Winston Churchill: Life, Military Career & WWII Leadership
Encyclopedia/6. Governance, Politics & Economy/3. Law, Politics & International Relations/03. Political & Legal Biographies • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. Known for his stirring speeches and leadership, he also won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Chronological Storyline (45 Milestones)
Nov 30, 1874 CE
Birth of Winston Churchill
Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill is born at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, to Lord Randolph Churchill and Jennie Jerome. #history #birth
Birth of Winston Churchill By Yousuf Karsh - Flickr: Sir Winston Churchill, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=181137175
Feb 20, 1895 CE
Death of Lord Randolph Churchill
Churchill's father dies, leaving him with a strained relationship but motivating his political ambitions. #history
Death of Lord Randolph Churchill By Cecil Beaton - http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//21/media-21072/large.jpg This photograph CBM 1585 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24242491
Jul 1, 1895 CE
Commissioned in 4th Queen's Own Hussars
Churchill graduates from Sandhurst and is commissioned as a second lieutenant in the cavalry. #military #history
Sep 1, 1896 CE
Serves in India and the Northwest Frontier
Churchill serves with the Malakand Field Force in British India, writing his first book 'The Story of the Malakand Field Force'. #military #history
Sep 2, 1898 CE
Battle of Omdurman
Churchill participates in the last major cavalry charge in British history, serving with the 21st Lancers in Sudan. #military #history
Battle of Omdurman By Edward Matthew Hale (1852-1924). Original uploader was Raoulduke47 4 January 2007 (original upload date) at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Igitur using CommonsHelper., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11347703
Oct 14, 1899 CE
Boer War and Capture
Churchill is captured by Boers while working as a war correspondent but escapes, gaining fame. #history #war
Boer War and Capture By The British Army and The Illustrated London News, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=140253010
Dec 1, 1899 CE
Daring Escape from Boer Prison
After being captured, Churchill escapes from a Pretoria prison and travels to safety, boosting his political career. #history #daring
Oct 1, 1900 CE
Elected as Conservative MP for Oldham
Churchill wins his first seat in Parliament as a Conservative, beginning his long political career. #politics #history
May 31, 1904 CE
Crosses the Floor to Liberal Party
Churchill leaves the Conservatives over free trade issues and joins the Liberal Party. #politics #history
Apr 1, 1908 CE
Appointed President of the Board of Trade
Churchill enters the Cabinet as President of the Board of Trade, introducing social reforms such as labour exchanges. #politics #reform
Sep 12, 1908 CE
Marriage to Clementine Hozier
Churchill marries Clementine Hozier; they have five children and a strong partnership. #personal #history
Marriage to Clementine Hozier By Unattributed - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3b22725.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6744474
Oct 24, 1911 CE
First Lord of the Admiralty
Churchill becomes First Lord of the Admiralty, modernizing the Royal Navy and preparing for war. #military #history
May 26, 1915 CE
Dismissed After Gallipoli Disaster
Churchill is demoted from the Admiralty after the failed Gallipoli Campaign, a low point in his career. #war #history
Dismissed After Gallipoli Disaster By LoudHmen - This image was made from the following source images (listed at their sources as "public domain" or "not restricted"): Top: Australian War Memorial image P01141.001 Middle left: File:British and French Battle Fleet at the entrance to the Dardanelles.jpg Middle right: File:V Beach Helles Gallipoli.jpg Bottom left: Australian War Memorial image A02598 Bottom right: Australian War Memorial image G00544, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7461342
Jan 1, 1916 CE
Command on the Western Front
Churchill serves as a lieutenant colonel commanding the 6th Royal Scots Fusiliers in France. #military #history
Jul 17, 1917 CE
Minister of Munitions
Churchill returns to government as Minister of Munitions under Lloyd George. #politics #history
Jan 1, 1919 CE
Secretary of State for War and Air
Churchill oversees demobilization after WWI and is involved in British intervention in the Russian Civil War. #politics #history
Feb 14, 1921 CE
Secretary of State for the Colonies
Churchill handles colonial affairs including the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations. #politics #history
Oct 1, 1922 CE
Lost Parliamentary Seat
Churchill loses his seat as MP for Dundee, beginning the 'wilderness years'. #politics #history
Oct 29, 1924 CE
Returns to Conservatives as Chancellor of the Exchequer
Churchill is appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer under Stanley Baldwin, controversially returning the gold standard. #politics #history
Apr 28, 1925 CE
Gold Standard Return
Churchill's decision to return to the gold standard at pre-war parity is widely criticized and contributes to economic hardship. #economics #history
Gold Standard Return By Anonimski - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58392424
Jun 1, 1929 CE
Conservative Government Falls; Wilderness Years Begin
With Labour victory, Churchill is out of office and spends the 1930s writing and warning about Nazi Germany. #politics #history
Nov 12, 1930 CE
Publishes 'My Early Life'
Churchill publishes his autobiography 'My Early Life', covering his adventures up to 1902. #literature #history
Publishes 'My Early Life' By Wirelesswonderer - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16287115
Mar 1, 1933 CE
Begins Warning About Nazi Germany
Churchill starts speaking out against Hitler and the rearmament of Germany, urging British preparedness. #politics #history
Sep 3, 1939 CE
Returns as First Lord of the Admiralty
Following the outbreak of WWII, Churchill is reappointed to his former role: 'Winston is back.' #wwii #history
May 10, 1940 CE
Becomes Prime Minister
