvious advantages, the Navy Department opposed this step for a long time, for strategic reasons - coal-rich Britain had absolutely no oil reserves. To make the transition of the fleet to oil possible, Churchill initiated the allocation of 2.2 million pounds to purchase a 51% stake in the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. In addition to purely technical aspects, the decision had far-reaching political consequences - the Persian Gulf region became an area of ​​British strategic interests. The chairman of the Royal Commission on the conversion of the fleet to liquid fuel was Lord Fisher, a prominent British admiral. Collaboration Churchill and Fisher ended in May of the year due to the latter's categorical disagreement with the landing on Gallipoli.

First World War

Britain officially entered the First World War on 3 August 1914, but on 28 July, the day Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Churchill ordered the fleet to move to battle positions off the coast of England, permission to do so was obtained retrospectively from the Prime Minister .

As Chairman of the Landship Commission Landships Committee) Churchill took part in the development of the first tanks and the creation of tank forces.

Interwar period

Return to the Conservative Party

Political isolation

After the defeat of the Conservatives in the 1929 elections, Churchill did not seek election to governing bodies party due to differences with Conservative leaders over trade tariffs and Indian independence. When Ramsay Macdonald formed a coalition government in 1931, Churchill did not receive an offer to join the cabinet.

He devoted the next few years to literary works, the most significant work of that period being Marlborough: His Life and Times. Marlborough: His Life and Times listen)) is a biography of his ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough.

In parliament, he organized the so-called “Churchill group” - a small faction within the Conservative Party. The faction opposed granting independence and even dominion status to India, and for a tougher foreign policy, in particular for more active opposition to the rearmament of Germany.

In the pre-war years, he harshly criticized the policy of appeasement of Hitler pursued by the Chamberlain government and after the Munich Agreement he said in the House of Commons:

You had a choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, now you will receive war.

Original text(English)

You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, and you will have war

World War II

Return to government

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. On September 3 at 11 a.m., the United Kingdom officially entered the war, and within 10 days the entire British Commonwealth. On the same day, Winston Churchill was asked to take up the post of First Lord of the Admiralty with voting rights on the War Council. There is a legend that, having learned about this, the ships of the British Navy and naval bases exchanged a message with the text: “Winston is back.”

Although there were no active hostilities on land after the defeat of the Polish army and the capitulation of Poland, the so-called “strange war” was going on; combat operations at sea almost immediately entered the active phase.

Prime Minister

Anti-Hitler coalition

After the war

On January 1, 1946, the King presented Churchill with the honorary Order of Merit (which has only been awarded to 24 people) and offers to make him a Knight of the Order of the Garter (Churchill refuses).

Most famous performances

Churchill's speech in the House of Commons about Stalin

Russia was very lucky that when it was in its death throes, it had such a tough military leader at its head. This outstanding personality, suitable for harsh times. The man is inexhaustibly brave, powerful, direct in his actions and even rude in his statements... However, he retained a sense of humor, which is very important for all people and nations, and especially for great people and great nations. Stalin also impressed me with his cool wisdom, in the complete absence of any illusions. I hope that I have made him believe that we will be faithful and reliable comrades in this war - but this, after all, is proven by deeds, not words.

Original text(English)

It is very fortunate for Russia in her agony to have this great rugged war chief at her head. He is a man of massive outstanding personality, suited to the sombre and stormy times in wich his life has been cast; a man of inexhaustible courage and will-power and a man direct and even blunt in speech … Above all, he is a man with that saving sense of humor which is of high importance to all men and all nations, but particularly to great men and great nations. Stalin also left upon me the impression of a deep, cool wisdom and complete absence of illusions of any kind. I believe I made him feel that we were good and faithful comrades in this war - but this, after all, is a matter which deeds not words will prove.

This statement becomes more understandable when compared with the following (from a radio speech on June 22, 1941):

If Hitler invades Hell, I will at least present to the House of Commons positive feedback about the devil.

Original text(English)

If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.

A similar speech by Churchill about Stalin in the House of Commons on December 21, 1959 is often quoted, the authenticity of which has been questioned by some researchers. A number of researchers consider this speech to be a hoax, since its original was not discovered on the specified date.

In early November 1945, Churchill gave a speech in the House of Commons in which he said, in part:

I personally cannot feel anything other than the greatest admiration for this truly great man, the father of his country, who ruled the destiny of his country in times of peace and a victorious defender in times of war. Even if we had strong disagreements with the Soviet Government in respect of many political aspects - political, social and even, as we think, moral - then in England such a mood cannot be allowed to exist that could disrupt or weaken these great ties between the two. our peoples, the connections which constituted our glory and security during the period of recent terrible convulsions.

On October 9, 1954, in a speech before the Conservative Party Conference, Peace Through Strength, he said:

Stalin was the dictator of Russia for many years, and the more I studied his career, the more shocked I became at the terrible mistakes he made and the extreme cruelty with which he acted towards the people and the masses. Stalin was our ally in the fight against Hitler when Russia was attacked, but when Hitler was destroyed, Stalin became our main threat.

After our common victory, it became obvious that his actions had once again divided the world. Apparently, he was driven by dreams of world domination. He turned a third of Europe into a satellite of the Soviet Union by imposing communism on them. It was an unfortunate event after everything we had been through.
But it’s been a year since Stalin died - that’s certain, and since then I’ve been holding out hope that a new perspective is opening up for Russia here, new hope for peaceful coexistence with the Russian people, and our duty is to patiently and courageously make sure whether there is a chance here or not.

Original text(English)

Stalin was for many years Dictator of Russia and the more I have studied his career the more I am shocked by the terrible mistakes he made and the utter ruthlessness he showed to men and masses with whom he acted. Stalin was our ally against Hitler when Russia was invaded but when Hitler was destroyed Stalin made himself our principal object of dread. After our victory joint certain became his conduct divided the world again. He seemed to be carried away by his dream of world domination. He actually reduced a third of Europe to a Soviet satellite condition under compulsory communism. These were heartbreaking events after all we have gone through. But a year ago Stalin died - that is certain - and ever since that event I have cherished the hope that there"s new outlook in Russia, a new hope of peaceful co-existence with the Russian nation and that it is our duty patiently and daringly to make sure whether there is such a chance or not.

Fulton speech

Notes

Links

• D. Medvedev. Churchill: Privacy. M. "RIPOL Classic Publishing House", 2008, ISBN 978-5-386-00897-0
• N. Rose. Churchill. Stormy life. lane E. F. Levinoy, M. "Publishing House Ast", 2004, ISBN 5-17-014478-4
• Never Give In! The Best of Winston Churchill's Speeches. (Selected Speeches of Churchill), Hyperion, NY, 2003, ISBN 0-7868-8870-9
• R.Holmes,In the Footsteps of Churchill. Basic Books, NY, 2005, ISBN 0-465-03082-3

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (1874-1965) was a British statesman and politician, twice elected Prime Minister of Great Britain. Writer and journalist, was a Nobel Prize laureate in literature. He had the military rank of colonel. He was an honorary member of the British Academy.

In 2002, the BBC broadcaster conducted a poll in which Churchill was named the greatest Briton in history.

Childhood

In the English county of Oxfordshire, on the outskirts of the small town of Woodstock, Blenheim Palace is located. Now it is the largest palace and park ensemble in England and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And at the beginning of the 18th century, this was the residence of the Duke of Marlborough. On November 30, 1874, a boy was born at Blenheim Palace - a descendant of the Dukes of Marlborough, he was given the name Winston.

Father, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill, is the third son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough. He was an active politician and represented the Conservative Party, was a deputy in the House of Commons, and also worked for some time as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mother, Lady Randolph Churchill, (nee Jenny Jerome), was the heiress of a wealthy American entrepreneur.