As Nazi forces invade the Low Countries, Churchill becomes Prime Minister and forms a coalition government. #wwii #politics
May 13, 1940 CE
Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat Speech
Churchill delivers his first speech as PM, offering 'nothing but blood, toil, tears and sweat'. #speech #wwii
Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat Speech By Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/churchill/images/wc0107-04780r.jpg - Library of Congress, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3169207
Jun 4, 1940 CE
We Shall Fight on the Beaches Speech
After Dunkirk evacuation, Churchill rallies the nation with his iconic speech. #speech #wwii
We Shall Fight on the Beaches Speech By Yousuf Karsh - Flickr: Sir Winston Churchill, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41991931
Jun 18, 1940 CE
Their Finest Hour Speech
Churchill declares the Battle of Britain is about to begin in this famous speech. #speech #wwii
Aug 20, 1940 CE
Never Was So Much Owed by So Many to So Few
Churchill pays tribute to RAF fighter pilots in a speech during the Battle of Britain. #speech #wwii
Never Was So Much Owed by So Many to So Few By H.M. Stationery Office - This World War II poster was taken from the uploader's own collection. A lower resolution version of the same poster is available at https://www.mplib.org/wpdb/index.asp?exact=MPW00376 where the publisher information is provided as follows "Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Lowe & Brydon Printers, Ltd". This implies that the copyright holder is HMSO or, in other words, it is Crown Copyright. As this poster is more than 50 years old, it is now in the public domain. This photograph PST 14972 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. This photograph PST 3738 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. This photograph PST 8774 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35330825
Jun 22, 1941 CE
Announces Alliance with Soviet Union
After Hitler invades Russia, Churchill declares Britain will aid the Soviet Union against the Nazis. #wwii #history
Dec 8, 1941 CE
Address to US Congress After Pearl Harbor
Churchill visits Washington to coordinate Allied strategy after America enters WWII. #wwii #history
Feb 15, 1942 CE
Fall of Singapore
Churchill faces one of the worst defeats of the war with the surrender of Singapore to Japan. #wwii #history
Fall of Singapore By Photographer not identified. "Official photograph". Post-Work: User:W.wolny - This photograph HU 2781 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums(collection no. 5707-03), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=639344
Jan 14, 1943 CE
Casablanca Conference
Churchill and Roosevelt agree to demand 'unconditional surrender' from Axis powers. #wwii #history
Casablanca Conference By National Museum of the U.S. Navy - 80-G-38559, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70728935
Jun 6, 1944 CE
D-Day Landings
Churchill supports the Normandy invasion, a turning point in the war. #wwii #history
D-Day Landings By Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17040973
Feb 4, 1945 CE
Yalta Conference
Churchill meets Roosevelt and Stalin to plan post-war Europe. #wwii #history
Yalta Conference By US government photographer - This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4807722
Jul 17, 1945 CE
Potsdam Conference
Churchill attends the Potsdam Conference but is replaced mid-conference after Labour wins the election. #wwii #history
Potsdam Conference By Unknown official photographer - Published online by the US Department of Energy at " The Manhattan Project: an interactive history" US C-1861, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3264649
Jul 26, 1945 CE
Loses General Election to Clement Attlee
Despite his wartime leadership, Churchill's Conservative Party loses overwhelmingly to Labour. #politics #history
Loses General Election to Clement Attlee By Presumably Yousuf Karsh - https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=4981, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91465387
Mar 5, 1946 CE
Iron Curtain Speech at Fulton, Missouri
Churchill popularizes the term 'Iron Curtain', marking the beginning of the Cold War. #speech #coldwar
Iron Curtain Speech at Fulton, Missouri By Вестминстерский колледж в штате Миссури, США - Фрагмент архивного фото 1946 года, Вестминстерский колледж., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=181633124
Oct 26, 1951 CE
Returns as Prime Minister
Churchill becomes PM again at age 77, serving until 1955. #politics #history
Feb 6, 1952 CE
Accession of Queen Elizabeth II
Churchill becomes the first Prime Minister to serve under the new Queen. #history #royalty
Accession of Queen Elizabeth II By Donald McKague - Flickr: Queen Elizabeth II wearing crown, blue sash and pink gown This is a retouched picture, which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. Modifications made by nagualdesign., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122899796
Dec 10, 1953 CE
Awarded Nobel Prize in Literature
Churchill wins the Nobel Prize for his historical writings and oratory. #literature #award
Awarded Nobel Prize in Literature By Photograph: JonathunderMedal: Erik Lindberg (1873-1966) - Derivative of File:NobelPrize.JPG, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58432969
Apr 5, 1955 CE
Resigns as Prime Minister
Churchill steps down due to age and health, succeeded by Anthony Eden. #politics #history
Apr 10, 1963 CE
Made Honorary US Citizen
President Kennedy awards Churchill honorary US citizenship, a rare honor. #history #award
Made Honorary US Citizen By photo by LordHarris (digitally edited by Interiot and Xiaphias) - Wikipédia en, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5704659
Jan 24, 1965 CE
Death of Winston Churchill
Churchill dies at age 90 in London, receiving a state funeral. #history #death
Jan 30, 1965 CE
State Funeral
Churchill's funeral is held at St Paul's Cathedral, with a grand procession and global mourning. #history #ceremony
State Funeral By Official photographer - https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7f/0c/11/7f0c115a4b16d0d6e06061fba013f9e7.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65577630