The parents met in the summer of 1873 during the royal sailing regatta. In April 1874 they got married. Absorbed them completely social life- balls, races, receptions, dinner parties. Mom adored all this luxury so much that she did not miss a single social event even during pregnancy. And she went into labor when a ball was being held at Blenheim Palace. The baby was born in the room where the guests were folding their coats.

Churchill's aristocratic origins meant that the baby would be surrounded by luxury and wealth from the first days. But to a small child You also need care, affection and attention. My father could not imagine a day of his life without politics; my mother was one of the first socialites. Such a social and social life of the parents did not leave them time to take care of their little son.

The baby was not even a year old when a nanny, Elizabeth Ann Everest, was hired for him, who fell in love with the boy with all her heart, becoming his most faithful friend and close person. Elizabeth gave the child all her devotion and care, thereby replacing her mother's love. It was to the nanny that Churchill trusted his first secrets.

Studies

When Winston was seven years old, he began studying at St. George's Preparatory School in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire. In this educational institution, more attention was paid not to teaching, but to the upbringing of children, and corporal punishment was often used against those who violated discipline. Little Churchill’s character could be called independent and rebellious, so the rods were passed along his back more than once.

Winston did not like studying at St. George's School, and even more so he did not want to put up with such cruel internal rules. Nanny Elizabeth visited him regularly, and when she noticed that the boy had constant signs of caning, she told his mother about it. The parents transferred their son to another private school, Brunswick (sisters Charlotte and Kate Thomson), located on the south coast of England, in the city of Brighton. Here Winston studied satisfactorily, categorically did not accept mathematics, Greek and Latin languages. But I became very interested in English and French languages, history. But in behavior, as before, he occupied last place among the students in the class.

At the age of 11, the boy became seriously ill and suffered from pneumonia. Winston's poor health and not very good academic performance prompted Churchill's parents to send their son to one of the oldest British public schools for boys, Harrow. This decision was surprising, because for several generations, men in the Marlborough family studied only at Eton College, but Harrow was an equally prestigious educational institution.

His father wanted Winston to further connect his life with jurisprudence. But his performance at school was not up to par, so he chose an alternative career - military affairs. In 1889, at Harrow School, the teenager was transferred to an “army” class, where, in addition to general education subjects, students were taught military sciences. At the same time, Churchill became interested in fencing, so much so that he achieved excellent results, even winning the school championship in 1892.

In December 1892, Winston attempted to enter the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Churchill failed his exams twice, and his father sent him to study with Captain James. It was something like a preparatory course before entering the military academy.

But in January 1893, a misfortune happened: during the winter holidays, while having fun with teenagers, Winston unsuccessfully jumped from a bridge and received numerous injuries. He was unconscious for three days, and then was bedridden for another three months. During this time, he had no choice but to listen to his father’s conversations with his friends and visitors. It was during this period that Churchill became particularly interested in politics.

In the summer of 1893, Winston finally entered the Royal Academy, but due to the low results shown in the exams, he was only enrolled as a cavalry cadet. In February 1895, he completed his studies and was enlisted in the 4th Her Royal Majesty's Hussars with the rank of junior lieutenant.

That same year, Winston suffered the first difficult losses and moments in his life. First his father died, who was only 45 years old. The saddest thing is that Randolph Churchill, having reached the peak of his political career, with my own hands and destroyed it, plunging headlong into secular entertainment and travel. Despite the fact that Randolph devoted so little time to his son, Winston respected him and always believed that it was his father who contributed to the formation of his political views.

Following her father, her beloved nanny Elizabeth died of peritonitis.

The army and the first literary experience

In 1895, his mother connected her connections and helped ensure that Churchill was sent to Cuba as a war correspondent, while he continued to be on active service. In Cuba, the population rebelled against the Spaniards, Winston covered these events, was assigned to the active Spanish troops and even managed to be under fire.

His first articles were a success, were paid with a good fee for those times, and the Spanish government even awarded Churchill a Red Cross medal. In Cuba, Winston acquired not only literary fame as a correspondent, but also two habits that he did not get rid of until the end of his life - smoking cigars and resting after dinner (siesta).

Returning from Cuba, Winston visited America for the first time.

In 1896, Churchill's regiment was sent to India; in 1897, he himself ensured that he was assigned to the expeditionary force that suppressed the Mohmand uprising in the mountainous region of Malakand. The British daily newspaper The Daily Telegraph published his letters from the front lines, and when the campaign was over, Churchill’s book “The History of the Malakand Field Corps” was published, which sold 8,500 copies.

After covering the Mahdist uprising in Sudan in 1899, Winston retired. By this time he had already established himself as famous journalist, and his work “War on the River” (about the Sudanese company) became a bestseller.

He decided to devote himself to politics, but soon received an offer to go to South Africa as a war correspondent. The fee was so tempting that Churchill immediately agreed. During this Anglo-Boer War, Winston ended up in a prisoner of war camp, from where he escaped, then returned to the battlefields. This escape and return to the army brought him popularity, which provided Churchill with considerable support in his future political career. Most voters were ready to vote for him, regardless of Winston's political views.

Policy

To England from South Africa Churchill returned as a real hero, which helped him easily win the parliamentary elections.

Churchill's political career was meteoric:

• 1901 – Deputy Minister for Colonial Affairs;
• 1908 – Minister of Industry and Trade;
• 1910 – Minister of Internal Affairs;
• 1911 – First Lord of the Admiralty;
• 1917 – Minister of Armaments;
• 1919 – Minister of War and Minister of Aviation;
• 1924 – Chancellor of the Exchequer;
• 1940 – Prime Minister of Great Britain.

During the Second World War, despite the fact that Churchill was an ardent opponent of Bolshevism, Great Britain declared war on Hitler and supported Stalin, creating a victorious coalition with the United States and Soviet Union:

• In August 1941, on the battleship Prince of Wales, Winston conferred with US President Roosevelt, and in three days they developed one of the main documents of the anti-Hitler coalition - the Atlantic Charter.
• In August 1942, Churchill flew to Moscow, where he met with Stalin to sign the Atlantic Charter.
• In 1943, the first meeting of the leaders of the “Big Three”: Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt took place in Tehran.
• In the fall of 1944, Churchill again visited Moscow, where negotiations took place with Stalin on the issue of dividing Europe into spheres of influence (such initiatives were rejected by the Soviet side).
• In February 1945, the famous Yalta Conference took place at the Livadia Palace, where the leaders of the Big Three met for the second time and considered the establishment of a post-war world order. In change political map world leaders made concessions to each other, and an agreement was reached on almost all points.
• In the summer of 1945, the Potsdam Conference took place, where the leaders of Great Britain, the USA and the USSR met again, only this time it was Truman instead of Roosevelt. This was the last meeting of the anti-Hitler coalition, where decisions were made on the further treatment of defeated German citizens, the prosecution of war criminals, and the issue of transfer to the West was also resolved. eastern borders Germany, as a result of which its territory decreased by 25% compared to 1937.

After the war, despite his age, health problems and the entreaties of his family, Churchill decided to participate in the elections, but this time the Conservatives lost to Labour. Winston led the opposition bloc, but was not active and took up literary activities.

In the fall of 1951, Churchill again took up the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain; at that time he was 76 years old. In the spring of 1955, he resigned due to health reasons and age.

In 1953 literary activity Winston Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize.

Personal life

The love story of Winston and his wife Clementine Hozier is very beautiful and tender. They met in 1904 and married four years later.

The family had five children - one boy (Randolph) and four girls (Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary). One of the daughters, Marigold, died as a child.

Winston lived with his wife for 57 years and always told her that he was eternally grateful that she made him happy. Over all the years they lived, they wrote each other about 1,700 notes, postcards, telegrams and letters.

Death

Winston suffered his first micro-stroke back in August 1949, and five months later he was diagnosed with cerebral vasospasm. After 75 years, eczema and heart failure began to develop, and deafness began to develop. In 1952, after suffering another stroke, he did not speak coherently for a long time. And in 1953, after a second attack, paralysis of the left side occurred. After a few months, the ability to speak and move was restored.

The great politician died of another stroke on January 24, 1965. Winston rested in the family grave of the Spencer-Churchill family near Blenheim Palace.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill

Date and place of birth: November 30, 1874, Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, UK.

I don't need enchanting dreams. Facts are better than dreams.

Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1940-1945 and 1951-1955, British statesman and politician, military man (colonel), journalist, writer, honorary member of the British Academy, Nobel Prize laureate in literature (1953).

“The fateful day has come. My mother took me to the station in a carriage. She gave me three half-crown coins, which I dropped on the floor of the cab, and we dug through the straw looking for them. We just made it to the train. If we were late, the world would end. But we were not late, and life went on.” W. Churchill

Churchill was born on November 30, 1874 in Blenheim, the ancestral castle of the Duke of Marlborough family. Winston himself was extremely proud of belonging to them.

A Briton, a patriot to the core, he was a true gentleman, but for the sake of the cause he was ready to use not the most grateful methods. His character consistently combined excitement and caution, innovation and conservatism, irony and an invariable understanding of the seriousness of the historical moment.

Churchill with early years was interested in politics, was convinced that he was born for great things and great achievements. He was never afraid to make mistakes; his life was not at all a smooth and consistent ascent to the heights of power.

He actually created the Royal Air Force, invented the tank, and reformed the navy. The main issues that occupied him as a politician were issues of defense and strengthening the power and prestige of the British Empire.

Churchill never traveled on a bus and was only on the subway once.

As a child, he stuttered and had a lisp.

He was born at seven months old, everyone thought that for this reason the boy subsequently did not shine in his studies and was very often sick.

He studied very poorly at school and did not like mathematics.

When Churchill was eight years old, he was sent to St. George's Preparatory School. Corporal punishment was practiced at school, and Winston, who constantly violated discipline, was often subjected to it.

In 1886 he suffered from severe pneumonia. Poor health, questionable academic achievements and indiscipline prompted his parents to send him away from Eton College, where the Marlborough men had studied for many generations.

At Harrow he took up fencing and achieved notable success, becoming the school champion in 1892.

Churchill was a great painter, he exhibited his works at the Louvre and he had the pseudonym Charles Morin, he painted about 500 works.

An interesting fact is that Churchill was a good writer, published more work than Walter Scott and Dickens, and even his fees were higher than Hemingway's.

Many years later, Churchill competed for the Nobel Prize with Hemingway and won.

On his difficult road, he made many mistakes, but the most important thing is that he always found the strength to admit them.

He loved to play polo and until the age of 50, he was one of the strongest players in Great Britain.

Almost everyone knows that Churchill loved to drink Armenian cognac. And on our website there is an article about the history of cognac, which Stalin always sent as a gift to the Prime Minister.

In 1899, Churchill became famous in certain circles as a journalist, and his book about the Sudanese campaign, The River War, became a bestseller.

In July 1899 he received an offer to stand for Parliament as a Conservative Party member for Oldham. This year became his debut year as a politician.

One day at Brighton school, he had a fight with a classmate. He attacked him and stabbed him in the chest. Fortunately, this blow did not cause dangerous injuries.

Churchill even took part in the war. He was a war correspondent. He took part in the fighting against the Pashtuns in India, suppressed the Mahdist uprising in North Africa, and during the Anglo-Boer War he was even captured.

Churchill celebrated his 69th birthday with Stalin and Roosevelt.

Churchill met his strongest love of his youth in India, where he served in the 4th Hussars. In November 1896, 22-year-old Lieutenant Churchill went to a polo tournament in Secunderabad, where he met the daughter of the British resident in Hyderabad, Pamela Plowden. After a few years, they will quietly disperse. They will remain friends and maintain friendly relationships for the rest of their lives. Pamela once said, “Only when you meet Winston, you immediately see his shortcomings, but throughout the rest of your life you will discover his strengths.”

Always relaxed in the company of men, Winston was clumsy and awkward among women. He never knew the secrets of small talk or small talk, especially if his interlocutors were young ladies.

As a cadet at Sandhurst Military Academy, Churchill met his first serious love - operetta star Mabel Love. Winston spent hours on duty at the doors of the Imperial Theater, hoping to get into the dressing room or at least get backstage. But the love was unrequited.

In his youth, Winston dislocated his shoulder, and this injury periodically bothered him. Another dislocation occurred on the eve of the final of the inter-regimental polo tournament. Churchill could hardly move his arm, but his friends persuaded him to play, assuring him that his experience and enthusiasm would be decisive. Winston's team won.

Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill died on the 70th anniversary of the death of his father Lord Randolph on January 24, 1965 at his London home, 28 Hyde Park Gate.

In 1919, after the end of the war, a new cabinet was formed, and Churchill received the portfolios of Minister of War and Minister of Aviation.

In 1932, Churchill was given a Daimler, and all because that same year he was in New York, where he was hit by a car, and in order to smooth out the unpleasant memories of this accident, his friends gave him the car after he returned to England.

In the entire history of Great Britain, only five individuals who were not members royal family, were awarded state funerals: Pitt II, Nelson, Wellington, Gladstone and Churchill.

For three days, an inexhaustible stream of people went to Westminster to say goodbye to the former leader of the nation. To ensure that as many people as possible could pay their respects, the London Underground worked around the clock. Points for free distribution of hot soup, sandwiches and tea were set up on the streets. Churchill's funeral not only became the crown of a bygone era, it itself acquired the status of an event of historical proportions.

Queen Elizabeth II attended his funeral service.

Quotes and aphorisms

Russians have always been underestimated, and yet they know how to keep secrets not only from their enemies, but also from their friends.

We have a lot of anxieties, and one cancels out another very often.

I don't need enchanting dreams. Facts are better than dreams.

I owe my longevity to sports. I've never done it.

Most good way to ruin a relationship is to start sorting it out.

Success is the ability to move from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm.

Nothing in life is more exhilarating than being shot at and missing.

There is a monstrous amount of false speculation going around the world, and the worst thing is that half of them are pure truth.

Success is not the end, failure is not the end: the only thing that matters is the courage to continue the fight.

Don’t wish for health and wealth, but wish for good luck, because everyone on the Titanic was rich and healthy, but only a few were lucky!

Responsibility is the price we pay for power.

School has nothing to do with education. This is a control institute where children are taught basic social skills.

A pessimist sees difficulties at every opportunity; An optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.

It is no use saying, “We are doing the best we can.” We must do what is necessary!

Saving money is a useful thing, especially if your parents have already done it.

A stupid person is the one who never changes his opinion.

A politician must be able to predict what will happen tomorrow, in a week, in a month and in a year. And then explain why this did not happen.

Not a single star will shine until there is a person who will hold a black cloth behind him.

War is when completely innocent people die for the interests of others.

Russians may seem narrow-minded, impudent or even stupid people, but all that remains is to pray to those who stand in their way.

Whoever agrees with everyone, no one agrees with.

It is better to be making the news than taking it.

When eagles are silent, parrots chatter.

If you kill a killer, the number of killers will not change.

It’s not a matter of age, but a matter of culture of communication and level of intellectual development.

Looking too far ahead is shortsighted.

Winston, you're drunk!
- That's right. And you are ugly. I'll sober up tomorrow morning. And you will remain ugly.

I'm too busy to have time to worry.

Do you have any enemies? Fine. This means that you once stood for something in your life.

If the newspapers start writing about quitting smoking, I’d better quit reading.

Our life is like a one-way road, and it is important not to miss your turn, because there will be no turning back.